Martin Doyle has recently received a glowing testimonial from American flutist Shana Stone – an accomplished performer, teacher and composer/arranger who resides in Georgia. Having recently become the proud owner of one of Martin Doyle’s wooden head joints for her concert flute, Shana had the following to say…
Martin, I think this wooden headjoint is the closest thing to perfection I’ve ever played in a flute. The sound is absolutely gorgeous, the colors are amazing, it’s incredibly responsive, and the low register is so expansive and rich. It comes to life and sings! It’s been a very long time since I enjoyed playing just that much. I didn’t want to put it down!
Thank you again for this mind-blowing gift. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it and will treasure it always!
Our thanks to Shana for her kind and encouraging words.
Our heartiest congratulations fly to the very talented Molly Pittendrigh of County Mayo!
Molly won the seniors (Over 18) flute, whistle, and flute slow air competitions at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 in Belfast a few weeks ago. Molly plays a Martin Doyle flute and we are very proud of her accomplishments. An extraordinary effort goes into becoming a champion and that also includes a great commitment of support from family and friends. Our congratulations extend to Molly’s younger sister Hannah who also competed in Belfast and won awards in the 15-18 age group for whistle and whistle slow air.
Martin Doyle’s flutes have done well in the hands of multiple young player throughout 2026. More information here »
Molly Pittendrigh Belfast 2026
Here is a video clip of Molly playing at Corofin in 2025.
In late December of 2025, we featured a six key boxwood flute that Martin Doyle had made for a client in America. Ten days ago Martin received a lovely testimonial message from the owner of that flute, Thomas Jones, who very eloquently expressed how he felt about his investment.
Hi Martin,
Add me to your list of satisfied and happy customers!
When I decided to order a flute from you, I’d been playing my Blackwood Flute for over twenty years. I liked and enjoyed the flute, but the weight of the flute was starting to bother me, as I have mentioned, and I was feeling that I wasn’t getting enough from the flute.
I’m glad you suggested the Boxwood for the new flute. It weighs quite literally, half of what my Blackwood flute weighs. Your Boxwood flute feels vibrant when I pick it up, and almost alive in my hands. Playing it gives me such great pleasure. The tone is open and big, it’s louder and can be pushed harder without sacrificing any sound quality.
I spent over fifty years as a fine custom jeweler, 41 with my own business, and I feel the quality of your workmanship is superior. I like how you’ve done the keys and how close they are to the body; elegant and functional.
The Boxwood, itself is very distinctive and is growing more so, as you had said it would. And I love the fact that you had cut the wood branch yourself, so many years ago.
I hope this coming year is generous to you, I feel you’ve enabled me to have a true treasure that I’ll value and play the rest of my life!
Wishing you all the best!!!
Thomas Jones
Thomas Jones playing his Martin Doyle six-key boxwood flute.
Referring to the image above, Thomas wrote, “The instruments behind me are ones that I’ve made. The guitar is a Terz guitar, tuned a minor 3rd higher than a regular guitar. I finished it right after I got your flute. The other is a cross between a dulcimer and a da gamba, tuned an octave lower than a fiddle and it’s bowed. This prompted our webmaster to ask Thomas for some background on his own work. Thomas very kindly replied with some wonderful information about himself and his endeavours over the years. It turns out that Thomas is well placed to assess Martin Doyle’s craftsmanship, as he himself is a master jeweller and a luthier.
Our good friend Anurakta O’Neill recently found a forgotten video clip from Martin Doyle’s trip to New Zealand in December of 2014. Martin was visiting Anurakta at his workshop in Christchurch and he asked Martin if he knew the famous O’Neill’s March. Martin proceeded to play that tune and was then prompted to talk about another tune that he had played earlier in the day called Return from Fingal. This second tune relates to the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 AD and the subsequent death of the famed Irish High King Brian Boru. As usual, Martin brought the magic and it was a lovely wee interlude for those present. Martin is playing one of his own traditional style keyless D flutes that is made from cocus wood.
Martin Doyle and his small but dedicated team have created numerous flutes throughout 2025. As this memorable year draws to a close, the flute that we selected to feature is a six key boxwood flute that was completed in August for a client in America.
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 »
We just came across a video clip of our dear friend Ronan Browne playing his Martin Doyle flute. The tune, which Ronan describes as “beautiful, sad, haunting song [that] was sung by my grandmother Delia Murphy“, is Cold Blows the Wind O’er My True Love and the video was recorded in the covered dry dock in Shannon Harbour by Justin Conneely.
