About Martin Doyle
View an Irish translation of this page: Sceal Martin Doyle
“My first introduction to instrument making was as a young child. My father would make whistles from the bark of the sycamore tree.” — Martin Doyle.
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. In his own words, “My first introduction to instrument making was as a young child. My father would make whistles from the bark of the sycamore tree. My grandmother, who was a melodeon player, used to visit us on Fridays and we would play and swap tunes.”
Taught the tin whistle by Christian Brother Donovan at a Catholic school in Greystones, Martin developed a love for performance, also playing the harmonica and jaw harp. Forming a family band with his sister and two brothers, the children would entertain family, relatives and neighbours on a variety of improvised instruments. “I worked in a pub in town at the tender age of fourteen,” Martin remembers. “Charlie Byrne, the well known actor and singer, would have me play the mouth organ for the patrons. I have always enjoyed performing.”
At seventeen, Martin began an apprenticeship as an engineer working for a company, rather ironically, in the building which would eventually become his own flute making workshop. Five years later, taking a break from the trade, Martin and his brothers formed a band called ‘The Doyles’ that playing traditional Irish music around the local area. A short time later Martin went to sea as a marine engineer for a short period. He soon returned home to reignite his musical ambitions, which he describes as his ‘first love’.
“My philosophy is to produce a simple style flute of the highest standard, producing a sound which is enjoyed by amateur and professional musicians alike. These flutes are elemental in their simplicity, yet are sought after by some of the world’s finest musicians.” — Martin Doyle.
Playing sessions and gigs at nights and on weekends, Martin joined his friend Noel Gallagher in 1979 to begin repairing and making Irish flutes and Uilleann pipes. Realising the need for better equipment, he once again went to sea as an engineer with an oil exploration company — working in the North Sea and off the coasts of Africa and Spain. Three years later, Martin had earned enough to purchase some top quality tools and returned once again to Bray, where he set up a workshop with another friend, Johnny Burke. Martin concentrating on wooden flutes and Johnny on the pipes.
In 1984, our intrepid flute maker went solo and moved to the workshop where he had served his engineering apprenticeship by the River Dargle in Bray. He began producing flutes and doing part-time maintenance engineering at local factories to supplement his income. In 1997, somewhat exhausted by a tough work schedule, Martin decided to make flute making his full time occupation. His philosophy is to produce a simple style flute of the highest standard, producing a sound which is enjoyed by amateur and professional musicians alike. These flutes are elemental in their simplicity, yet are sought after by some of the world's finest musicians and flute teachers.
All the while Martin has kept up with his own flute playing and also with teaching. For many years, he taught flute and tin whistle at the Port Lios prison, the Bray School Project and for a number of private students. He has travelled to Hungary on several occasions to give workshops and in 2003 took part in the Pan-Celtic festival there. Martin has also participated in the free lunchtime summer concert series held at the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin and at An Béal Binn in Bray. Travelling extensively throughout the Ireland each year, he is involved in many workshops, festivals and music sessions around the countryside — both playing and exhibiting his flutes.
“Now, years later, I realise the importance of those early days because only as a flute player can you truly understand what is needed to make a good sounding instrument.” — Martin Doyle.
Martin has entered his flutes in two craft shows over the years — winning major awards on both occasions. In 1985 he won the Crafts Council of Ireland Medal and in 1993, the Californian Gold Medal. Many of his flutes are being played by champions of the Fleadh Ceol competitions across Ireland. Harking back to his musical upbringing he states, “Now, years later, I realise the importance of those early days because only as a flute player can you truly understand what is needed to make a good sounding instrument. Over the years, my work has developed through various flute designs. I made some cylindrical bore models, but preferred the sound of the conical bore for traditional music. The design I currently use has that bore and is the culmination of many years of studying the great eighteenth and nineteenth century master flute makers.”
Whilst his first love in music is the wooden flute, Martin also plays tin whistle, classical flute, mandolin, banjo and the Uilleann pipes. Other interests include Aikido (Martin is a shodan Aikido instructor), outdoor pursuits such as swimming, kayaking, cycling and walking, and he has a keen interest in photography — particularly natural settings. Martin has been practising meditation for many years and has a deep appreciation for spirituality.
In 2005 Martin moved from his native Bray in County Wicklow and is now living in the rural west of Ireland near Liscannor in the County Clare. His love of flute making carries an aspiration for the progression of the craft. In his own words,
“I like to strive to transcend my capacities and therefore my results. It’s important to me that the contemporary flutes keep evolving and giving us new horizons — that’s the real joy of this work! My feeling is that we should never stop striving for the better good in any field of endeavour.” — Martin Doyle.
And that’s the feeling you get when you play a Martin Doyle flute!
Contact — phone and email details for Martin Doyle.
Music and Stories by Martin Doyle:
- Flute Music — audio mp3 samples of Martin Doyle and other musicians playing Martin Doyle flutes.
- Martin Doyle's Anecdotes, Interviews and Music — Martin Doyle presents anecdotes, stories, interviews and music gleaned from the rich tapestry of his own life; a microcosm of the rich and diverse culture that is Ireland.
A Phenomenological Study Involving Martin Doyle:
- A Flute Maker/Player Dyad — Part 1 — the first of an inspiring and informative six part essay entitled A Phenomenological Study into the Experiences of a Flute Maker/Player Dyad by Elizabeth Petcu.