… and says it rather well …
Oh, and that’s one of his father’s flutes he’s playing …
Goodonya Joe …
Archive for Flute Players
MDF gets a facelift and Joe Doyle makes music
MDF gets a facelift
It has to happen every now and then… spring cleaning that is. And in New Zealand, where Martin Doyle’s webmaster lives, it is spring – so the timing is perfect. The southern spring has sprung and Martin Doyle has a new website – well, a new template at least. Same content pretty much, with some minor additions and the odd little tweak here and there – a facelift in effect.
The new-look Martin Doyle Flutes website
So a little celebration is in order and what better way to celebrate than with music…
Joe Doyle makes music
Joe Doyle
Recently added to the Martin Doyle’s flute music page is a lovely piece composed by Martin’s son Joe Doyle. Joe was out in the garden at his father’s home in County Clare a couple of weeks back, ‘playing around’ with his recently acquired Martin Doyle rosewood flute, when a tune drifted through the music-rich ether of Clare and manifested itself through Joe’s flute. Joe dedicated the tune to his father by naming it ‘The Flute Maker Martin Doyle’ (‘by the flute makers son’, as Joe quipped) and recorded it later that day.
As a result, ‘The Flute Maker Martin Doyle’ can be heard here.
Fair play to Joe – a lovely tune.
Fergus McGorman playing a Martin Doyle flute
This is a video clip posted on YouTube in March 2008 by the Comhaltas organisation of Ireland. It features Fergus McGorman playing two reels on a six key Martin Doyle flute. The caption from the video clip reads:
From a very well-known musical family in Co. Meath, Fergus McGorman plays lovely settings of two old reels: The Shaskeen and The Old Copperplate. Some of Fergus’ musical influences are his father Tom, his mother Catherine McEvoy and, as evidenced in this selection, Seamus Tansey.
In the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil competitions, Fergus McGorman received 1st place in the Under 12 years old Dance tunes category for flute in 2003; and 1st place again in the same category for the 12-15 year old age group in 2004. Both years Fergus was playing a Martin Doyle flute. More results here: Fleadh Cheoil Results.
More links to Camhaltas video clips can be found here: ComhaltasLive
A Gift From Cathal McConnell
Willie Clancy
With the Willie Clancy Summer School happening at Miltown Malbay in the County Clare each year, mid June becomes a busy time for Martin Doyle. There is a steady stream of visitors to his house near Liscannor and, when he gets a chance, Martin heads into Miltown Malbay to socialise and catch a session or two. Flutes to deliver, orders to take – the busy life of a popular flute maker!
During the Willie Clancy, Miltown Malbay is packed with hundreds of visitors, musicians, singers and dancers, young and old, from all over Ireland, Scotland and further afield. Standing room only! Traditional music flows like the water in the rivers and streams of Ireland and a unique traditional culture lives, breathes and is propagated during this ‘gathering of the clan’.
Cathal McConnell - photo by Kerstin Grünling*
One visitor Martin had the opportunity to welcome into his home this year was the renowned flute player, tin whistler and singer Cathal McConnell, who gifted to Martin a copy of his latest CD, Auld Springs Gies Nae Price. Needless to say, Martin was thrilled at Cathal’s kind gesture. Auld Springs Gies Nae Price is a joint effort between Cathal McConnell and Duncan Wood. A multi-instrumentalist musician, artist and author, Duncan Wood hails from the North East of Scotland and plays fiddle on the album.
Like most developed flute players, it is probably a safe bet that Cathal has more than one flute in his quiver. If that is the case, we know that at least one of them is the Martin Doyle C flute as it features in one of the tracks on Auld Springs Gies Nae Price and with Cathal on the CDs jacket photos. The track in question (track eight) comprises two lovely airs, The Fairy Strain and The Hon Mrs Maule of Panmure’s Favourite, and is introduced in the CDs accompanying booklet thus:
Auld Springs Gies Nae Price
The first lovely air came from the playing of the great Irish piper and song collector, Seamus Ennis. According to the words of the original song, a young woman was stolen away by the fairies on her wedding day, never to be seen again. Cathal here plays homage to the talented Irish flute maker Martin Doyle, who made his wooden C flute. The second tune, a wistful air written by Nathaniel Gow, appears in Gow’s Fourth Collection of Strathspeys and Reels, dedicated to the Earl of Eglinton and published in 1800. Nathaniel Gow, composer and publisher, was a great favourite with the Prince Regent and the best known of Niel Gow‘s five sons.
Martin Doyle at Art in Action
Art in Action is a 3-day arts and crafts festival held every June Bank Holiday Weekend. Top artists and craftspeople from many different disciplines are invited to set up studios, stalls and workshops to demonstrate their work and skills live. Over a hundred craft, fine, liberal and performing artists demonstrate and sell their art to the public. An extensive range of children and adult art classes are also available, all set in the lovely house and grounds of Townley Hall near Drogheda in County Louth, Ireland. Art in Action is affiliated to the John Scottus School.
Art in Action is organised and staffed by the School of Philosophy, an educational charity in Dublin (CHY 5791). Everyone who contributes to the organisation and staffing of the event does so entirely on a voluntary basis and without payment of any kind. This is at the core of the ethos of Art in Action and contributes to its unique atmosphere – about which both visitors and artists frequently comment.
Read more >>
Flute players at Martin Doyle
Bray and Roundwood Comhaltas Concert 2010
Gerry O'Donnell
Martin Doyle‘s good friend Gerry O’Donnell recently organised a concert for musicians and dancers from the Bray and Roundwood Comhaltas organisations. Held at The Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, County Wicklow, a total of ninety-eight dancers and musicians were involved. Gerry observed that it was a big undertaking but an important step forward for all involved. Comhaltas is an traditional Irish music organisation that promotes traditional Irish music and culture around the world.
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music. We’re a non-profit cultural movement with hundreds of local branches around the world, and as you can read in our history we’ve been working for the cause of Irish music since the middle of the last century (1951 to be precise). Our efforts continue with increasing zeal as the movement launches itself into the 21st century. Read more >>
Martin Doyle
Martin Doyle drove to Bray especially for the event and Gerry managed to get a good number of his flute students together just before the concert for a photo with Martin – the connection being that almost all of them play Martin Doyle flutes. The entire group proceeded to play a tune and Gerry was very proud of the fact that they were all in tune as well! He also commented that there are some really great young players among his students.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Martin Doyle grew up in the seaside town of Bray in County Wicklow. One of four children in a family with music in their blood, Martin was influenced and inspired by his mothers melodious singing from a very early age – learning songs that have stayed with him to this day.
Flute Maker Martin Doyle's Weblog is maintained on behalf of Martin Doyle by his friend 
New Testimonials Added
July 24, 2010 at 4:09 am · Filed under Flute Making, Flute Players, Irish flute, Martin Doyle Flutes, Musicians, Recently Added, Testimonials, Website ·Tagged addition, flute players, flutemaking, Irish flutes, Martin Doyle Flutes, positive comments, Testimonials, Website
Amanda Drinsinger — flute player from the USA:
Ruth Yates — flute player from Hollywood, Maryland, USA:
These and other kind comments from owners of Martin Doyle flutes can be viewed here: Testimonials
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