Has anyone tried the McNeela Wild Irish Whistle?

[Mr.Gumby]

I'd be worried about the wildness

Just more marketing guff. Everybody is hitching their wagons to the Wild Atlantic way stuff.

[PB+J]

Yes I was being sarcastic

[Mr.Gumby]

I know that. I was just venting on the Monday morning. We get wall to wall stuff called 'wild'. Very little of it ever is. It's just people trying to flog more stuff you don't need.

[PB+J]

It's fascinating to see how Ireland markets itself and tries to navigate between the reality of modern Ireland, the living tradition, and this sort of sh*t:

(Warning: Wild Mountain Thyme trailer)
https://youtu.be/vFPrFtuwQo8

I mean I'm just your bog-standard Irish American, and I'm cringing. On Twitter the embassy was gently mocking it. Christopher Walken! If he'd had a wild irish whistle the performance would have been dead on

[Mr.Gumby]

That film has been very widely ridiculed for its non existing accents and general paddywhackey. As well as strange anachronisms ('she referred to having her eggs frozen' and what have you. Fintan O'Toole had seen the play in NY and commented he was astounded how bad it was, crammed with every conceivable cliché and then some.

But I don't think that's Ireland marketing itself. It's just a bad film.

[PB+J]

I agree--it's not Ireland marketing itself, but Irish marketing has to navigate the images presented in that kind of thing.

I remember years ago watching "the Quiet Man" and aside from the obvious points thinking "when is this supposed to be taking place?" I mean it could be anywhere between 1910 and 1960: a couple references put it after 1922; there are telephones and cars but the whole thing is in this weird timeless state. "Wild Mountain Thyme" is sort of the same way: is it 1930 or 2010?

[Mr.Gumby]

is it 1930 or 2010?

Well, therre's the egg freeze reference but as some commenter said 'they are wearing shawls for godsake'. It just doesn't mesh together, it's phantasy island.

[pancelticpiper]

I'd be worried about the wildness, it could get dangerously out of control if cornered in a pub

I was worried about that too, we can't be too careful about feral whistles getting loose.

Do they make a McNeela Civilised Irish Whistle? That would interest me more.

[pancelticpiper]

(Warning: Wild Mountain Thyme trailer)
https://youtu.be/vFPrFtuwQo8

Oh dear me.

I thought we were past that sort of thing.

There are so many good Irish actors, why not use an Irish cast?

[Mr.Gumby]

why not use an Irish cast?

You have fifty shades of Jamie Dornan right there..

[Tunborough]

That film has been very widely ridiculed for its non existing accents and general paddywhackey. As well as strange anachronisms ('she referred to having her eggs frozen' and what have you). Fintan O'Toole had seen the play in NY and commented he was astounded how bad it was, crammed with every conceivable cliché and then some.

But I don't think that's Ireland marketing itself. It's just a bad film.

Never mind that Wild Mountain Thyme comes from a Scottish song, not Irish.

Moonstruck is one of my favourite movies, thanks to Norman Jewison, I guess, not John Patrick Shanley.

[Mr.Gumby]

Wild Mountain Thyme comes from a Scottish song, not Irish.

The McPeakes may have a few things to say about that.

[RoberTunes]

Irish Whistles that marketing departments are working on:
1) The Irish Pooka Seekers Serenading Vuvuzela Whistle (plays all keys at once)
2) The Dublin Pub Crawler's Saturday Night Jawbreaker Stainless Steel Whistle in Dangerous A (buy two and get 5% off your next dental visit)
3) Paddy O'Leprechaun's Brass Invader-Fighting shillelagh Whistle with adapted concertina handle and electric rat stunner
4) The Irish Priest's Classroom Brutalizer Hickory Whistle inscribed with things the police call "G Sharp minor abuse"
5) The Pink Irish Banshee Screecher Whistle ($3.99, also comes in pastel white and corporate faded grey)
6) The "Cork To Derry Bike Ride For Charity" Race Official's Whistle with lanyard and zebra stripes (key of high G)
7) The Irish Mermaid's Water-powered Whistle in the key of K (a cross between C and Khelp, an ancient madrigal mode).
The Dullahan Itinerant Drifter Whistle with uilleann air pump attachment (popular in low D)
9) The Hooligan's World Cup Whistle with injury-faking attachment and converts to be a secret beer straw
10) Magdalene's Revenge Whistle, plays only on the high road, is chromatic and often the heart of small business skiffle groups

[BigDavy]

Wild Mountain Thyme comes from a Scottish song, not Irish.

The McPeakes may have a few things to say about that.

So might Robert Tannahill.

Braes of Balquidder

[Sedi]

@ RoberTunes
Awesome! I definitely need #3 .