A Look at the Best Irish Flute Players

The talents of six outstanding Irish flutists, from the well known Kevin Crawford to Seamus Tansey, are shown in this guide to Irish flute music. Through profiles of these top musicians, readers get a look into their big additions to the music scene.This overview invites you to hear the sounds of these top artists in Irish music.

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This article shows the talents of six Irish flute masters: Kevin Crawford, Michael McGoldrick, Catherine McEvoy,June McCormack, Peter Horan, and Seamus Tansey. Learn their special styles, promise to cultural heritage, and big effect on traditional and fusion Irish music styles.

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There's plenty of information about these top players and their impact on the Irish music scene. Read the sections below to learn more about their great stories, top skills, and big works in Irish flute music.

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Kevin Crawford

Kevin Crawford, coming from Birmingham, England, was filled with Irish traditional music from a young age, thanks to his parents' roots in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare. A move to Clare in 1989 raised his contact and promise to the Irish music scene. His well controlled phrasing and nice ornaments on the Grinter flute soon became his key style.

Rising as a key player in Co Clare's busy session scenes, Crawford built his fame and grew his reach with the group Grianán and trio Raise the Rafters. His world fame grew when he started playing with Moving Cloud, adding to their albums in 1995 and 1998.

In 1997, Kevin Crawford gained more fame by becoming part of the top group, Lúnasa, during a tour in Australia. His unbroken time within this group has given eight albums and two solo records. Crawford's joint efforts with other musicians have made big works, notably 'On Common Ground', a duet album he created alongside Lúnasa's bagpiper, Cillian Vallely.

Crawford's flexible musical style has led to his part on albums covering a wide range of types, taking him from the strong accordion melodies of Joe Derrane to the moving songs of singer songwriter Natalie Merchant.

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Check out The D Flute Album by Kevin Crawford. By clicking this link, you'll be directed to the album on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3TGBju2

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Michael McGoldrick

A master in the world of folk music, Michael McGoldrick shows a big career as both a band member and solo artist. Born in Manchester in 1971 to Irish parents, his talent was clear early on. McGoldrick, who plays a variety of instruments including Irish flute, uilleann pipes, low whistle, bodhran, and even the guitar and mandolin, has always shown a steady promise to Irish traditional music.

In his young years, he started mixing his base skills with modern styles, leading to a big mix that took the music space by storm. This new idea led to the start of bands such as Toss the Feathers and later, Flook. His work with top musical groups like Lúnasa, Capercaillie, and the Afro Celt Sound System further shaped his searching way.

Of McGoldrick's big list, his solo albums, especially 'Wired' released in 2006, stand out. A sign to his open mind, it mixes Celtic folk melodies with mixed sounds of jazz, Indian percussion, electronic loops, and even bluegrass.

Through his career, McGoldrick has smartly led traditional folk music into new places, making a bridge between old tradition and the energy of the modern sound world. His promise, new ideas and skill mark his big addition to Celtic music.

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Check out the ARC album by Michael McGoldrick. By clicking this link, you'll be directed to the album on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ez3S4H

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Catherine McEvoy

Catherine McEvoy, born in Birmingham in May 1956 to Irish parents from Co. Roscommon, is a top and known flute player and traditional musician. Known as one of the key female musicians of her time, Catherine took in the rich musical traditions of Roscommon and Sligo from an early age. She grew up learning from the talents of her father, a flute player, and her mother, a ballad singer. Her older brother, John McEvoy, a top fiddle player, further shaped Catherine’s musical education.

Doing well in a range of groups, like the Birmingham Céili Band and the all female traditional group "Macalla," Catherine has grown into a respected artist and teacher within traditional music. Her list, which includes several albums, has brought her big praise and awards, including the honor of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year in 2019.

As a top teacher, Catherine has taught at many music festivals, schools, and events, including the Willie Clancy Summer School in Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare, the Catskills Irish Arts Week in New York, Gaelic Roots at Boston College, and the University of Limerick. Besides her successful musical career, Catherine is a dedicated music teacher at ChildVision, the National Centre for the Education of the Visually Impaired in Ireland. Her passion for traditional Irish music and her promise to share her knowledge with the next group makes sure of the continued value of Ireland's cultural heritage.

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Check out The Home Ruler album by Michael McGoldrick. By clicking this link, you'll be directed to the album on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gMkBDI

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June McCormack

June McCormack, a talented traditional flute player, hails from Ballintogher, Co. Sligo, and has made a big impact on the Irish music scene. In 1998, she got the big TG4 Gradam "Young Musician of the Year" award and won the All Ireland Senior Flute Competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ballina.

As a primary school teacher, June mixes her passion for education with her love for traditional music. She has put out two flute tutorial books, "Fliúit" (2006) and "Fliúit 2" (2009), as well as "The Book of Sligo Tunes." Working with Michael Rooney, she has recorded three CDs, including "Tobar an Cheoil" (2022), "Land's End" (2006), and "Draíocht" (2004). June is also a member of Sligo's Dartry Ceili Band and the music group Síona, which released the album "Launching the Boat" in 1998.

Guided by her teachers Carmel Gunning and Paddy Ryan, June met Michael Rooney at a Foróige event in UCD in 1989. The duo was randomly paired for a duet show, marking the start of their good musical partnership.

Regarding musical instruments, June plays an Irish flute made by Patrick Olwell from Virginia, USA, and another flute made by Mike Grinter. Her firm promise to saving and pushing for traditional Irish music reflects her deep dedication to the lively cultural legacy of Ireland.

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Peter Horan

Known as one of Ireland’s top musicians, Peter Horan (1926 – 2010) was praised for his unique flute and fiddle playing. A native of Killavil, County Sligo, he built a distinct style shaped by the local Irish fiddling tradition. The musical legacy of South Sligo, mainly Killavil, played a big role in his craft.

Peter began his traditional Irish music path with the tin whistle during his childhood. By nine years of age, he was growing his skill on the concert flute. Even though never formally taught in music reading, Peter's drive for musical education led him to teach new groups using his unique ways.

Over the years, Peter built a good career, which included a nearly 30 year work with fiddler Fred Finn. Later, Peterpaired with Sliabh Luachra fiddler Gerry Harrington, releasing a praised CD called "Fortune Favours the Merry." He continued to perform and teach at Irish arts festivals globally, sharing his unique talents and keeping the lively Irish music tradition. The mark Peter left on Irish music was noted when he was posthumously honored with the Irish Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2002 and an Honorary Master of Music from St. Angela's College Sligo and NUI Galway in 2009.

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Seamus Tansey

Born in Gorteen, County Sligo, in 1943, Seamus Tansey was a top Irish flute performer known for his unique way and big impact on Irish music. Growing up with a mother who played the fiddle and a father who played the tin whistle, Tansey built a deep love for music. This helped him grow into a top figure within the Wren Boy tradition.

Despite starting the flute at 17, called late by some, Tansey approached the instrument with great dedication. His influences ranged from his mother's music to the recordings of notable musicians like Michael Coleman and the radio program 'A Job of Journeywork.' Amidst a big move of local musicians, Tansey felt he had become a 'musical orphan,' but this pushed him to commit more to his craft.

By 1965, Tansey had met big goals, securing the senior all Ireland crown at the Fleadh Cheoil and teaming up with the Coleman Country Ceili Band. Throughout his top career, he brought forth several albums, drawing attention from all corners with his strong show of the Sligo style. His published work in 1999, alongside his visible role in the 2017 TG4 series, further boosted his big influence within the sphere of Irish traditional music. Honoring Tansey, who left in July 2022, it is clear that his strong legacy will last within Irish music.

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Check out The Irish Celtic Ballads and Traditional Music album by Seamus Tansey and other prominent artists. By clicking this link, you'll be directed to the album on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gF4g3F

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Final Thoughts

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Our trip through the musical paths of these six Irish flutists reveals a fun shared journey of talent and dedication. Their influences range from the rich traditions of County Sligo's fiddling heritage to the mixed fusion of contemporary and folk music. Kevin Crawford, Michael McGoldrick, Catherine McEvoy, June McCormack, Peter Horan, and Seamus Tansey have all added greatly to the Irish music scene, each with their own unique style and way. Whether through new joint works, teaching, or promise to saving cultural heritage, they have pushed boundaries while honoring tradition. Their work continues to move future generations, putting their names deep within the history of Irish music. In honoring them, we're reminded of the power of music to bridge gaps between old and new, local and global, the known and the undiscovered. As we see their influence, we can only look forward to what the future will bring, built on their top additions.

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If you are looking to learn the fundamentals of playing the Irish flute, here is a selection of books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4daNvtZ