A Flutter of Flutes: Images of Flute Players and their Instruments

The flute is one of the best-known of Irish traditional instruments. Historically the playing of the flute was associated with north Connaught but it now holds broad appeal across the island of Ireland and abroad. Irish traditional players tend to favour the ‘simple system’ wooden flute rather than the Boehm (Böhm) flute which features in other musical traditions.

The photographs presented here from the ITMA collections range in date from the 1930s to the present day.

With thanks to photographers Tony Kearns, Liam McNulty, Paul Eliasberg, Bill Doyle and Lisa Shields for permission to publish the images. ITMA would welcome further information on any of these images and if possible would like to add to the collection by copying images of other flute players or their instruments which you may have.

Treasa Harkin, 1 February 2016