Top Tin Whistle Players and Their Impact to Celtic Music

Celtic music is enjoyed by many people, and the whistle is a central instrument in the music. Let us name seven accomplished whistle players who have done amazing things with this simple instrument, shaping Celtic music and encouraging new musicians with their talent and artistry.

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Someone who masters the tin whistle shows amazing command and control in their music. They are especially good at playing Irish tunes cleanly, quickly, and with many added musical decorations.

Meet six of the most famous Irish musicians around. Mary Bergin, Joanie Madden, Brian Finnegan, Micho Russelland Kevin Crawford each have their own sounds and manners of playing that have moved Celtic music listeners across the planet.

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Mary Bergin

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Born in Shankill, County Dublin, Ireland, Mary Bergin is considered one of the great players of the tin whistle. Coming from a musical family, she started playing the instrument when she was just nine years old. Her talent and hard work won her many awards at Oireachtas and Fleadh Ceoil events, including the All Ireland Championships for both junior and senior levels. Mary’s commitment to her music and skill led her to be named Traditional Musician of the Year in 2000.

As proof of her amazing ability, Mary Bergin released two albums now seen as requirement, Feadóga Stáin (1979) and Feadóga Stáin 2 (1992). These records show her playing Irish tunes with speed and accuracy while adding her own masterful decorations. She plays the whistle left handed, with her right hand covering the top holes and her left hand below. Mary’s skill in making beautiful versions of tunes through her playing has secured her spot among the top tin whistle players of this century.

In 1990, Mary worked with musicians Kathleen Loughnane and Dearbhaill Standun to create the group Dordan. The three of them interested crowds with their special mixture of old Irish sounds and baroque period music.

Mary Bergin’s work has had a big effect on Irish music. Her great skill with the tin whistle and her devotion have motivated other whistle players and people who listen to the music. Her standing as one of the most respected players of the instrument continues to encourage others in the music scene.

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Check out The Feadoga Stain Album by Mary Bergin. By clicking this link, you'll be directed to the album on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gxrVD6

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Joanie Madden

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Born in the Bronx, New York to Irish parents, Joanie Madden is a famous Irish American flute and whistle player. Her father, Joe Madden, was an All Ireland Champion on the accordion and a valued Irish musician. Growing up with the music, Joanie learned from Jack Coen, a National Heritage Award recipient.

After only a few years of lessons, Madden's ability was clear when she won the All Ireland Championship for both the concert flute and tin whistle. In 1984, she created a new record as the first American to win the Senior All Ireland Championship on the whistle. Joanie is recognized for playing the Boehm system flute, or silver flute, which is uncommon in Irish traditional music, showing her talent and range.

Other musicians hold her in high regard; both Matt Molloy and James Galway have said Madden is a top flute player in Irish music right now. Her commitment to her music and her backing of Irish American music and ways of life got her the noted Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2011. Additionally, Madden received the National Heritage Fellowship in 2021 from the National Endowment for the Arts, the American government's top award in folk arts.

Joanie Madden also leads the all woman Irish music group, Cherish the Ladies. They have played at top locations everywhere, showing the solid foundation and pride of Irish American representatives of Celtic music. This forward thinking group highlights the great abilities of women in Irish music and dance, clearing paths and motivating future women performers.

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Check out The Whistle on the Wind Album by Joannie Madden. By clicking this link, you'll be directed to the album on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XvDlOT

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Brian Finnegan

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From Armagh in Northern Ireland, Brian Finnegan is a well known player of the Irish flute and tin whistle. He started the whistle at eight and the flute at ten while at the Armagh Pipers Club. His musical models included people like Matt Molloy and Jean Michel Veillon, and he also enjoyed other kinds of music, including jazz and material from India.

A specific part of Finnegan's playing is his tonguing method. This technique makes his sound noticeable in the Irish music setting. He first received notice as part of the group Upstairs in a Tent. In 1993, he issued his second solo album, When the Party's Over.

In 1995, Finnegan created the band Flook. It started as a three person outfit called Three Nations Flutes with players Sarah Allen and Mike McGoldrick. Ed Boyd later joined on guitar, which finalized the group. The band's mixture of old and current sounds won them the Best Band title at the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Finnegan's solo record, The Ravishing Genius of Bones, from 2010, is a sign of his ongoing development as a performer. This album shows how he mixes Irish music customs with other sources to make a completely new sound that is very interesting.

Brian Finnegan tours a lot in the United States, Latin America, and Ireland, sharing his ability with people everywhere. Alongside guitarist William Coulter, Finnegan continues to grab listeners attention with his playing and new ideas for Irish music.

With his great ability, interest in many musical sources, and commitment to his work, Brian Finnegan is now a known person in Irish music. His command of the flute and tin whistle, plus his personal manner and his checking out of other music types, will go on encouraging players and listeners of Irish music for many years.

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Check out the Ravishing Genius of Bones Album by Brian Finnegan. By clicking this link, you'll be directed to the album on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MNc4Tc

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Micho Russell

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Born on March 25, 1915, in Doonagore, Doolin, County Clare, Ireland, Micho Russell was a wonderful Irish musicianand writer, mainly known for his fantastic tin whistle performances. Coming from a family with a strong musical life, his mother was a concertina player, and his father was a sean nós singer, which helped build Russell's own interest and talent in old Irish music.

Russell began learning the tin whistle by ear at the age of eleven, showing his natural feel and love for the instrument. His hard work led him to win the 1973 All Ireland tin whistle competition, which greatly increased demand for his exciting performances.

Like Séamus Ennis, Micho Russell was also famous for his spoken introductions during live shows, which told stories of folklore and legends. This gift for storytelling, along with his musical ability, made him a cherished person in Irish traditional music.

What made Russell different from other musicians was his personal playing manner. His method with the tin whistle was spare, with long quiet moments between notes. This simple looking technique was actually very hard to copy and demonstrated Russell's deep knowledge of the music’s foundation.

Sadly, Micho Russell died in a car accident on February 19, 1994, while returning home from a show, just before he was scheduled to record another CD. Despite his unexpected death, his effect on Irish music is still very present.

Russell's love of old Irish culture was clear not only in the music he played, but also in his acceptance of his background. His interest in saving and sharing this part of who he was gave him a real voice as a person representing Ireland.

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Check out the In Our Own Dear Land Album by Micho Russell. By clicking this link, you'll be directed to the album on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZrD5Df

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Kevin Crawford

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Kevin Crawford is a well known Irish musician celebrated for his playing of the flute, tin whistle, low whistle, and bodhrán. He was born in Birmingham, England, to Irish parents from Milltown Malbay, County Clare. This background played a large part in forming his interest in old Irish music.

Crawford’s music career started in the late 1980s when he became a member of the English group Long Acre. He then joined the Irish quintet Moving Cloud in 1993, recording two albums with them. In 1997, Crawford became a member of Lúnasa, one of Ireland’s most known traditional bands, after Michael McGoldrick left. This move created new possibilities for his work. As the front man for Lúnasa, Crawford held the attention of crowds with his wonderful fluteplaying during live shows. With Lúnasa, he has made many records, which show his ability as a player. In addition to his group work, Crawford has also recorded solo albums and worked with other musicians, adding to his body of work.

Along with his work as a leading Irish flute player, Kevin Crawford is focused on sharing his knowledge and interest in Irish music with the next group of players. He offers video courses for flute and whistle through the Online Academy of Irish Music, making his experience available to hopeful musicians everywhere.

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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/3XuLLpS

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Alan Doherty

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Alan Doherty is a known Irish tin whistle and flute player who comes from the town of Tallaght, just outside Dublin. With a playing manner that uses parts of jazz and improvisation, Doherty has received notice and appreciation in traditional Irish music.

Alan's music has taken him to many places, and he eventually settled in Germany. He now lives in Halle where he teaches. Among his major accomplishments is his part as a lead soloist on the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, showing his great ability. In 2001, Doherty helped start the traditional Irish music band Gráda, which had players from both Ireland and New Zealand. Based in Dublin and Galway, Gráda spent a lot of time touring and receiving positive notices. Gráda's albums got good reviews from several media sources. Their music was noted by publications including Irish Music, Sing Out!, The Irish Times, The Evening Herald, and The Event Guide. The band's particular sound and great ability made them stand out in traditional Irish music. Although Gráda stopped playing in 2011, the members perform together often in smaller groups, continuing to affect musicians everywhere. Alan Doherty also taught the tin whistle at primary schools in Dublin. His interest in helping the next group of Irish musicians continues as he runs Irish music workshops in different places, sharing his information with new artists.

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For those interested in experiencing the full depth Celtic music influence in soundtracks, the Lord of the Rings Soundtrack album by Howard Shore brings Middle-earth to life. This collection of music not only captures the essence of the epic tale but also serves as a testament to the power of Celtic music in storytelling. You can find the album in Amazon through this link: https://amzn.to/4guwfTj

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Carmel Gunning

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A known Irish composer and musician from Sligo, Ireland, she has made a big mark on traditional Irish music. Seen as one of Ireland's top tin whistle players, her skills also cover singing, flute, guitar, and the button accordion. Carmel'sparticular manner of whistle playing and respect for older ways come from her home of Geevagh in South County Sligo, where she was first around this music.

This history and background were very important in forming Gunning's musical path. Her father, Tom Nangle, would show her old tunes by lilting or whistling them to her. In 1969, she first started performing, singing in the band Carmel and the Chrystals. Her great ability was soon noticed and she won the All Ireland tin whistle slow airs competition at the Fleadh Cheoil in 1976.

Carmel Gunning is known for her quick tin whistle style, which is common for fiddle, flute, and tin whistle players from the South Sligo way. Her ornamentation is varied, using many tongued triplets that sound like the bowed additions popular with Sligo fiddlers. She has used her knowledge to teach music students at the University of Limerick, sharing the Sligo musical method.

As the person who runs the Carmel Gunning School of Music, she has helped the skills of some students who became good musicians themselves. Her former pupils include flute and whistle player Liam Kelly of the group Dervish, Orlaith McAuliffe, Olivia McTernan, and June McCormack. During her career, Carmel has played Irish music in shows around the globe, showing her skills to people everywhere.

On top of her live shows, Carmel Gunning has released many albums and tune books, confirming her position as a known figure in traditional Irish music. Her work in keeping and sharing the Sligo musical tradition has made her a respected musician, leaving a strong effect for new people to appreciate and follow.

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A Lasting Legacy

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To sum up, these seven whistle players have certainly made a difference in Celtic music. Every one of them, with their personal ways of playing and hard work, helped form the music we hear today and encouraged new musicians. Their love for traditional Irish music, along with their great abilities and work to keep their local music alive, has made them central figures in this type of music.

They have been noticed by people everywhere and were important in sharing the many ways Celtic music is played. The work of Mary Bergin, Joanie Madden, Brian Finnegan, Micho Russell, Kevin Crawford, Alan Doherty, and Carmel Gunning will carry on moving listeners and stands as a statement on the power of old Irish music. Through their fine performances, recordings, and teaching, these whistle players have made sure that the tunes of Celtic music will stay with us and encourage others to play.

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