Bev Whelan is an Irish traditional flute player living in Lancaster, U.K. These tracks were recorded over a number of years and feature Bev playing wooden simple-system flute in an Irish traditional style, strongly influenced by the musical style of North Connaught.

Irish flute

A recording made in 1991 of Bev Whelan (flute) and Gordon Johnston (banjo/guitar). This was a track on a recording called 'Trip to the Cottage', which also featured Dave Lyth (fiddle) and Michael Feely (flute).

The Copperplates

Seamus Heaney was inspired by this traditional slow air to write his wonderful poem The Given Note. So the story goes, a fiddler went alone to Inis Mhic Aoibhleáin  in the Blasket Islands, and inspired by whale song out at sea came back with this tune. 

I recorded this a number a years ago, and it remains my favourite slow air to play.

Port na bPucai

A set of three jigs recorded several years ago. The first tune is 'Strings Attached', which I composed for the wedding of my friends John Knowles and Sharon Williams. That is followed by 'When Sick, is it Tea You Want?'. The third and final jig I don't know the name of, but I learned it from Charlie Piggott in his regular session near Kinvara in Co. Galway back in the 90s.

Strings Attached (B Whelan) / When Sick is it Tea You Want / Charlie Piggott's

A traditional slow air, which laments the loss of a boat that sank with all  in the Corrib river, Co. Galway, in 1828.

I'm playing this on my antique 'simple system' wooden flute, which was made c1840 in London by B.  Lee of Old Bond Street.

Anach Cuain

Recorded in Argyll in 2009, this recording features Ron Pirrie on guitar. He has a unique, subtle style, and is one of my absolute favourite people to play with.

Richard Dwyer's / Mayor Harrison's Fedora

Recorded in Argyll in 2009. I am on flute, and the guitarist is the superb Ron Pirrie. I learned the first tune from a lovely fiddle player from Cork called Carol Leader, and the second came from a recording of a session in Matt Molloy's pub in Westport, Co. Mayo. All of the musical Eamonn Coynes I have spoken to have denied this tune is anything to do with them!

Swinging on a Gate / Eamonn Coyne's

Recorded in Argyll in 2009, with Ron Pirrie on guitar. Two jigs which are commonly played together in South Sligo and the surrounding region, which is well known in particular for its strong traditions of flute and fiddle playing.

Wallop the Spot / Spot the Wallop

Two reels learned from the playing of Peter Horan and Fred Flynn. Featuring Ron Pirrie on guitar.

South Sligo Reels

Two barndances learned from the playing of the famous fiddle player James Morrison from Co. Sligo, who recorded these tunes in the 1920s in New York. The first tune is called The Return of Spring, and the second is The Mountain Pathway

Sligo Barndances

Two tunes from Co. Fermanagh, learned from the playing of Cathal McConnell

Fermanagh Reels

Two jigs I learned from Charlie Piggott in Kinvara, Co. Clare. The first is The Fairhaired Boy, and the second is Frehans #2.

Charlie Piggott Jigs

Two reels I learned from Harry McGowan, a tremendous flute player who lives at the foot of the hill of Knocknashee near Tubbercurry in Co. Sligo. Harry has had a huge influence on my flute playing. 

I don't have a name for the first tune, but the second is called "Devaney's Goat".

Harry McGowan's Reels

Three reels made famous by the Co. Leitrim flute player, John McKenna, who recorded these tunes in the 1930s

John McKenna's Reels

Two reels learned from the great South Sligo flute and fiddle player Peter Horan.

Peter Horan's Reels

Two reels that, over the years, have become almost signature tunes for me. Lovely and satisfying to play on the flute.

Maid of Mount Cisco / Trim the Velvet

Recorded in Glasson Church in 2008, myself and Celia Briar on Harp

Limerick's Lamentation / The Groves Hornpipe

Bev Whelan on flute, David Lyth on Fiddle and Gordon Johnston on guitar - from the album 'Trip to the Cottage' - recorded in Lancaster, UK in 1991 (sound engineer: Michael Allen)

The Steampacket/Trim the Velvet

Strings Attached & Dr Lyth

Floggin And Cup Of Tea

Bev Whelan on flute, Mike Allen on guitar and Simon Finnie on bodhran. Recorded by Peter Kennerley in the residents' lounge in the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Cumbria, at Langdale Charity Folk Festival, May 2013

Lads of Laois (Reel)

I teach and perform Irish trad music on flute and tin whistle. I live in Lancaster, UK, but as I teach on Zoom, and will travel here, there and everywhere to play music, distance is no object! Details at my website: www.bevwhelanmusic.com