Tag Archives: Learning Irish Music
Father O’Flynn’s Jig (D)
“Father O’Flynn’s” jig was more often called âTop of Cork Roadâ until A. P. Graveâs (the father of poet Robert Graves) wrote lyrics for it in 1906, and called it “Father OâFlynn.” The song became very popular and so the tune took on the new name. Unfortunately, after writing it A. P. Graves sold it […]
Egan’s Polka (D)
“Egan’s Polka” Â is another great tune for teaching polkas â though I have read that players in Glasgow sessions wonât play it. Â It is a Kerry polka, and also goes by the name “The Kerry Polka” — as do a number of different Kerry polkas. Â Perhaps unsurprisingly, there is even more confusion about the name […]
Breeches Full of Stitches (A)
The polka “Breeches Full of Stitches” is a great tune for beginners, or those first learning Irish polkas. Some people play this in G, but Kevin Burke plays it in A Ionian.  So, here itâs in A Ionian. Martin Hayes plays this in his typical slow, deeply emotional way on his first album Martin Hayes […]
Kid on the Mountain (Eaeol)
In the slip jig “Kid on the Mountain,” the âkidâ in the title is a young goat, of course, not some human child stranded on some high wind-blown wintry mountain in Jaunary. Â When I play it I like to think of the kid as traversing a rocky slope on a nice Spring day. Now this […]
The Butterfly (Edor)
“The Butterfly” slip jig is very popular among (some) musicians and dancers, and shows up in John Saylesâs much-loved film The Secret of Roan Inish (1994). It is a three-part tune and is played AABBCC. Though commonly called âThe Butterfly,â it is claimed to also be called âBill Groganâs Goatâ or âBarneyâs Goat.â As the version of “Barney’s Goat” I looked […]
Ballydesmond Polkas (Ador)
The  three Ballydesmond Polkas can be found on a number of recordings and websites. The order and numbering given here is from the album entitled The Star Above the Garter, by Denis Murphy (1910-1974) and Julia Clifford (1914â1997), siblings from Sliabh Luachra.  The area called Sliabh Luachra (pronounced Schleeav-lokhra, with the âkhâ as that middle-of-the-mouth […]
Child of My Heart (Aaeol)
“Child of My Heart” is a single jig, #1095 in OâNeillâs 1850 (1903) and #395 in OâNeill 1001 (1907). According to the Fiddlerâs Companion, the tune was picked up by Capt. Francis OâNeill from John Ennis, the piper and flute player from County Kildare who had himself gotten it from a nameless player who was […]
Calliope House
The jig “Calliope House” was composed in the open air by the English mandolin, banjo, and concertina player Dave Richardson (of The Boys of the Lough).  Originally in E,  this tune was thus outside the range of traditional flutes, whistles, and pipes. It has since been transposed and is now in sessions most commonly played in D. […]
The Lilting Banshee (Ador)
The tune we know as “The Lilting Banshee” is listed as âThe Miller of Glanmireâ in OâNeillâs Dance Music of Ireland (1907) â called âOâNeillâs 1001â because it has 1001 tunes in it, or called ânot the yellow one, the other book.â In fact, this tune has many names, and what itâs called will depend […]