Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Moloney, Ambrose]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Murray, Alan (guitar)]]> Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]>
Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Murray, Alan]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Boyle, Néillidh]]> Boyle, Kathleen (piano accordion) 254341404]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]>
Boyle, Kathleen ]]> Murphy, Gráinne ]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Boyle, Néillidh]]> Collins, Elizabeth]]>
Preferring to end this collection with lively, happy music, I asked my young musical friends, Kathleen Boyle from Scotland and Gráinne Murphy from Massachusetts, to do me the honour of recording the above-named tunes for this last track. These same jigs were recorded in 1937 by Kathleen's grandfather, the famed fiddle maestro Néillidh Boyle from County Donegal. The young ladies are joined by Néillidh's son Hughie Boyle, who plays piano, and together, with pride, they give us that same lift and drive associated with the wonderful music that is peculiar to County Donegal. I was thrilled when Kathleen invited me to join herself, her dad, and Gráinne in remembering her grandfather, completing an extraordinary musical circle. The torch has indeed been passed.

It so happens that the last tune on the track, 'The Connaughtman's Rambles', is the first jig I ever learned, and I did so from the 78 RPM recording that Néillidh Boyle recorded seventy-eight years ago. In a way, then, this track is symbolic of how Irish traditional music keeps coming full circle, shared back and forth between musicians across the broad Atlantic and across generations.

And lest I forget about the not-often-heard tune dedicated to a certain Biddy (a nickname for 'Bridget') from Sligo, my mind goes back in time to my grandmother sitting by the fireside listening to me trying to learn and play this fine jig. And so, in remembrance of my grandmother, Elizabeth Collins (née Rochford), a wonderful lady of tunes, songs, and stories, I hereby offer an account of the lyrics she had for 'Biddy from Sligo':

'Oh mother dear, may I go for a swim?
Yes, my darling daughter!
Mind the boys don't see your shins,
Keep them well under the water!']]>
Boyle, Kathleen (piano accordion) 254341404]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]> Boyle, Hughie (piano) 254643013]]> Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]>
Boyle, Kathleen ]]> Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Hornpipes]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> O'Kane, Brian]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Murray, Alan (guitar)]]> O'Kane, Brian (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]>
Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Murray, Alan]]> O'Kane, Brian]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> musical evening at the Gavins' in Balbriggan so long ago, Jimmy Keane, the piano accordion player from Chicago, played this tune. He informed me that it is one of Liz Carroll's compositions, entitled 'The Champaign Jig Goes to Columbia'. It can be found in Liz Carroll Collected, a beautifully produced book of her wonderful compositions. Gráinne Murphy plays her version of the tune on this track.]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Murray, Alan (guitar)]]> Carroll, LIz (composer) 60417993]]> Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]>
Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Murray, Alan]]> Carroll, LIz ]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Barndances]]> McCarthy, Dominick]]>
Moving further along in years, my wife Sandy and I visited Sir Jimmy's hometown of Auchtermuchty, Scotland in the hope of meeting the maestro. Deciding that an unannounced visit might be intrusive, we continued on our journey.

This introduction to Dominick McCarthy's Irish Barndance may seem unusual; nevertheless, it seems appropriate to write about Sir Jimmy in order to write about his equally talented son Jimmy Shand Jr., accordionist, composer, and accordion tuner. On a recent visit to Auchtermuchty with my friends Drs. Jim and Cindy Polo, we were welcomed into the beautiful home of Jimmy Shand Jr. and his lovely wife Margaret. Jimmy had invited us, and on that trip I did not hesitate to knock on the door of the Shand residence. The kind warm hospitality that we received from Mr. and Mrs. Shand will now also be embedded in my mind. Music, stories, photographs, and holding Sir Jimmy's accordion were special treats on that occasion. 

And then our conversation turned to Jimmy Jr.'s music compositions. I told Jimmy that Dominick McCarthy from Clara in County Offaly had played the barndance for me over thirty years ago. Mr. Shand told me that he did not have any recollection of the tune. Upon giving Jimmy Jr. the sheet music, he began to whistle, and with a twinkle in his eye he smiled as the tune instantly came back to him. He was delighted to be reminded of this tune while saying it would be a welcome addition to his forthcoming book, Jimmy Shand, Jr. Music Compositions.

Unforgettable memories all around. Thank you, sir, for your composition and for the welcome that you and Margaret gave to Cindy, Jim, and myself. Jimmy, I hope you never stop playing and composing!


]]>
Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Murray, Alan (guitar)]]> Shand, Jimmy, Jr. (composer)]]> Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]>
Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Murray, Alan]]> Shand, Jimmy, Jr.]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Gavin, Larry]]> Ryan's Mammoth Collection. It is played here in fine style by the talented Gráinne Murphy.]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Murray, Alan (guitar)]]> Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]>
Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Murray, Alan]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Murphy, Gráinne]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle) (composer)]]> Murray, Alan (guitar)]]> Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]>
Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Murray, Alan]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Murray, Alan (guitar)]]> Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]>
Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Murray, Alan]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Casey, John 'Scully']]> Casey, Bobby 41518954]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Murray, Alan (guitar)]]> Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]>
Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Murray, Alan]]> ]]> More info.]]>