The Irish bouzouki

The bouzouki, believe it or not, has become a key instrument in Irish music, having been introduced to the tradition in the late 1960s by Johnny Moynihan. The Irish bouzouki – or zouk – has been adapted to suit Irish needs – for example, the Irish version is flat, not round-backed – but it is essentially the same instrument. Read more here:

The first clip posted above, Monaghan jig, I liked a lot because the bouzouki player has managed to get that droning sound out of the bouzouki, which other Irish players often miss or don't want.

The second video below is the first part of an interesting BBC documentary on the history and current role of the bouzouki in Irish music. The other three parts of the documentary can be seen on youtube. The musicians shown are exceptional and they love their bouzoukis as much as any Greek.