Category Archives: Musicians

Humour: Our Only Saviour!

As our huge posse of true believers already fully know, most if not all of our posts are really, really serious – really! But this one is just for a wee chuckle, a throw away article as it were, and will certainly appeal to those among the thousands of people who pour through our really, really serious in-depth articles each day who are musicians. Are you with us so far – or still? Good, we shall continue then …

Our good and dear and recently one-year-older friend Ronan Browne, sent us a humorous little piece of cartoonery that has probably been floating around on the internet for centuries, but because we have never seen it before, to us it is completely new and well worth sharing. Perhaps Ronan thought that the boss needed a laugh after his recent really, really serious surgery, which is very kind of Ronan. I mean, a week after major controlled-death surgery, who wouldn’t want a good side-splitting laugh, right? Right!

Right so, here it is then … this is it … ready? …

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Happy Birthday Ronan Browne!

Ronan BrowneOn behalf of Martin Doyle, who is a little incapacitated at the moment due to being in hospital for surgery, we at Martin Doyle Flutes would like to offer our dear friend Ronan Browne a very happy birthday!

The Doyle/Browne friendship goes back many years and they have always supported and encouraged each others endeavours. We have no idea what age Ronan is, but he seems at once ancient and ever youthful – a reflection of the man’s timeless soul perhaps, and his ever present sense of humour.

For the two or three people in the audience who don’t know him, Ronan Browne is an Irish musician and composer whose primary instrument is the uilleann pipes. He also sings and plays a raft of instruments including flutes. A lot can be gleaned about musicians from the music that they create. Have a listen to the following piece, entitled Critical Mass, that Ronan produced some years back …

And here’s a video clip of Ronan performing with Martin Doyle and others at a traditional music day during the 2008 Drogheda Arts Festival

Thank you Ronan – your life and activities add a lovely hue to this world.

Kind Words From Our Customers

Martin Doyle Flutes – 35 Years2018 marks the 35th year that Martin Doyle has been producing simple system wooden flutes (aka Irish flutes) – 35 years of focus and effort that have bought great joy to musicians of all ages and grades throughout the world and a great deal of satisfaction for Martin himself no doubt.

For Martin and the small team of people who assist him, it is always encouraging to get positive feedback from the people who purchase his flutes. Martin has recently received three very kind comments from grateful customers and we at Martin Doyle Flutes would like to share them with you.

The first is from a self-admitting “proud mother” in the beautiful County Waterford where, as the Waterford comedian Hal Roach used to say, “all the lovely crystal is made”. The second is from a novice fluter who resides in Dublin town and enjoys anonymity for reasons unknown but respected, and the third is from Sligo flute player Seamus Hernon. First, our proud mother:

Hi Martin,

I just want to thank you for your beautiful flute which we got from you a year and a half ago. Just to let you know my daughter Eve, who was 11 last month, won the under 12s flute reel and jig, the under 12s slow air on the flute, and the same two competitions on her whistle. Also her group cheoil won, so a cup and 5 gold medals her first time in the Waterford fleadh was a great result. Also she won a scholarship yesterday in her Comhaltas branch for flute and whistle. TG4 were there to capture the moment.
What a proud mother I am!

Regards,
Marcella.

From the novice fluter of anonymity:

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Eimear McGeown’s Debut Album: Inis

Falling into the category of “better late than never”, Martin Doyle Flutes is proud to announce that our very good friend Eimear McGowen has recently (April 8, 2018) released her debut album entitled Inis – a lovely compact disc packed with stunning flute playing!

Eimear McGeown’s debut album: Inis

Eimear McGeown’s debut album: ‘Inis’

And, not that we wish to steal any of the thunder, we are very proud to have a small but important presence in the totally epic artwork for the Inis album cover – yes, that’s a Martin Doyle flute that Eimear is holding in her hand! But enough about us …

Inis offers tunes that span a broad range of genre – this is an album that has something for everyone. The online music store CD Baby describes Eimear’s debut album as a “Genre breaking flute album, mixing Irish traditonal, classical, pop and original compositions with filmic arrangements.” Inis features a lovely selection of traditional Irish tunes mixed with such classics as Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘The Sound of Silence’, Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’, Erik Satie’s ‘Gnossiennes, No. 1’, Eimear’s own variations of a 17th century melody entitled ‘La Folia’ and her first ever composition that lends it’s title to the album. In Eimear’s own words:

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Eimear McGeown Performs Enya’s ‘May It Be’

Irish flute player Eimear McGeown has just published a lovely rendition of May It Be – a song co-composed and sung by Enya for the 2001 Peter Jackson movie The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Eimear is playing a keyless Martin Doyle C flute made of African Blackwood and is accompanied by Jonny Toman on guitar. Enjoy …

And for anyone wishing to hear Enya’s original version of May It Be …

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Martin Doyle Interviewed on The West Wind

The Willie Clancy Summer School
The Willie Clancy Summer School, Milltown Malbay, County Clare, Ireland.

July in Ireland means many things to many people, no doubt. It’s mid-summer for one thing and the sun brings welcome warmth to the land, so there must be some joy in most hearts. For the Irish traditional music fraternity though, July means only one thing: the annual Willie Clancy Summer School which is held in Milltown Malbay, County Clare.

For a week or so each July, the small coastal town near Spanish Point is swamped with music teachers, students, aficionados and keen lovers of the great Irish music tradition for master classes, music sessions, concerts and all that comes with such activities. Milltown Malbay is synonymous with the famed Clare musician Willie Clancy (1918—1973) who was a great exponent of the uilleann pipes specifically and Irish traditional music in general.

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Aoife Doyle Releases New Album

Martin Doyle‘s daughter Aoife Doyle is an accomplished jazz singer who has just released her second album entitled ‘Clouds’. Differing from Aoife’s debut album, Clouds is a collection of original songs. These words from an article announcing the release on the Music Network website:

Clouds - a newly released album by Aoife Doyle

Clouds – a newly released album by Aoife Doyle

Aoife’s unique, expressive voice is equally at home with jazz, folk, country, bluegrass or blues, and her singing can evoke memories of the sophisticated, velvet tones of Ella Fitzgerald, the earthy, sweet lyricism of Patsy Cline or the straight‐up country clarity of Alison Krauss. Backed by Johnny Taylor’s subtle piano, Andrew Csibi’s inventive bass and Dominic Mullan’s sensitive percussion, the band has won much deserved critical acclaim.Speaking about the CD, Aoife says, “We are delighted to release this collection of songs, our first album of original music. Our sound has developed a lot in the last few years and the fruits can be heard on this CD. Creatively we have come a long way. Music Network’s support has been imperative to this development. Their understanding of the elements that contribute to the development of an artist are undeniable. To avail of the support and experience Music Network has to offer has been a privilege I am most grateful for.”

Reviews for Aoife’s debut album, ‘This Time the Dream’s on Me’:

“Doyle’s singing is coming from a deeper, more natural place too, with a feeling for the blues learnt from Billie Holiday and the rare ability to improvise vocally.”

“Her swinging quartet includes some of the best young players on the Dublin Scene.”

Our congratulations to Aoife and the accomplished quartet of musicians that back her! Here is the title track from Clouds.