Category Archives: Testimonials

Testimonial From Leanne Brennan

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What better way to round out a year than to receive a lovely testimonial from a customer-friend expressing gratitude for a job well done! Two days before Christmas, Martin Doyle received the following words from Leanne Brennan of Kilcoole in County Wicklow.

Dear Martin,

I had been beyond excited waiting for the arrival of my new flute. What I received surpassed all my Expectations. The masterful craftsmanship is evident in every element of this beautiful Boxwood flute. From the feel and the look, to its smooth, clear, deep tonal sound. What a privilege to own and play such a flute, I will be perpetually grateful to have such an instrument in our family made by not only a master at his craft but a complete gentleman.

Thanks so much again for such an incredible flute! I have been “ar neamh” (in heaven) playing away 🙂

Leanne Brennan

Messages like this bring great joy to the heart’s of those that make things from wood with their hands for the betterment of the world – in this case, the flute maker Martin Doyle.

Thank you Leanne.

The gratitude of the heart
Is itself the breath-gratitude
Of life.
~ Sri Chinmoy

More testimonials can he seen here »

Shana Stone

New Testimonial from Shana Stone

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This past August Martin Doyle received a lovely testimonial from American flutist Shana Stone, a performer, teacher and composer-arranger, who had purchased one of Martin’s six key flutes made from African Blackwood. These are her words …

“Martin Doyle’s flutes are nothing short of extraordinary. My six-key flute, made from African blackwood, speaks easily and with plenty of punch, sass, and personality. It sweetly sings the old airs and has plenty of bubble and spark in the faster tunes, and the low D barks wonderfully. This flute has such depth, soul, and clarity that it makes me fall in love with it all over again every time I play it. I could spend a lifetime getting to know its distinct voice. It is easily accessible to play, yet filled with an expansive palette of nuance to explore. The prices are extremely reasonable, and Martin is communicative, caring, and the best person to work with!”

About Shana Stone

“Shana is a thoughtful, engaging musical artist and classically trained flutist devoted to interpreting and sharing music with listeners. She graduated in May 2025 with her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Georgia, where she served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the UGA Flute Studio and performed with the Southern Wind Quintet. She now intends to focus on growing her teaching studio and pursuing an orchestral career. She earned her Master’s degree in Flute Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (where she studied with Dr. Erika Boysen and Dr. Tim Hagen) and her Bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance from the University of Georgia (where she studied with Professor Angela Jones-Reus). Other teachers include Daniel Self, Kristen Holritz, Elizabeth Klein Teplitsky, and Emily Zirlin.” Read more: My Story | Shana Stone »

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New Testimonial

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Just added to Martin Doyle’s website, a very nice testimonial from flute player Eamonn Keane of Balla in the County Mayo.

Hi Martin,
You may remember that I travelled from Mayo just as the virus and lockdown were happening, and bought one of your two piece flutes. Meant to contact earlier and say thanks. It’s a delightful instrument – so much easier to play on than the other instrument I had.
Kind regards,
Eamonn.

To view more kind comments from flute players from Ireland and all over the world, kindly visit Martin Doyle’s testimonials page »

Kind Words From Our Customers

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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 Comments On MDF Headjoint

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Martin Doyle is always grateful to receive feedback on his work as a flute maker and he was thrilled to read a post on the Facebook page of Irish flautist Eimear McGeown recently with regards to a wooden headjoint that he made for Eimear’s concert flute. It runs thus:

“Really enjoying my new Martin Doyle Flutes wooden headjoint for my classical flute!!! Have lots of really exciting new music to learn on it for the Budapest recital [Eimear is offering a recital and masterclass at the Budapest Flute Academy in Hungary, March 10—13, 2016], including two new pieces written for me by Alicia Hart and Philip Hammond!”

Eimear McGeown's Headjoint

Eimear McGeown’s Martin Doyle Flutes Wooden Headjoint (photo credit: Eirmear McGeown’s Facebook page)

We look forward to hearing more from Eimear in the near futue and wish her well in Budapest.

For more information, kindly visit: Wooden Headjoints for Concert Flutes »

Recent Additions: Testimonials & Responsive Template

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Update ThumbnailMartin Doyle Flutes recently received two testimonial comments from customers and his website has had a facelift in the form of a resposive template.

Two New Testimonials

Martin Doyle has recently received two very glowing and kind testimonials for his flute making efforts. The first testimonial is from Irish flute player Mike Kenneally of County Galway:

I love the flute, Martin. Maybe I should say what it is I like about it. Well, first of all it vibrates very freely without much effort of blowing. It is finely in tune with itself and the tone is rich and smooth. The keyed notes have a clarity and strength that I have not encountered before, and I think that ending the flute at the low D makes all the difference to that note. Another good point that I have noticed is that it is very easy to do breath vibrato on it. So all in all a job very well done. Congratulations. I can perhaps, appreciate more than most the work that went into making such a superior instrument, because I do a bit of woodturning myself.

The second testimonial is from German flute player Stefan Thamm of Freiburg:

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Kind Words And Delightful Tunes

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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.