Browse Content (297 total)
- Subject is exactly "Folk dance music--Ireland"
Clare Glens, The
If ever you get a chance to visit The Clare Glens you will not be disappointed. They are a beautiful wooded area, very picturesque, with walkways on both sides of the Clare River. The Glens are very close to Newport, County Tipperary, and are only…
Cloonlish House
'Cloonlish House' was played for me years ago by its composer, Eddie Kelly. This hornpipe is played creatively and wonderfully here by Liz Carroll. Liz's masterful interpretation seems to slowly open the doors of Cloonlish House, inviting all of us…
Come to the Fair
'Come to the Fair' was a very popular waltz/song played by The Kilfenora Céilí Band in the 1960s. I have always enjoyed listening to the band's singer Mary Higgins performing the song on a recording made at a céilí in…
Con Cassidy's
This tune bears the name of noted fiddle player Con Cassidy, and it may well have been played as a single jig in his native County Donegal. There was no doubt about West Limerick accordion player Donie Nolan's interpretation of it as a slide. He…
Con's Return
This reel is another composition of the talented Eamon Flynn from County Limerick. Eamon's brother Con was not heard from for many years and when he suddenly returned home there was rejoicing all around the neighbourhood. Eamon celebrated his…
Connolly's Chair
Multi-instrumentalist Brian Hebert from the Boston area conferred on me special recognition by composing and playing this slip jig. The chair mentioned in the tune's title is my endowed position as Sullivan Artist in Residence at The Center for Irish…
Cornboy, The
When we were traveling throughout America on the first Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann tour of champion musicians, singers, and dancers in 1972, I had the great pleasure of playing this reel with fiddle player Paddy Glackin. Paddy…
Corney Drew's
This hornpipe as played on this recording comes to us courtesy of fiddle player Liz Knowles. The original sources for the tune, Denis Murphy and Charlie Mulvihill (fiddle and accordion, respectively), recorded it for Ciarán Mac…
Crooked Hurricane, The
My good friend Cindy Polo made this tune and dedicated it to another friend, Randy Bridgman. I enjoyed playing this tune with Cindy and Gabriel Donohue. In Cindy's own words, she tells us about 'The Crooked Hurricane': 'What else to do while the…
Cruca Glás na hÉireann
The music lives and breathes in the soul of Tara Lynch. Tara, daughter of Jerry Lynch (accordionist in the 1950s with the celebrated three-time All-Ireland champion Kilfenora Céilí Band), was born in New York. She learned her music from…
Crystal Schottische
Here is another tune from the playing of Leizime Brusoe. Paul Wells provided the name 'Crystal Schottische'. I sent the tape over to Séamus and Manus McGuire, two wonderful fiddle players, who gave graciously of their time to learn and perform…
Dan Gurney's
The rock-solid accordion music of Dan Gurney is heard on this track. When I asked Dan if he composed any music he was very humble as he answered, 'I did but it's not much good'. I'm sure that those who listen to this track will love your tune, Dan,…
Dan Sullivan's
Another tune recorded by Dan Sullivan and his band, it is played on this recording by Billy McComiskey (accordion), Laura Byrne (flute), and Donna Long (piano). Their relaxed style brings out the beauty of the melody.
Dan Sullivan's
America's foremost uilleann piper, Jerry O'Sullivan, learned this and a number of other tunes from recordings of Dan Sullivan and his band that I sent to him. Jerry recorded the tunes with the engineering expertise of Gabriel Donohue, himself an…
Dan Sullivan's Favourite
Uilleann piper Jerry O'Sullivan recorded this hornpipe for the collection. Taking it from an old cassette tape of Dan Sullivan's Shamrock Band which I gave him, Jerry reversed the order of the parts. I was never certain as to which was the first and…
Danny Meehan's
Master fiddle player Danny Meehan from Donegal lived in London for many years. During his time there, Danny worked by day in the building trade. At night he would do what he liked best: he played his fiddle with his friends and colleagues, and in a…
David Grady's
I love slip jigs and I enjoy playing them. Patrick W. Joyce collected this one from David Grady, a flute player from Ardpatrick in County Limerick, but he did not get the tune's name. 'David Grady's' sounds good to me. Mr. Joyce's collection was…
Dennis Watson's
Dennis Watson from County Roscommon, now living in Chicago, is a flute player and piper. Shannon Heaton recorded this tune, her own composition, on her recent CD The Blue Dress. She plays it again for this collection and dedicates it to Dennis…
Dogwalker, The
Cindy Polo, my good friend, phoned me one night and lilted part of this melody to me. I loved the sound of it and suggested to Cindy that it might fit naturally on the fiddle in a minor key. We talked about 'doing something with it', and so we began…
Dominick McCarthy's Irish Barndance
The name Shand is synonymous with the traditional music of Scotland. The rock-solid rhythm and strict tempo of master accordionist and composer Sir Jimmy Shand are forever embedded in my mind. Joyous memories of Mr. Shand's music have remained with…