When they were still known as the Ronnie Drew group he had a harmony tenor (the one with a sort of guitar headstock and tuners). I used to have a calfskin head but it was inclined to get a bit soft when the weather wasn't right. Now I use "Fibreskin" which is a synthetic substitute and works well for me. I also use a thing called a "tone enhancer" which clamps to the strings behind the bridge and to my ear improves the tone quite a bit. You can move it about and if you bring it close to the bridge it works as a mute.(But it might not fit if your bridge is low) Have a look at the Stewart MacDonald website.