I found these two searching the forums:
-Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland, by Tomas O’Canainn; and
-Ireland’s Best Slow Airs, by Pat Conway (Editor)
I’d be interested if anyone has any experience about the CDs rather than books, as I’d be interested to trying to learn the tunes by ear (because everyone here tells anyone asking to do so.. 
). Would you suggest to also buy the books, even if I’ll be learning by ear?
Are there any other or better audio sources I should be aware of?
Hi Nuppu,
I use the Grooveshark.com to listen to and look for music online. For example, if you do a search for Roisin Dubh you’ll find a lots of versions (http://grooveshark.com/#/search?q=roisin+dubh).
If you live in Europe or the US, you can use Spotify. It has a huge catalogue and has the added advantage that you access it though a program you download (http://www.spotify.com/int/).
As for the Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland/Tomas O’Canainn CD, I have the book and CD. The tunes are recorded on several instruments. So some tracks are of Violin, Uilleann Pipes, Guitar, Harp, Dulcimer, etc. No tracks are recorded on the whistle, which is a shame as I would have preferred hearing the tunes on the whistle. I use it to lean the tunes, but it is not a CD that I actually put on just for listening.
Good luck!
Folkert
I really like the CD The Ancient Voice of Ireland which is entirely slow airs, played on whistle and uilleann pipes, by Mick O Brien.
(Caveat: I don’t have the CD in front of me now, so I might be wrong both about the title and artist.)
I’ve picked up a few airs from that CD; it’s great for listening and great to learn tunes from.
That is, indeed, the title and artist. Playlist includes:
Best wishes.
Steve
I’d love if more people added the names of some slow aire whistle cds to this thread. I’m interested in picking some up.
And fwiw, the cd Pancelticpiper named is only $10 on Amazon but they have only one left after I bought one …just in case someone wants to pick it up also.
Two of us put together a collection of what we called “Slow Tunes” recently (intended particularly for our use teaching whistle workshops) and it is available for sale. I’ll put up a commercial post later listing the contents, but if you just can’t wait you can PM me.
BTW Mick also plays whistle on The Ancient Voice Of Ireland.
For example, he might play a verse or two on the whistle, then switch to the pipes.
Some might find the arrangements a bit twee or cheesy. For example My Lagan Love has rather heavy-handed synth accompaniment, which for me, on that song, works really well.
I was looking for some CDs with mainly slow airs and found this thread so I thought I’d add some here instead of creating a new thread.
This is a great CD with airs played on a violin, with very little or no accompaniment (by his wife on piano). One of my favorites:
Eistigh Seal
Matt Cranich & Cranich
Another all air CD, played on flute:
Shady Woods
Desi Wilkinson
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005U4XM/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=advanwebamazocom&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00005U4XM&adid=1YE0G27KZHRXQMWGMH56&
I really enjoy these so if anyone has others, please post.
Also, while I’m thinking of it.. the first track of my “Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland” CD (Tomas O’Canainn, referenced in the first post) has an air and it seems the sheet music starts with track 2. What is this mysterious first track??
You could say that the “no accompaniment” is provided by Matt’s wife.
The “very little” part is by his sister
Silliness aside, agreed, a sublime record.
Not sure I understand, do you mean it was his sister accompanying him? I heard it was his wife. I like the piano accompaniment, it was very minimal and didn’t distract from the violin.
Yes, Brid Cranitch is Matt’s sister and she is the accompanist on the record.