Two old reels played on banjo with Hajime Takahashi on guitar

Farewell To Erin / Sally Gardens

These two reels are some of our favourites to play together. They're both versions of each other. The first is the Yellow Tinker (aka Jaundiced Itinerant, Chinese Philosopher) and it's followed by the Drunken Tinker.

The Tinker's Set

Here is an unusual take on Rakish Paddy. It's followed by a great old tune with Scottish origins I believe.

Rakish Paddy / Graf Spey

Two jigs. The first is a tune I learnt from Frank Perry when I started learning banjo. The second I got from John Carty (it's Jim O'Donoghue's version). It's only the remnants of what I can remember because I lost the recording of it ages ago.

Gander in the Pratie Hole / Battering Ram

Here are two reels. The first I got from the album 'Born for Sport' (Paul O'Shaughnessy & Harry Bradley) and it is named after a Dublin-based flute player who was prolific on the scene during the 1960s. It is followed by a composition of the late Vincent Broderick.

John Egan's / Coachman's Whip

Two reels, again with Haji providing the tasteful accompaniment. The first is an old reel which I never seem to tire of. I changed it from it's original key of Am to Gm. 

I wrote 'Errigal Road' around Christmas time 2015. It is named after the road where I grew up in Drimnagh.

Sligo Maid / Errigal Road

Two reels associated with the great flute player John McKenna.

Colonel Roger's Favourite / The Happy Days of Youth

Banjo solo, set of reels. The first was written by Paddy Taylor though I've omitted the third part because I'm not really a fan of it. Leo Rowesome played it this way.

Boy in the Gap / Connaught Heifers / Within a Mile of Dublin

Two old, evergreen hornpipes. Some of the first tunes I ever learnt as a young teenager. Accompaniment provided by Hajime Takahashi on guitar.

The Plains of Boyle / Cronin's Hornpipe

Myself on banjo, John Flynn on flute and Hajime Takahashi on guitar blast out two evergreen reels. This was recorded last year in Temple Bar Studios. It was really enjoyable to play together with best friends. Makes it all the more special.

Doctor Gilbert's / Maud Miller

An old-time American folk song I learnt from Doc Watson. The recording quality is awful as I'm only getting used to the software and hardware but you have to start somewhere.

Patrick Cummins

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