Browse Content (35 total)
Jimmy McHugh's
This tune is a composition of master fiddle player Jimmy McHugh, the 1957 Tyrone-born Senior All-Ireland fiddle champion. I remember well witnessing Jimmy's performance in the Senior Fiddle Competition in Dungarvan, County Waterford, and watching him…
Jim Corcoran's Polka
Jim Corcoran is a wonderful friend who plays the fiddle and loves polkas. So does his teacher Laurel Martin, who composed this one for him. Here she plays it for all of us to hear and learn.
Jabe Meadow
A hornpipe in the key of B-flat beautifully played for us by Kimberley Fraser. It may be found in Ryan's Mammoth Collection. Somehow, the tune found its way to Ireland and into the hands of Seán McLaughlin, a fiddle player from County Antrim.…
Flee as a Bird
A two-part version of 'Flee as a Bird' is another tune which I recorded from Julia Clifford and her son Billy in the early 1960s. It can be heard elsewhere in the collection. Here, a longer setting of the tune, which can be found in Ryan's Mammoth…
Father Tom's Wager
This grand old jig appears in O'Neill's 1001. I first heard the legendary Joe Burke play this tune with the lovely surprise variation in the second part. Thanks to Holland Raper for learning the tune and playing it on her fiddle. She is a former…
Duet, The
A hornpipe played with great feeling and understanding by the great accordionist, the one and only James Keane from Dublin and New York. This tune first came to my attention a number of years ago when Larry Gavin performed it at Aonach Paddy O'Brien,…
Drunken Ganger's, The
This is another tune that was given to me by accordionist Larry Gavin, who lives in Tulla, in east County Clare. A version of this slip jig may be found in Ryan's Mammoth Collection. It is played here in fine style by the talented Gráinne…
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…
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,…
Chestnut Hill
This reel was composed by Séamus McGuire in honour of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, the location of Boston College. Séamus was invited to teach and perform at the Boston College Gaelic Roots Festival. He plays his tune here with his…
Catherine's Classroom
Catherine McEvoy composed this jig. I named it 'Catherine's Classroom' after reading her story of how the tune came about. In her own words: 'I have a wooden cabin at the back of the house that I use for teaching in, and for musical purposes. I was…
Bridge of Portumna, The
The town of Portumna in County Galway was a port of call for my father, Mick Connolly, when he worked on the River Shannon. During school holidays I often sailed with my Dad up and down the river and I always looked forward to docking in Portumna…
Bobby Gardiner's (Number Two)
The art form of lilting is demonstrated here by Bobby Gardiner. My grandmother Elizabeth Collins (née Rochford), herself a very good lilter, told me that 'jiggers', as she called them, were commonly called upon whenever musicians were not…
Blue-Eyed Rascal, The
A tune not often heard is this set dance. I am grateful to Mr. Larry Redican Jr. for giving me permission to present his father's performance of it in this collection. I have fond memories of Larry Sr. playing it for me in my home when I lived in…
Ashcraft-Fraser House
Barbara MacDonald Magone is the composer of this happy reel. She plays it for us in her own beautiful style. Barbara is admired by musicians for her solo piano playing and her sensitivity when performing with others. She composed 'Ashcraft-Fraser…