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Traditional Irish Tin Whistle & Flute
Bríd O’Donoghue has long been recognised as one of Ireland’s finest whistle players, though she herself is very modest about her musical ability and has never sought the limelight. Paddy Canny, a wonderful fiddle player from East Clare considers Bríd the finest traditional whistle player he has heard.
A little biography
Bríd was born in Caherush, midway between Quilty and Miltown Malbay. She started playing the tin whistle at the age of six at Annagh National School where her school teacher was Tessie Walsh, sister-in-law of Junior Crehan. Her music was very much influenced by her uncle J.C. Talty and Willie Clancy. She grew up playing with and absorbing from the music of J.C. and Willie. Her love of whistle playing is as a result of this. Willie Clancy gave her much encouragement to continue playing the tin whistle. She remembers how Willie always made the time to to sit down and play with her during her visit to his house. He gave her much instruction on tunes and ornamentation at a very early age.
Bríd starting playing flute at the age of eighteen and enjoys playing the flute at sessions and céilís. She has a great love of the Irish Language and and Irish Culture.
Early accomplishments
Bríd has been awarded many prizes at national level in Slógadh, Fleadh Cheoil na héireann and Pan Celtic Festival. The highlight of these being when Séamus Ennis awarded her the Gradam as the finest traditional tinwhistle player in any age group at All-Ireland Slógadh in 1978.
The music continues
Bríd has been teaching tin whistle at The Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay almost from the outset. She has enjoyed seeing the school going from strength to strength over the years. She enjoys teaching students from all over the world and considers it “the highlight of her year” to teach at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy.
The music continues …at home in the O’Brien Family
Bríd’s love of music has been passed on to her five children, they all play tin whistle and piano as well as other instruments. Seán plays flute; Eibhlís, pipes; Deirdre, harp; Liam, concertina, and Sinéad fiddle. They enjoy playing together and perform regularly at concerts, weddings, and other functions & occassions.
Photo taken while performing for President Mary McAleese at the official opening of the Resource Centre, Miltown Malbay, where Bríd holds her weekly music classes
Ceol na nOg is a recording which features pupils from Brid O Donohue’s Music School, Miltown Malbay – tin whistle groups, flute groups, ceili bands and grupa cheoil. The pupils are aged between 6 and 21 and the music on this recording gives a true sample of various levels encountered in a typical year’s classes.
The music on the CD was selected for it’s associations with the people Bríd learned from, in that sense it’s a very personal recording, here she plays the tunes learned when growing up. It is often said Irish traditional music is the music of people and places. If ever there was a CD that reflected that, this is the one.