Do you have a favourite Irish Musical Instrument?

Céad Míle Fáilte – and welcome to your Letter from Ireland for this week.

Here in County Cork, we’re still in the heart of summer – the weather providing a mix of occasional showers, sunny spells, and cooler evenings. How’s the weather where you are today?

I’m sipping on a cup of Barry’s tea as I write and I do hope you’ll join me now with a cup of whatever you fancy as we start into today’s letter.

A few weeks back I was staying at a guesthouse in Kilkenny city when the soft strains of traditional Irish music floated through the air from a nearby pub. I stopped what I was doing – the beautiful sound evoking a sense of both the familiar and the timeless. Soon after arriving home, I received the following enquiry from one of our Letter readers:

“Hi Mike,

I’m looking for some advice on a matter close to my heart. My 15-year-old nephew recently showed an interest in learning an Irish musical instrument. As someone who has always admired Irish culture and music, I’m thrilled by his enthusiasm but find myself at a loss at recommending a suitable instrument. Any insights you could offer on popular Irish instruments and their difficulty levels would be immensely appreciated. Thanks very much,

Mary, Mass., USA”

Right Mary, let’s use your question as a starting point for this week’s letter and take a glimpse into the world of Irish musical instruments. You see, these aren’t just tools for making music; I think many of us realise Irish musical instruments are an essential voice of both our people and land.

Do You Have a favourite Irish Musical Instrument? One you would like to learn?

First, there’s The Fiddle. Now, you could say it looks just like a violin, and you’d be right! But in the hands of an Irish musician, it comes alive with jigs and reels that would get a sleeping man tapping his feet. It’s said that a master musician can make the fiddle both laugh and cry, and after a night at a recent local session in Kilkenny, I’d have to agree.

Then we have The Bodhrán (pronounced “bow-rawn”), our traditional drum. It’s a simple instrument – made from a wooden frame with a goatskin stretched across  – but in skilled hands, it can be the very heartbeat of Irish music. The player uses a small wooden stick called a tipper, often creating rhythms to echo the galloping of horses across a field.

Of course, I can’t forget the majestic Uilleann Pipes, our uniquely Irish bagpipes. Unlike their Scottish cousins, these are played sitting down, with the bag under the arm (“Uileann” being the Irish for “elbow”). The sound is softer and more melodic – some say it’s like the wind whispering through the rushes on a misty morning.

The Tin Whistle, while being small enough to fit in your pocket, has a sound to pierce the air in the largest hall. It’s often the first instrument that young Irish children learn, its simple design contradicting the complexity of the tunes it can produce.

Finally, there’s The Irish Harp, our national emblem. Its delicate strings have been plucked by bards and minstrels for centuries, accompanying tales of legend, love and loss.

These instruments, my friend, are a lot more than just wood and string and skin. They give voice to our joys and sorrows, our history and hopes. What’s more, in Ireland, you’re just as likely to encounter a master musician playing these Irish musical instruments in a cozy pub setting as you are in a prestigious concert venue.

So Mary, if I were advising my own nephew – I would suggest the Tin Whistle which offers an easier path into playing Irish tunes, jigs and reels. Also, I believe that one of the most important things he can do is play with others as soon as possible. If your nephew enjoys his experience, he may wish to advance onto other more complex (and more expensive) instruments. What do you think?

Until we chat again next week, may the music of Ireland bring a smile to your face – and even put a jig in your step.

Slán for now,

Mike.