Killarney vs Lir - Tin Whistle Comparison

Which is better? I didn't compare these two directly when I did their respective review videos and I've recently had this question come up, so I figured it would make a good topic for discussion.

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Full details in the video, but no one's paying me to do this. Just FYI.

My Gear
DAW: Logic Pro X
NLE: Final Cut Pro X
VFX: Apple Motion

[psychesonic]

The Lir tugged at my heart strings, so I would go with that. But it all depends on context. Soft tunes often want a soft sound.

[Michajeru]

I have a Killarney and really love it. I also have arthritic hands, I'm 82 years old, and I have no problem at all with the weightier head of the Killarney. In fact I prefer the sturdier feel. As for tone, I think the Killarney is tops.

[yiannidemo]

This is great. I was thinking “softer” as well when you mentioned how the sound comes across. Very good comparison - I think you touched on everything that matters when pitting two whistles against each other.

[inkyblue]

I got my very first tin whistle some days ago and its a Killarney :) Thank you very much for this nice video :) like the sound of the Killarney much more <3

[SugarBoo]

Just ordered a Killarney with the money my parents got me for Christmas in key of D and brass. I cannot wait to get it! It sounds so clean and crisp. 🇮🇪🍀

[tim]

Thank you for your videos. I am new to tin whistling and learning a lot from you. Your teaching and examples are really easy for me to follow. As far as the Killarney and Lir go, maybe I'm still too new, but I can hardly tell the difference. They both sound great. Thanks for another excellent video. 😊
After gaining more experience playing the tin whistle and listening to a lot more traditional Irish music, I can actually the difference between these two whistles. Personally, I prefer the Killarney. To my ear, the Killarney sounds slightly better in the second octave. The Lir sounds great, but it seems to have a more "breathy" sound in the second octave than the Killarney. Interesting enough, the Lir has a more mellow and slightly more clear sound in the first octave, but it's barely noticeable. I'm not sure about that silver plating on the Lir. I think I would feel like I would have to polish it after I played it each time. Not sure if I want to do that, but silver looks terrible when it gets tarnished.

[Elglarad]

For me, the criterion for any instrument is niceness. If I can play a single note and somebody says "I like that sound" without prompting, then my choice becomes clearer. The one that does it for me is my John Sindt, followed by my Michael Burke whistles, and then my Killarney whistles. I was traveling from Cork to Dingle when we stopped in Killarney and I came across a session. Someone asked me if I had heard of or tried a locally made Killarney whistle, and pulled one out for me to try. I could see straight away that it was modeled on the Sindt. I ended up with a nickle whistle from Custys, and a brass whistle from a later Fleadh. I find them easy to play and tune, but I'll use a Michael Burke at a session where I have three box players sitting alongside of me, or a noisy background. I am unable to compare it to a Lir, because i haven't tried one, but from what I've heard on youtube, they would be a contender. The weight and balance of a whistle is not an issue for me, though I do have to be able to grip it properly and not slip in my hands. I think the bottom line for anyone is whether they like the sound and playability of an instrument. Thanks for the video.

[brennanroth]

I have to say the Killarney did SOUND ever so slightly better to me. That's just my subjective opinion and I'm admittedly someone who likes the more traditional sounding whistles. The gold standard whistle sounds to me are those 60s and 70s albums by people like the Chieftains, Mary Bergin, Micho Russel, Donncha O'Briain, and Planxty. I think the sound of the Killarney is closer to that than the Lir, but even the Killarney doesn't quite sound like the old Generations. I also personally prefer the look of the brass better than the nickel and I like that the pins stick out slightly on the side as it keeps the whistle from rolling off a table! Full disclosure: I actually own a Killarney so it could be confirmation bias!

[frankclaudy]

I have been a committed Sindt player for a long time now, have every key he makes, but I do like the Lir, remarkable value for the money, and the Wild is quite a good whistle as well, similar heavy barrel but the head-joint is different, produces a hoarser tone, like the best of the old Generations. I enjoy your channel.

[michaelrs]

Thanks for the video. 👍
I've been vacillating for some time now over which one to get and as a result of this video I still cannot decide. 😄
Maybe the comment section will help. 😁

[wgandy]

Great comparison video! Thanks for making it.
I have a Sindt high D and I consider it my standard to judge all other D's (that's just my opinion and I'm not forcing it on anyone else). I've owned a Kilarny C and consider its playing characteristics similar to the Sindt. I've not owned a Lir so I can't comment on how they play. To me sound is the most important. I have whistles in many keys High Eb down to Low C) from various makers (Sindt, McManus, Burke, Overton, MK, Howard, Karavaev, McNeela, Generation, Feadog and Walton). Each has a character of its own. I just adjust to them and get great enjoyment from them all. As I mentioned, the sound is most important to me. If I don't like the sound then I don't bother with the whistle. The Lir to me sounds too airy for my taste and thus I would pick the Kilarney over the Lir.

[irishflutegirl]

Both sound lovely, Killarney definitely sounded more trad… the lir sounded a little airy and softer, but very beautiful. Probably is just preference. I have a Killarney, i love it, but i also love my Burke, depends what i feel like lol. Thanks for the video ! 😃

[douglange]

I always preferred a rounder sound and played a conical bore but would never cut through the mix. After some research, I decided on the LIR, which has a rounder tone and can cut through the mix better. It’s funny you mention the weight of the Lir. I also play sax and enjoy the freedom of the weightlessness of my Lir compared to a soprano sax:-)

[soundoflifersc]

Very interesting! The Lir is the one I'd go with also.
The sound is much more rounded, and clearer in a soft way.
Thank you!

[annewright]

I have a Killarney. The weight in the head joint- no problem. Balance, no problem. I would find the heavier weight of the Lir an issue, personally.

[eddiemackinnon]

I have few Killarney whistles and really enjoy playing them by the way the pin in the head is a design which means the whistle does not roll around great in a session

[giorgiolamborghini]

I like the Killarney very much, it reminds me of a Generation when you have the great fortune to buy one at the highest level. Even the Lìr is not joking, it is excellent, however in the low register (perhaps it was a bit clogged by condensation) I found it a bit "uncertain" which I did not find in the high register perhaps due to the greater thrust of the air.

[derrik-bosse]

I would play the Kilarney live to get over a band (especially modern bands who seem to be obsessed with amps). For recording and acoustic playing, I would use the Lir.

[jofftalbot]

Dude. Thanks for this, really appreciate the time put in. If I may, I personally rate the Lír over pretty much all the other whistles in the collection (Gary Humphreys pending 🙃). It's a touch on the quiet side when wanting to blast a tune out with the class but that also makes for an exceptional 'homework' whistle - which is most the time.
Anyhoo, thank you Sean, great vid 🖖🏽

[ArcadioJacobino]

Thanks for these comparison videos (and thanks everyone for your comments) - problem is they all sound great and are coming through your mic, my 30 Euro headphones and whatever lies between so how they would compare down the pub is a guess. Played clarinet and tenor & soprano sax, now learning flute & recorder and getting totally distracted with my ancient, tweaked and beautiful Shaw D. Got a Kerry Busker last week - man, that thing's brutal. Now after a civilised jam session whistle and the short list is down to these two. Probably. Leaning towards the Killarney.