The tin whistle is a type of ‘tipple flute’, which is a much easier type of instrument to maintain a steady airflow as opposed to a transverse flute in which air is blown in through the side at an angle. They were first manufactured in 1840 in Manchester by Robert Clarke and were advertised as ‘Clarke Flageolets.’ They were modelled after the Irish flutes simple six hole system which allows for a playing of two octaves of a major scale and it’s relative minor, however they are linked to individual keys and players usually own a number of whistles in different keys for performing different songs. Their popularity grew throughout the century and while they were initially not considered to be a professional instrument, as players became quite proficient it quite quickly phased itself into the folk traditions of Ireland, Scotland and England.

Mass manufactured tin whistles were often called penny whistles. There are two likely options for the term. The first is that that at some point the term was coined, it only cost a penny for the whistle. The second is that when people played the whistle in public, it was customary to give them a penny. 

The popularity of the instrument ultimately stems from it’s affordable price, small size and relatively easy learning curve. It is taught in most school music classes in Ireland alongside the recorder and it would be difficult to stumble into a traditional session that didn’t have one whistle player. By far the most common key to find tin whistles in is D major, although certain keys such as G major are fairly common as well. Realistically, the vast majority of households in Ireland likely have a tin whistle hidden somewhere if they took a quick look.