Recently, I reached out to our wonderful community to gather their top recommendations for online music lessons. The response has been nothing short of amazing. We received suggestions covering a wide array of instruments, from the beloved tin whistle to the unique hurdy gurdy. I’m thrilled to present this carefully compiled list of online lessons ..read more

Here at McNeela Instruments we love a good trad session. Most of our team are skilled musicians who are active in the Irish music scene and play at all types of sessions. Those who don’t play themselves still go to as many sessions as they can, as they love nothing more than listening to a ..read more

Having a complex history of musical and folk tradition, Ireland has become a widely renowned country for its musical influences and many different folk instruments. However, there is one instrument in particular that is the most important in displaying the vast history of Ireland: The Irish Harp (or ‘Cláirseach’ as gaeilge). That begs the question, how did the Irish Harp become one of Ireland’s most important symbols? And more importantly, why?  (credit: https://earlymusicmuse.com/medieval-harp-development/)    The Early History of the Irish Harp It’s no secret that the Celtic ..read more

Irish music. A tradition spanning thousands of years, this niche genre of music has captivated the attention of many by its intricate melodies and uplifting atmosphere. From Germany to the USA, to even as far as Australia, Irish music can be heard being played quite literally all over the world! But that begs a few questions, where did this style of music come from? How old is it? And how did it become the lively genre of music we know today? Well, join me on my journey to briefly explore the roots of traditional Irish music.   The Ancient and Mysterious Origins of Irish Music As it turns ..read more

Ah Summer,  the perfect time for socialising and enjoying the magnificent sunshine! Not only that, summer is a fantastic time for getting out and experiencing real live music, and summer in Ireland is no different (albeit with a little bit more rain than usual). Ireland’s summer season brings in a huge amount of festivals and events for those wishing to experience our Traditional Music in person. These events are known for where locals and visitors alike can experience the country’s rich musical culture. Here’s a comprehensive guide to some of the main events you should consider attending ..read more

If you’re considering purchasing a Wild Irish Whistle or simply love the sound of traditional Irish music, you’re in for a treat. Brian Hughes is an acclaimed Irish whistle player from County Kildare, and has recently taken our Wild Irish Whistle range for a test drive! The results are nothing short of spectacular. In this series of videos, Brian plays and reviews each of the different keys of the Wild Irish Whistle, offering a unique insight into each one’s sound and playability. Here, we’ll explore five of these videos to help you decide which Wild Irish Whistle might be right for you. The W ..read more

Have you ever wondered how Irish guitarists get such a charming sound? Or how their guitar sounds so unique in accompanying traditional Irish music? Well fret not! Today we’ll explore one of the most valuable secret weapons that these guitarists have in their repertoire; the DADGAD Tuning.   What is DADGAD Tuning? DADGAD Tuning is an alternative guitar tuning that has each of the six strings tuned to D,A,D,G,A,D. This contrasts the standard tuning quite a bit from the EADGBE that most guitarists are familiar with. The low and high ‘E’ strings are tuned down a full step as well as the high ..read more

Traditional Irish music has always had a certain complexity to it, making it a rather unique style of indigenous music. All of its melodies seem to be constantly shifting and changing, adding notes and extra rhythms here and there. But why do these changes happen? And how do musicians know what notes to add or change? Well, friends, let me introduce you to the wonderful art of ‘ornamentation’ in traditional Irish music! Ornamentation is the process of embellishing a melody by adding extra notes and rhythms to vary the melody and make it more interesting. Ornamentation allows the musician to pu ..read more

Irish Music Mastery: Faster, Smoother, More Precise Have you ever felt like you’re running in place, increase playing speed flute in hand, but your tempo’s just not breaking through? You’re playing along, comfortable with the notes, yet when you try to quicken the pace, it’s a tangle of errors and frustration. This is a common plight in our musical journey, one that I’ve seen and discussed countless times with fellow musicians, and have experienced myself. It’s the speed hurdle – a tricky obstacle where your desire to playing faster on wind instruments leads to more mistakes. But fret not, fo ..read more

What Type of Musical Instrument is a Bodhrán? The Bodhrán is a circular frame drum most commonly found in Irish traditional music. It gained significant popularity during the great folk music revival of the 1960s and has continued to evolve ever since. Today a complex, modern playing style has emerged which fully explores the musical scope of this versatile Irish drum. What’s the Meaning of the Word Bodhrán? While the etymology of the word is often disputed, the word bodhrán originates from the Irish word ‘bodhar’ which means deaf. This word exists in similar forms in many Celtic language ..read more