Important Announcement
I have now closed my order book indefinitely
I will continue to make flutes which will be put up for sale
when they become available
Fine Wooden & Delrin (polymer) Flutes for Irish Traditional Music
Made with Invention, in Sligo, Ireland
Introduction
Welcome to my website. My name is Damian Thompson.
I am a flute maker based in Tubbercurry, South Sligo, Ireland.
South Sligo & the surrounding areas have a rich history of traditional Irish music with many generations of great musicians & composers hailing locally (particularly flute & fiddle players).
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I have a long involvement personally in Irish music & have been playing flutes of one sort or another for over 30 years.
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I began flute making as a hobby around 20 years ago before going on to study 'Woodwind Instrument Making & Repair' at Newark on Trent, U.K.
My inspiration was set in place after meeting & becoming friends with the late great maker of Uilleann pipes, Dave Williams (r.i.p), who made my first wooden flutes.
I have been making flutes professionally now for around 10 years.
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About my flutes
I make keyed & keyless flutes in the usual key of D (concert pitch A=440), as well as F, E flat, C natural & low B flat.
I use selected Hardwoods & Delrin (a polymer) to craft my flutes. I strive to create the most playable, responsive and versatile instruments possible.
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My flutes are based on some of the very best examples of antique instruments, by renowned historical makers like Rudall & Rose, & Boosey & Co. ​These vintage instruments have long been sought after in Irish music circles for their fine tone & craftsmanship.
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My methodology being to set about trying to draw from these traditional skills and values, whilst utilising some of what the very latest in modern machining has to offer.
​The motivation being to create flutes which are rooted in history, brought bang up to date in the 21st Century.
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​ The finished result being instruments optimised for Irish Traditional music.
Keys & key fitting
​Up to six keys can be added when the flute is made, or at a later date, making the instrument fully chromatic.​​​​
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I have decided to take a completely new approach to key making, by employing some of the very latest advancements in precision engineering.
Flute keys in the past (& still today by most, if not all makers), are either cast or soldered together from separate pieces of Sterling or Nickel, (sometimes called German), Silver. It is not uncommon for keys produced this way to become misshapen over time, & hence less reliable.
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My keys are each individually CNC machined from solid blocks of marine grade 314 Stainless steel, or in special cases, Titanium.
These keys are not cast, soldered together, or a plated cheaper metal like brass (as some makers now do).
Each key is shaped & polished from one single piece of solid Stainless steel or Titanium.
This fabrication method offers incredible precision, strength & accuracy of up to 0.01mm in all dimensions.
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Stainless steel is an extremely strong corrosion resistant alloy (a mix of different metals). It is a similar weight to Silver but many times harder, also being less prone to tarnishing, holding a brilliant shine.
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Titanium is the strongest naturally occurring metal in the world, being most commonly used in the aerospace & medical sectors. Titanium is also almost 50% lighter than both Sterling silver & Stainless steel.
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Stainless steel & Titanium offer equally ground breaking new options for flute players.
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Using these modern methods & materials result in the strongest & lightest flute keys ever produced.
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To my knowledge no other flute maker has before attempted this.
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Keys are fitted on anodised aluminium mounts, which can be added to the flute during making, or at a later date.
This mounting system is my own unique design, falling somewhere between the traditional wooden block or slightly later metal post key mount systems.
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The aluminium mounts are very lightweight, offering excellent durability & wear resistance when compared to traditional wooden blocks.​​ In fact some of the best examples of historical flutes with wooden blocks sometimes featured metal lined key slots, as a bespoke extra. Anodising adds a further layer of protection.
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I believe my new ideas & alternative materials offer major innovations in flute making.
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Video
Flute availability & Contact
After more than 10 years of taking orders with the usual waiting list arrangements, I have made the decision to close my order book completely, and my plan is to simply advertise flutes when they are finished & ready for sale.
This fresh approach will hopefully allow me more time & flexibility to continue with my enjoyment of exploring new possibilities in the art of flute making.
All existing orders (placed before the start of 2025) will be fulfilled as promised.
​Any new flutes available will be listed on the next page for immediate purchase, with no wait time (see link at top).
Please note I am not able to take on any repair work.
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​Damian Thompson, April '25
Tubbercurry, Co.Sligo,
Ireland
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T; +353 (0)83 104 1646
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​Email; damian@thompsonflutes.com
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c Thompson Flutes 2025