is the set list for the World Fiddle Day Fiddle Recital which will be held in Scartaglin Co Kerry at 2pm on May 17.
Each year a fiddle player is chosen and asked to select 10 sets either from this Archive or from musicians on it , The guest fiddle player hosts the event and is joined by fiddle players of all ages and everyone plays together.
The Recital is always a wonderful occasion and is open to listeners who wish to attend. No pre booking is needed ,just bring your fiddle and play.
John Carty is this years host and we all look forward to May 17,

World Fiddle Scartaglin Day Setlist  2025

On behalf of Kerry ETB we wish WFD Scartaglin Committee the best of luck with the project proposal.
 
It is important to highlight and protect our musical heritage.
 
It is especially important to support a Voluntary Committee who are endeavoring to save recordings that are at risk of being lost or deteriorating.
 
The next generation will undoubtedly benefit from their hard work and dedication.
 
Kevin Fay AEO June 2023

Johnny Cronin Playing Accordion -1971  At Kathy Fitzgeralds New York

We are delighted to launch the first piece of music selected from the donated musical treasures that the family of Kathleen Fitzgerald have kindly allowed theSliabh Luachra world to hear .The Handed Down Sliabh Luachra Archive were helped on this project by Kerry ETB Funding which helped to save the tapes and digitise .We will release audio on October 29 on Soundcloud and on every Monday morning till mid March 2024

Bridgie Kelleher Playing Fiddle In  Lisheen Session

Notes Paul De Grae 
This is the fourth set of Denis Murphy tunes selected by Aidan Connolly for the fiddle recital on 18 May. Soundcloud link to slow recording by Aidan is below; ABCs below also.

4. Reels: The Bucks of Oranmore, Colonel Fraser.

These are two of the "big reels" in the traditional repertoire, with plenty of opportunity for virtuoso displays of ornamentation and variation. For ease of reading, ornamentation is not shown in these transcriptions, but many of the crotchet notes (quarter notes, or for example "A-" in the ABCs) would be ornamented, usually with a roll. The parts are not doubled.

The first tune seems to be derived from the Scottish reel "The Bucks of Cranmore", named after a place in the Scottish Highlands; as with "The Lads of Leith/Laois", the similarity to Oranmore, in County Galway, accounts for the change in the title. The original two-part tune has been elaborated into more than one multi-part setting in the Irish tradition (as "The Bucks of Oranmore" and also as "The Leitrim Bucks", "The Killavil Bucks", etc.); there's a four-part setting in O'Neill, from the variation addict John McFadden. Denis's three-part setting probably came from Pádraig O'Keeffe: a very similar setting is transcribed from Pádraig's playing in David Lyth's book, "Bowing Styles in Irish Fiddle Playing", vol. 2.

There are conflicting stories as to who Colonel Fraser was, which need not detain us here; his tune also may be Scottish in origin, but it has been thoroughly Hibernicised by now, and there are quite a few versions in the Irish repertoire. Some are in mixolydian mode (with F natural), some in dorian mode (with F natural and B flat). Petrie had a three-part setting, "The Green Fields of Ireland", which he described as "A Connaught Reel". The four-part setting in O'Neill, again from McFadden, is broadly similar to what Denis Murphy played.

The Bucks of Oranmore

Key D (F#, C#)

D'B | A- FA A- D'B | A- FA BE E- | A- FA DAFA | ABD'E' F'E'D'B |

A- FA A- D'B | A- FA BE E- | A- FA DAFA| ABD'E' F'E'D'E' ||

F'- D'F' E'- D'E' | F'D'D'F' E'B B- | F'- D'F' E'- D'F' | E'F'G' F'G' E'D'BE'

F'- D'F' E'- D'E' | F'D'F'D' E'B B- | A'- A'F' A'- A'F' | E'- F'E' E'D'D'B ||

AD'F'D' E'D'F'D' | AD'F'D' E'B B- | AD'F'D' E'D'D'E' | F'G'A'G' F'D'D'B |

AD'F'D' E'D'F'D' | AD'F'D' E'B B- | A'- A'F' A'- A'F' | E'- F'E' E'D' D'- ||

Colonel Fraser

Key G (F#)

BG G- DG G- | ABCA BCD' CA | BGGF DGBD' | CAFA AG G- |

BG G- DG G- | ABCA BD'CA | BG G- DGAB | CAFA AG G- ||

D'G' G'- G'A'G'F' | D'BCB ABCA | D'G' G'- A'-- G' | F'D'CA BG G- |

E'F'G'E' D'E'D'B | CBCA BD'CA | GBAC BCD' E'G' | F'D'CA AG G- ||

B- GB D'BGB | A- FA CAFA | B- GB GBD'E' | F'D'CA AG G- |

B- GB GBGB | A- FA FAFA | GBAC BCD' E'G' | F'D'CA BG G- ||

D'G' G'- D'G' G'- | D'F' F'- D'F' F'- | D'G' G'- D'G' G'- | F'D'CA BG G- |

D'G' G'- G'A'G'E' | D'F' F'- F'G'A' E'F| GBAC BCD' E'G' | F'D'CA BG G- ||

WFD Recital 2024 : Set No 4

Recorded at home in Co Cork while listening to the radio . Tese are very rare recordings from Macroom 1966 recorded by Ciaran MacMathuna for Radio Eireann.
We thank Jerry O Leary for this treasure and for donating once again to the Archives

Denis Murphy,Johnny O Leary,Seán Ó Cronin -1956

Meabh Ni Chonaill is a great young fiddle player who played many times at Handed Down and World Fiddle Day

Meabh Ni Chonaill Kilnamartya  Playing For World Fiddle Day 2021

Sean Abeyta Fiddles And Viola Hornpipes WFD Scartaglin Online 2020

Aoife NI Chaoimh WFD Scartaglin Online 2020

Con Moynihan Fiddle WFD Scartaglin Online 2020

Dee O Sullivan is a fiddle player from the Spa outside Tralee

Dee O Sullivan Fiddle WFD Scartaglin Online 2020

Aoife Ni Chaoimh And Roisin O Connor - Fiddle Duet

Con Moynihan - Polkas

Sean Fleming And Sean Butler Galtee Rangers Set- Outdoor Recording

John Carty Fiddle

Enjoy this celebration of some our finest musicians who i hope will enjoy International Women's Day themslves and have a few tunes.
This selection is from sets uploaded to the archive since last March.

Setlist -International Women's Day 2025

Notes from Paul De Grae 
Finale time! I'll carry on soon to compile the usual booklet with all the tune sets, and it will be available for free download.



12. Reels: The Sliabh Luachra National Anthem.

This set hardly needs any introduction! It was put together by Jackie Daly and recorded by him on the Dolores Keane & John Faulkner album "Sail Óg Rua" (1983), as Galtee Ranger, Denis Murphy's, and The Doon Reel. Jackie was in our company one time when this set was being discussed, and Dee Sullivan (my wife) commented that it had become so popular, it was like the Sliabh Luachra National Anthem; Jackie was delighted with the expression, and it became a common title for the set. It's an appropriate nickname, because the set has really caught on, and now everyone in Sliabh Luachra will automatically play these tunes in this order.

 

Because there are so many other tunes called Denis Murphy's and The Doon Reel, I've given other titles here (though arguably O'Callaghan's is not a particularly distinctive title). As mentioned previously, Pádraig O'Keeffe's uncle and mentor Cal O'Callaghan was from Doon, near Kiskeam, County Cork, and any tunes in the Sliabh Luachra repertoire titled O'Callaghan's or The Doon most likely came from him (or from his sister Margaret, Pádraig's mother, who played concertina and fiddle and was also a fine singer).

 

Note that all three tunes are played "single", i.e., without repeating the parts. Also, in The Glountane Reel, some people play bar 3 of the second part as BD'D'E' D'- G'E' (not going up to the high G on the long note).

 

All three tunes appeared on the classic album, "The Star Above the Garter" by Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford, but not in this combination: the first two are played together, but the third is paired with The Lady on the Island. On the "Kerry Fiddles" album, Denis and Julia play the first and third tunes together (the first as The Humours of Galtymore), but in the higher key of G, to allow for "bassing", and combined with The New-mown Meadows.

 

The Galtee Rangers

(F#, C#)

D'B | AFFE FEDE | F- FE FAD'B | AFFE FEDE | FBBA FEEB |

AFFE FEDE | F- FE FAD'B | AFFE FEDE | F- EG FDDF ||

A-- B AF F- | ABD'E' F'E' E'- | F'- D'C BCD'B | ABD'E' F'D'D'B |

A-- B AF F- | ABD'E' F'E'E'G' | F'E'D'C BCD'B | A- E'F'G' F'D' D'- ||

 

The Glountane Reel

(F#, C natural)

DGBG AGBG | DGBG AEEG | DGBG A- BC | D'F'E'D' BGGE |

DGBG AGBG | DGBG AEEG | DGBG A- BC | D'- E'D' BGGC ||

BD' D'- D'- E'F' | G'- F'G' E'AAC | BD'D'E' G'- G'E' | D'BAC BGGC |

BD' D'- D'- E'F' | G'- F'G' E'AAC | BD'E'F' G'A'G'E' | D'BAC BG G- ||

 

O'Callaghan's

(F#, C# except C natural where marked C*)

F-- F GE E- | FDDF ABAG | F- AF GE E- | FAGE FDDE |

F-- F GE E- | FDDF ABAG | F-- F GE E- | ABAG FD D- ||

AD'D'E' D'CAB | AGFG ABCA | D'-- C D'CAB | C*BAF G- FG |

AD'D'E' D'CAB | AGFG ABCA | D'- F'D' D'- F'D' | D'- F'D' E'CAG ||

Last time: | F-- E-- | D----  ||

Set 12 - Reels

Set 11 - Reels

Notes from Paul De Grae 
10. Barndances: Turkey in the Straw and The Glenbeigh.


Denis Murphy was fond of Turkey in the Straw, and his version of it, on the RTÉ CD "Denis Murphy – Music from Sliabh Luachra", is perhaps based on the setting in O'Neill, which in turn (according to O'Neill in "Waifs & Strays") is John McFadden's interpretation of how the tune was played by Dan Emmett, of Bryant's Minstrels, in slow reel time, with syncopations. As played by Denis, and by John Carty, it makes an ideal barndance. Johnny O'Leary played a somewhat different version, in a higher key. There is much disputation as to the origins of the tune, but perhaps all we need to say for now is that, wherever it started from, it has found a comfortable home in Sliabh Luachra.

 

Charlie Pigott christened the second tune as The Glenbeigh Hornpipe on the first De Danann album, which gives it a Kerry connection; and the tune is certainly popular here, though in its phrasing it's clearly a barndance rather than a hornpipe. James Morrison may have been the first to record it, in 1935, as Curlew Hills. Arguably it belongs more in the traditions of Donegal and Sligo (it was also recorded by Coleman and by Killoran), but again, it has settled in nicely here in the south-west. It also has cousins in the English tradition.

 

Turkey in the Straw

BA || GEEF EDB,A, | B,DDE D- GA | BCD' D'E' D'BGA | BAAB A- BA |

GEEF E- B,A, |B,DDE D- GA | BD'E'B D'BGA | BGAF G- BA || (1st time)

                                                                    | BGAF G-- A || (2nd time)

BD'D'E' D'BAD' | BD'D'E' D'- BA | BE'E'F' E'F'G' E'D' | BABD' E'- B'A' |

G'- G'E' D'G'E'D' | B- AG E- GA | BGAG EDB,D | EGGF G-- ||  (x 2)

 

The Glenbeigh

D- || GABC D'G'F'A' | G'- B- D'-- | CD'E' AB C-- | BD'GA B-- A |

G- BC D'G'F'A' | G'- B- D'-- | CE'AB CADF | A- G- G- D- ||  (1st time)

                                                                  | A- G- GABC || (2nd time)

D'- B'- C- A'- | B- G'F' G'D'BG | FGAB CAFD | GBAC B-- C |

D'B'B'D' CA'A'C | B- G'F' G'D'BG | FGAB CADF | A- G- GABC || (1st)

                                                                         | A- G- G-- || (2nd)

Set 10- Barndances

Notes from Paul De Grae 
9. Jig and reel: Morrison's and Tom Carmody's.
Two tunes from Kerry. James Morrison recorded the jig, which he got from North Kerry accordion and fiddle player Tom Carmody (1893-1986), who was a member of Morrison's band in New York in the 1930s. Tom had the tune from his father, Maurice, and the Morrison quartet recorded it as Maurice Carmody's Favorite (some pressings of the 78 record labelled it as Maurice Comedy's Favorite, perhaps as a result of someone's Noo Yawk accent?). Maurice Carmody called it The Stick Across the Hob, but this jig – one of the most popular in the repertoire – is so widely known as Morrison's that it would be pedantic to insist on the older name as the "correct" name (a largely illusory concept anyway).

 

The reel may be one of Tom Carmody's own compositions. It is the second of several tunes recorded by Breandán Breathnach from Tom Carmody at home in Ballybunnion at an unknown date (1970s?), now accessible on the ITMA website. The accompanying text mentions that two of the recorded tunes are Tom's own compositions and two others are by Martin Mulhaire; but unfortunately gremlins have been at work, and the attributions are not clear (track 4, attributed to Tom, is certainly one of Martin's tunes). So while I believe that this one is indeed a Tom Carmody composition, that's not 100% certain at the moment.

 

Tom Carmody's relative, Danny O'Mahony, had Tom's last accordion restored, and still plays it.

 

Morrison's

(F#, C#)

E-- BGB | EBE AFD | E-- B- C | D'CD' AFD |

E-- BGB | EBE AFD | GFE FGA | D'AG FED || (1st time)

                                               | D'AG FGA || (2nd time)

BE'E' F'E'E' | A'E'E' F'E'D' | BE'E' F'E'E' | A'- G' F'E'D' |

BE'E' F'E'E' | A'E'E' F'E'D' | G'F'E' D'- A | BAG FGA ||

BE'E' F'E'E' | A'E'E' F'E'D' | BE'E' F'E'E' | F'G'A'F' D'E'F' |

G'-- G'F'E' | D'E'F' G'F'G' | E'D'C D'- A | BAG FED ||

 

Tom Carmody's

D- FA F'D'D'B | ABAG FDDE | C,DEF G- BD' | C- E'D' CAGE |

D- FA F'D'D'B | ABAG FDDE | C,DEF GBE'D' | CAGE EDC,E || (1st time)

                                                                    | CAGE ED D- || (2nd)

F'D' D'- F'D'A'D' | BCD' E'F' G'- E'F' | G'E'E'F' G'- E'D' |CD'E'G' F'D'D'G' |

F'D' D'- F'D'AF | GBAG FDDE | C,DEF GBE'D' | CAGE ED D- ||  (x 2)

Set 9 - Jig and Reel

8. Waltz: I'll meet you on a day that never ends.





This was composed by Bryan O'Leary. Like many another musician with time on their hands during the pandemic lockdowns, Bryan turned to composition, spurred on by a commission from RTÉ Radio 1's Aoife Nic Cormaic (a good friend to World Fiddle Day Scartaglin, and co-presenter, with Steve Larkin, of the 2022 Fiddle Recital). The result was Bryan's 2021 album, "Tranquility in Tureencahill", featuring seventeen original tunes. This is one that John Carty particularly enjoys playing.

 

(F#, C#, G#)

E- C,- A,- | F-- AF | E- A- C- | B-- BAB |

C-- F'A' | E'C- CB | AF- FE | E-- BAF |

E- C,- A,- | F-- AF | E- A- C- | B-- AB |

CF'- F'A' | E'C- CB | AF-- | F-- GAB ||

C-- E'F'C | E'- C- B- | C-- E'F'G' | A'-- |

G'- E'- F' | E'- C- B- | C- E'- E'- | E'-- G'A'F' |

E'- C- A- | E'F'- A'F' | E'- C- A- | B-- BA |

B-- CD'E' | BC CB AE | F-- | F-- GAB || (1st time)

                                        | F- GAF || (2nd time)

Set 8 - Waltz

Notes from Paul De Grae

Set7. Reels: What Brought You in There? and Jimmy Batty's
 

These are two of John Carty's own compositions. The first one can be found on the 2008 At the Racket album, "It's Not Racket Science", and the second one is on John's 1994 album with Brian McGrath, "The Cat that Ate the Candle".

 

What brought you in there?

D- E || FEDB, A,B,DE | F- ED FAAE | FEDB, A,B,DE | F- EG FB,B,E |

FB,B,D A,B,DE | F- ED FAAE | FEDB, A,B,DE | F- EG FDDC ||

D'-- C B- D'B | A- FE FB B- | D'BAC BAFD | A,B,DE FDDC |

D'- E'D' B- D'B | A- FE FBBC | D'BAC B- B'F' | A'F'E'G' F'D' D- ||

 

Jimmy Batty's

D'AAB A- FE | DFAB A- FA | BEEA BD'E'F' | G'E'F'G' E'D'BC |

D'AAB A- FE | DFAB A- FA | BEEA BCD' E'G' | F'D'E'C D'E'F'E' || (1st)

                                                                     | F'D'E'C D'- C || (2nd)

D'AAB AGFG | A- A'E' F'A'E'D' | BE'E'F' E'-- F' | G'E'F'D' E'D'BC|

D'AAB AGFG | A- A'G' F'G'E'C | D'F'E'D' BAFB | AFAB D'- E' || (1st)

                                                                        | AFAB D'-- || (2nd)

Set 7 - Reels

Notes from Paul De Grae
Jigs - The Pilgrimage and The Mountcollins Jig
John Carty got these tunes in New York from fiddler and Shanachie co-founder, the late Dan Collins, whose mother Bridget came from Mountcollins, County Limerick; his father Bill came from Meelin, County Cork. As further evidence of Dan's connection to the south-west of Ireland, in 1961 when he brought out a paperback reprint of the then-hard-to-find "O'Neill's Music of Ireland", it was under the imprint of Rock Chapel Press. All the family were musical; Dan's sister Kathleen was an outstanding fiddler, whose solo album is a gem.
The first tune has various titles. The Pilgrimage is what James Morrison called it in manuscripts for his pupils, and he seems to be the source of the tune. One of those pupils was Jackie Roche, who recorded it as Morrison's Favourite on his 1958 Avoca LP, "The Kerry Dances", so it's known as Jackie Roche's Favourite as well. Paddy Cronin learned it from that LP, and played it often, so of course it's also known as Paddy Cronin's. Some people call it Dan Collins's or Dave Collins's (after his brother). I'm told it's in Josephine Keegan's collection, "A Drop in the Ocean", as Gone to the Dogs. Take your pick! It's arguably a cousin of The Rollicking Boys of Tandragee.

The second tune was composed by the late Eamonn Flynn, of Mountcollins, who spent many years in Boston and Vermont before returning to his native territory. Twenty-one of his compositions, including this one, can be found in Dan Herlihy's book, "Sliabh Luachra Music Masters: Volume 2", along with a great photo of Eamonn with Paddy Cronin, both wearing tuxedos, in an early 1960s ceili band.

 

The Pilgrimage

(C = C natural. C# = C sharp)

ABA DED | A- B C- A | GAG GEF | GAG EFG |

ABA DED | A- B C- A | GFG BAG | AFD D- B || (1st time)

                                                   | AFD D- E' || (2nd time)

F'- F' G'E'D | C#AG EFG | F'- F' G'E'D' | E'- A' E'F'G' |

F'- F' G'E'D | C#AG EFG | A- A BAG | AFD D-- || (x 2)

 

The Mountcollins Jig

F-- DFA | BAF AD'E' | F'E'D' BAF | B-- BAG |

F-- D- A | BAF A- G' | F'E'D' BAF | E-- EDE ||

F- A D- A | BAF AD'E' |F'E'D' BAF | B-- D-- |

F'G'A'F' E'F'E' | D'E'D' CBA | BAF EFA | B-- B- G' ||

F'-- D'- F' | A'F'D' E'D'E' | F'- E' D'E'F' | G'-- G'F'E' |

F'-- D'F'A' | B'A'F' G'F'E' | F'D'A DFA | B-- B- G' ||

F'-- D'- F' | A'F'D' E'D'E' | F'- E' D'E'F' | G'-- G'F'G' |

A'G'F' G'F'E' | F'E'D' E'D'C| BAF EFA | B- A D'- A ||

Set 6 - Jigs

Notes from Paul De Grae
 5. Reels: Paddy Cronin's 
This is a real treat: two reels that John Carty learned from the playing of Paddy Cronin, quite possibly composed by Paddy. They don't appear on any of Paddy's commercial recordings, and I can't find them in print in any of the O'Neill or Breathnach collections, nor in any of a dozen or so other books (the opening phrase of No. 2 has a slight resemblance to "Mullingar Races", but that's all). We hope to have more information before World Fiddle Day.

 

No. 1

F- EF D- DE | FED EF DB, B,- | A,B,DE F- BC | D'E'CD' B- AG |

F- EF D- DE | FED EF DB, B,- | A,B,DE FABA | F- EG FDDE ||  (1st time)

                                                                    | F- EG FDDC || (2nd time)

D'- E'C D'B B- | FBD'B FABC | D'- E'C D'BBA | FACE' D'BBC |

D'E'F'D' CD'E'C | D'CBA FB, B,- | A,B,DE FABA | F- EG FDDC || (1st)

                                                                        | F- EG FD D- ||  (2nd)

 

No. 2

DEFD EB, B,- | DEFA BCD'E' | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE DB, B,- |

D- FD EB, B,- | DEFA BCD'E' | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE D--- ||  (1st time)

                                                                   | EDFE D- AC ||  (2nd time)

D'CD'E' F'- D'F' | E'D'F'D' E'B B- | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE DB,B,A |

D'CD'E' F'- D'F' | E'D'F'D' E'B B- | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE D- AC ||

D'CD'E' F'- D'F' | E'D'F'D' E'B B- | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE DB, B,- |

DEFD EB, B,- | DEFA BCD'E' | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE D--- ||

Set 5 - Reels

Notes from Paul De Grae
4. Fling and slides: Turn Hill, Carrigkerry Slide, Con Cassidy's
John Carty learned these tunes from Dan Brouder, who kindly supplied some local information. The fling, Turn Hill, is named after a place in West Limerick, between Templeglantine and Rooskagh; the tune was played by John Joe Hartnett (flute player from Athea) and Moss Murphy (fiddler from Templegantine), from whom Dan learned it. Carrigkerry is a village, also in West Limerick, and this slide also comes from the playing of John Joe and Moss. Dan credits Donegal fiddler Con Cassidy with composing the third tune.

 

As proof that good music knows no boundaries, both of these slides are very much associated with Con Cassidy and Donegal music; they are played as jigs in Donegal (Altan recorded Con Cassidy's on their album "The Red Crow"), and they have also become naturalised here in the south-west. I remember hearing Máire O'Keeffe and Michelle O'Sullivan playing them in Tralee in the early 1980s.

 

Turn Hill

E'F' G'  E'- D'  B- D'  G'-- | G- B  D'- B  G- B  D'- G' |

E'F' G'  E'- D'  B- D'  G'- A' | G'- E'  D'- E'  BA-  A-- ||  (x 2)

A'- E'  A'- B'  A'- E'  A'- B' | G'- E'  G'- A'  G'- E'  G'- B' |

A'- E'  A'- B'  A'- E'  A'- B' | G'- E'  D'- E'  BA-  A-- ||  (x 2)

 

The Carrigkerry Slide

F' | G'- F' E'F'G' | D'- B BAB | C- A AGA | B- G GBD' |

G'- F' E'F'G' | D'- B B- C | AA'A' D'E'F' | G'-- D'E'F' || (1st time)

                                                           |  G'-- G'- A' || (2nd time)

B'- G' G'F'G' | B'- G' G'F'G' | A'- F' F'E'F' | A'- F' D'- G' |

B'- G' G'F'G' | B'- G' G'F'G' | E'A'A' D'E'F' | G'-- G'- A' || (1st time)

                                                                | G'-- G'D'C || (last time)

 

Con Cassidy's

B-- BAB | D'- C A- F | G-- GFG | B- A A- B |

C-- CE'G' | E'- D' B- C | D'E'D' CAF | G-- D- A || (1st time)

                                                       | G-- G- G' || (2nd time)

F'- D' D'E'F' | G'F'G' A'- G' | F'- D' D'E'D' | C- A A- E' |

F'- D' D'E'F' | G'F'G' A'- G' | F'G'F' E'F'E' | D'-- D'- G' ||

F'- D' D'E'F' | G'F'G' A'- G' | F'- D' D'E'D' | C- A A- G' |

F'- D' D'E'F' | G'F'G' A'- G' | F'G'F' E'F'E' | D'E'D' CD'C ||

To finish | B-- ABA | G---- ||

Set 4 - Fling and 2 Slides

Notes from Paul De Grae
3. Polkas: Francie Campbell's and Out of the Ashes
Two polkas from County Mayo, for a change. This is a set from John Carty's live album with Matt Molloy and Arty McGlynn, "Out of the Ashes". According to the liner notes, they got that title from "a saying of the great Johnny Watt Henry who was a night owl who liked to keep musicians late into the night. If they made an attempt to leave he would delay them by declaring: 'What hurry is on ye lads? Hold on and I'll rake up the gríosach here and see if I can't pull another 'quare' tune out of the ashes for ye...to be bringing home with ye.'"

 

In the Irish context, polkas are often equated with Kerry music (which must irritate people from Cork and Limerick who are also citizens of Sliabh Luachra), but they are to be found here and there all over the country, with local differences in rhythm and in the associated dances. It's like the Kerry Cattle, a hardy breed that did not originate in Kerry but was once common throughout the west and south-west of Ireland; as farming practices changed, other breeds ousted these handsome black animals, until only a few remained in poor, remote parts of Kerry (it's now a recognised "Rare Breed", and a herd is maintained in the state-owned land at Farmleigh). Similarly, as tastes in music and dancing changed, polkas and set-dancing largely fell out of favour in other parts of Ireland, or were never very popular in the first place; but they remained strong (if officially ignored) in Sliabh Luachra… all of which is a roundabout way of saying there's nothing surprising in having polkas from Mayo.

 

About the ABCs: it's important to indicate the long and short notes in these tunes. Single letters separated by a space are quavers (1/8 notes); a single letter with a short dash after it is a dotted quaver; a single letter with a double dash after it is a crotchet (1/4 note); and single letters without spaces between are semiquavers (1/16 notes). If in doubt, listen to the recording (listen to the recording anyway!).

 

Francie Campbell's

B D' A- B | G E  E D | E G  GAGE | D G  A-- |

B--  A- B | G E  E D | E G  GAGE | D G  G- A ||  (x 2)

B D'  G'- F' | E' D'  G'- D' | B D'  E'F'G'E' | D' B  A-- |

B D'  G' G'F' | E' D'  G'- E'| D' B  A GA | B G  G-- ||  (x 2)

 

Out of the Ashes

E | D G  G A | B D'  G' F' | E' G'E'  D' B | A G  EFGE |

D G  G A | B D'  D' B | E'--  D'- B | A G  G-- ||  (x 2)

B D'  B D' | G'- G'  E' G' | D'--  B AG | E A  A C |

B D'  B- D' | G' F'  E'F'G'E' | D' A  B A | G--  G-- ||  (x 2)

Set 3 - Polkas

Notfrom Paul De Grae
The second set chosen by John Carty for the World Fiddle Day Scartaglin fiddle recital. ABCs at the end of this text.



2. Hornpipes: An Trí is a Rian, Cronin's.

 

Two fine Sliabh Luachra hornpipes, both from the Pádraig O'Keeffe repertoire. You can find POK's own version of the first one on the RTÉ CD, "The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master – Pádraig O'Keeffe", as one of a pair of hornpipes titled John Quinn's, named after POK's piccolo-playing neighbour; and POK recorded the second one with Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford on the "Kerry Fiddles" album.

 

Breandán Breathnach collected the first one from Denis Murphy as An Trí is a Rian and also as An Tí is a Rian, and people have been confused about the title ever since (Denis was not an Irish speaker, and was perhaps unsure himself of the meaning); the transcription of Denis's playing is in "Ceol Rince na hÉireann" vol. 5, no. 217. If you don't like the Irish title, you could follow POK and call it John Quinn's; also, Julia and Billy Clifford recorded it as The Sands. The first part is an adaptation, perhaps by POK, of Miss McLeod's Reel.

 

In the booklet accompanying the "Music from Sliabh Luachra" album series by Topic Records, Alan Ward writes that the second tune "is usually associated with Edward Cronin", the fiddler from Limerick Junction in Tipperary, later resident in Chicago, a major contributor to Francis O'Neill's collections. Certainly Edward Cronin played in a recognisably Sliabh Luachra style, as can be heard on the O'Neill cylinder recordings (isued on CD by Ward Irish Music Archives in 2010); but this tune is not one of the many sourced from Edward Cronin in O'Neill's books. A more likely candidate is Paddy Cronin, who recorded this tune as Cronin's Hornpipe in 1950 for Copley Records in Boston, that title probably being invented in the studio; after that the tune became associated with Paddy, and it would be unsurprising to find the "Kerry Fiddles" trio calling it Cronin's when they played it for Séamus Ennis in 1952 (the setting in Breathnach's CRÉ vol. 2, no. 303, is from Séamus). It's also sometimes called Denis Murphy's, for example on the "Paddy in the Smoke" album.

 

An Trí is a Rian

GABG EFGA | B- BA BCBA | GABG EFGB | ABA GFE DCBA |

GABG EFGA | BCD' E'F' G'- F'G' | E'CAG FAD'C | BCB G- G-- || (x 2)

D'-- B G'- G'E' | D'E'D'B GBD'B | C-- A B-- C | ABA GFE DCBA |

GABG EFGA | BCD' E'F' G'- F'G' | E'CAG FAD'C | B- G- G-- || (x 2)

 

Cronin's

D- | GABD' D'BD'E' | G'A'G'E' D'E'G'A' | B'A'G'E' D'BGA | BAAB A- BA |

GABD' D'BD'E' | G'A'G'E' D'E'G'A' | B'A'G'E' D'BAB | G- GF G- ||  (x 2)

F'G' | A'F'D'C# D'E'G'A' | B'G'E'B E'F'G'A' | B'G'A'F' G'E'D'B | BAAB A- BA |

GABD' D'BD'E' | G'A'G'E' D'E'G'A' | B'A'G'E' D'BAB | G- GF G- ||  (x 2)

Set 2 - Hornpipes

Notes - Paul De Grae 
It's that time of year again, when we share details of the tunes selected for the Fiddle Recital on World Fiddle Day Scartaglin. This year the tunes have been selected by John Carty, and I'm sure you'll enjoy them.

As usual, I've kept the transcriptions fairly simple; tempting though it is to highlight some of the wonderful variations that a musician of John's calibre plays, a basic playable setting seems the more useful option. Rolls, etc., are not shown, but you won't go wrong if you ornament some of the long notes - or not: it's your choice!

Also as usual, each set of tunes is linked to a Soundcloud file, and it's highly recommended that you listen to that first, rather than relying on the written setting.

Staff notation in the illustration, ABCs at the end of this text.



1. Jigs: Bridget McRory, Biddy from Sligo.



Soundcloud link:

https://soundcloud.com/pj-teahan-884614828/set-1-jigs?in=pj-teahan-884614828/sets/world-fiddle-scartaglin-day



Two tunes that John learned from the playing of Paddy Cronin. Paddy in turn may have found them in O'Neill's "Music of Ireland", where they are no. 933 and no. 790, respectively, the latter as Ballahaboy Fair (Biddy from Sligo is apparently the usual title in northern counties; I don't know what Paddy called it himself). Paddy was always looking for new tunes, and would play through various collections until he found something that appealed to him; once having learned the basic tune, he would then weave his own magic on it - and here John does the same.

 

I have been unable to find any information about Bridget McRory, and as far as I can tell, O'Neill was the first to print it. The second tune is a single jig which could be nudged into a slide without much difficulty, and indeed it bears a passing resemblance to the well-known slide, Behind the Bush in the Garden.

 

Bridget McRory

D'BG G-- | BAB GAB | D'BG ABD' | E'- A A- E' |

D'BG G-- | BAB GBD' | G'F'E' D'BA | B- G GBD' || (x 2)

G'D'G' G'D'G' | A'E'A' A'G'F' | G'F'G' A'G'A' | B'- E' E'- F' |

G'D'G' G'D'G' | A'E'A' A'- F' | G'F'E' D'BA | B- G GBD' ||  (x 2)

 

Biddy from Sligo

(C = C#)

D'CD' AFA | BGB A- C | D'CD' AFA | G'-- F'- E' |

D'CD' AFA | BGB A- G' | F'A'A' A'F'D' | E'F'E' D'F'E' ||

D'CD' AFA | BGB A- C | D'CD' AFA | G'-- F'- E' |

D'CD' AFA | BGB A- G' | F'A'A' A'F'D' | E'-- D'- E' ||

F'A'A' B'A'A' | F'A'A' B'A'A' | F'A'A' F'A'A | E'F'G' F'- E' |

F'A'A' B'A'A' | F'- A' B'A'A' | F'A'A' G'F'E' | D'-- D'- E' || (x 2)

Set 1 -Jigs

World Fiddle Day Scartaglin Recital Setlist  May 17 - 2025 Cover Page

Christy Cronin Gneeveguilla - Song The Moving Bog

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/cornelius-o-sullivan-obituary?id=54788071&utm_source=webshareapi&utm_medium=share_button&utm_campaign=wsapimobile_betaRecorded by Charlie Mulvihill whose daughter also plays piano on some tunes. This was recorded shortly after Dr Corneilus P O Sullivan’s  return to New York where he was born .  Having gone to school in Gneeveguilla and Killarney before studying medicine in UCD he was a friend and devotee of Denis Murphy’s playing. This was recorded in the Bronx and posted  later to Denis Murphy’s apartment in the Bronx by Charle Mulvihill.

Lisheen Attic Tape  Cornelius P O Sullivan and Denis Murphy

Denis Murphy Various Audio Donations 1

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