Traditional Irish Folk Music 9 Instrumentation 5 Other Instruments.

Other Instruments.
Over the years Traditional Irish folk music, has had a synergy with the diaspora if the Irish themselves. Influenced and influencing the instrumentation and music played. This has led to many other instruments finding their way into the style.

These instruments often  include;
The guitar and piano as accompaniment instruments.
A range of flutes, commonly wooden, but even PVC ones can be seen today.
The Banjo, Irish Bouzouki and Mandolin. The Mandolin having the equivalent range and almost identical left hand fingering to the flute, making it  easy to play flute tunes on.
The Harmonica
The Accordion and Concertina. Many Irish musicians prefer the Anglo Concertina which like a harmonica sounds a different note when the air draws or blows across the reeds.

So it becomes obvious, that Traditional Irish folk music embraced instruments form where ever the Irish people found themselves. Bouzouki from Greece, Mandolins from Italy, Banjos from America(derived from African instruments) and Harmonicas ( originally from Austria) have all found their way into Irish folk music. Likewise Irish fiddle playing can be heard in Bluegrass, and most American folk music.

Perhaps this it because Irish folk music is exactly that 'folk music' played by small groups of musicians in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. Sat around a table in an inn or public house the musicians played for enjoyment and entertainments opposed to the more grandiose concert hall music of classical exponents. Also the subject matter of story-telling bardic tradition lends itself to the audience sing a long not dissimilar to Afro-American work songs or English piano sing a longs. Perhaps even early English Music Hall and early American Vaudeville has some roots in this and may even have helped in the continuation and adaptation of Traditional Irish Folk music.

Reference:
Peters Damien, 'Instruments of Irish Traditional Music' Irish American Mom 2013. (article) [online] Available at:<http://www.irishamericanmom.com/2013/09/03/instruments-of-irish-traditional-music/> (accessed 5 October 2013)