Hmm... I'd have to cheat a little bit in my answer, but Davy Spillane is definitely up there for me... he plays a number of Irish folk instruments, but my favorite performance of his is the opening of the original "Riverdance" program.. the very first night, where he played that incredible solo on the Irish Low Whistle. When I heard that, it hit me like a ton of bricks, I'd never heard anything so beautiful. It inspired me to take up the instrument, and I just dabble a bit, I can't play like he does. I'll tell you this much though, it took FOREVER to find out what the instrument was... drove me nuts until some music store finally knew it was a Low D Irish Whistle.