Category Archives: Flute Players

Ellen O’Brien Playing A Martin Doyle Flute

The photo below is of Ellen O’Brien – a young flute player from County Cavan – playing a Martin Doyle flute at the Life of Reilly Festival in August 2013. Ellen played a selection of tunes at Flute Wednesday segment of the festival with Matt Molloy, Órlaith McAuliffe, Laurence Nugent and many others.

Ellen loves her Martin Doyle flute and feels that the tone of the flute is brilliant. She won the Ulster Flute Under 12 competition for dance tunes and slow airs, and then went on to the All-Ireland competitions and really enjoyed the whole experience.

Ellen O'Brien playing her Martin Doyle flute

Ellen O’Brien playing her Martin Doyle flute.

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Kind Words And Delightful Tunes

Included in recent additions to Martin Doyle Flutes is a very kind testimonial from Cathal McConnell and two delightful tunes from Ronan Browne.

Kind Words

Martin Doyle and Cathal McConnellThe following words are from the generous heart of Cathal McConnell:

“My friend, flute maker and flute player extraordinaire, Martin Doyle made my B-flat and C flutes, both of which are a complete joy to play! On a recent visit he also gave my ageing Rudall and Rose a much-needed and thorough overhaul. Its cork had been there 150 years!!! A heartfelt thank you Martin, for your craftsmanship as well as your kindness.”

More comments from flute players all over the world can be viewed here: Testimonials »

Delightful Tunes

Ronan Bowne

The two tunes that Ronan Browne has offered, Planxty Irwin (jig) and Hector the Hero (waltz), that are both being played on a Martin Doyle D flute made of Cocus wood.

They can be heard here: Ronan Browne – Flute Music »

Ronan and others can also be seen playing tunes here: Martin Doyle Flutes | YouTube »

Our gratitude to Ronan and Cathal for their generous contributions and kind support.

Seamus Tierney Wins Two All-Ireland Titles

Teen traditional musician Seamus Tierney won three titles at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil finals at Derry in August, 2013 – two of them playing a Martin Doyle flute. Seamus, who hails from Lavey in County Derry, took first prize in the Flute 15-18 category and third prize in the Flute Slow Airs 15-18 category. He also collected first prize in the Tin Whistle 15-18 category.

Our heartiest congratulations to Seamus! Here he is playing two reels: Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel and The Morning Thrush.

More Fleadh Cheoil results can be viewed here: Fleadh Cheoil Results | Martin Doyle Flutes »

Kathlyn Sheehy Wins Two All-Ireland Competitions

Kathlyn Sheehy is a young flute player who plays a Martin Doyle flute and won the 2012 All-Ireland Under-12 Flute Fleadh Cheoil competition in Cavan and placed second in the 2013 All-Ireland Under-12 Flute competition in Derry.

Our heartiest congratulations to Kathlyn – well done you!

Kathlyn Sheehy

Kathlyn Sheehy sporting a well earned All-Ireland trophy and her Martin Doyle flute.

More Fleadh Cheoil results can be viewed here: Fleadh Cheoil Results | Martin Doyle Flutes »

Music In The Family, Part 2

In the previous post, we highlighted a new album that has just been produced and released by Martin Doyle’s daughter Aoife Doyle. Continuing with the theme of music in the family, this post highlights some video clips produced and posted on YouTube by Martin’s son Joe Doyle – a talented multi-instrumentalist/singer/composer and voice artist. Joe recently spent some time at Martin’s home in County Clare and recorded three video clips with local flute player Brian Morgan. Brian is playing Martin Doyle flutes and Joe is playing bouzouki.

Two reels with Brian playing a keyless Martin Doyle traditional flute made of boxwood.

Brian and Joe play two jigs, the second of which is Christy Barry’s jig. Brian is playing a Martin Doyle keyed flute made from African Blackwood.

Continue reading →

Rob Portnoy Comments On MDF Headjoint

Rob Portnoy

Rob Portnoy

Rob Portnoy is a renowned multi-woodwind performer, clinician and teacher who has worked with a plethora of superstar singers, musicians and performers including Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Mel Torme, Aretha Franklin, Wayne Newton, Nancy Wilson, Don Sebasky, Mickey Rooney, Red Skelton, Debbie Reynolds, Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole and Sarah Vaughn.

Rob had the following to say about a wooden headjoint that he recently commissioned Martin Doyle to make for his concert flute:

Hi Martin,
I just wanted to thank you for the phenomenal work you did in creating my new headjoint. I recently played it on the show “Beauty and The Beast” and received many compliments on my “sweet” sound. The combination of my Altus Limited and your Blackwood Headjoint allow me a warmth that neither of my metal headjoints provide and enable me to play all octaves with a solid, centered sound which articulates quickly and doesn’t break up when pushed! I will surely endorse your craftsmanship so more flutists can experience the wonderful qualities of a Martin Doyle headjoint!
Best wishes,
Rob Portnoy.

Martin Doyle’s web page about the wooden headjoints he makes for concert flutes can be viewed here: Wooden Headjoints for Concert Flutes »

Kind Words From Matthew Laurie

Matthew Laurie

Matthew Laurie

As mentioned in previous posts, Martin Doyle sometimes receives messages from people who have purchased flutes from him and write to compliment and thank him for his efforts. These kind comments are sometimes posted on Martin’s website, with the permission of the authors, and Martin recently received a very nice comment from Matthew Laurie – a community musician and storyteller from Derbyshire in England. These are Matthew’s kind words:

Hi Martin,
The flute [boxwood Celtic style flute] arrived today and I am in love! It is simply stunning and is far and away the finest flute that I have played and owned. I am amazed at the expressive range that I can achieve even on the first day of playing it. This flute will inspire me to play and practice more – I am very happy indeed. Thank you!

Some two weeks later Matthew commented to this webmaster that the flute had indeed inspired and helped him to practice more and to play at a higher level. I mentioned this to Martin Doyle who made the following comment:

Well for me the whole point of this flute making game is to make flutes that bring the players on – that’s my intention. Otherwise there would be no point in doing it.

Fair play to you Martin.

Matthew’s kind words and those of many other flute players can be viewed here: Testimonials »