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Category Archives: Jig

The Kesh Jig (G)

“The Kesh Jig” is on the Bothy Band album called The Bothy Band  (1975), and thereafter became a popular session tune.  Often just referred to as “The Kesh,” it’s not as popular as it once was, in the 1980s for example, mostly because it is considered by some to have been over-played.  It probably wouldn’t […]

Tripping Up the Stairs (D)

The jig “Tripping Up the Stairs” is a universally popular jig in sessions, and seems to come from co. Donegal.  It is sometimes thought to be titled “Tripping Upstairs.” Some even think that its current title is a joke, a play on “Tripping Down the Stairs” which they think is the actual title.  Still others […]

Out on the Ocean (G)

This jig, “Out on the Ocean,”  is sometimes played in A rather than G – on Planxty’s After The Break (1979), for instance.  It is a great tune played either rapidly or slowly.  It seems to have been collected first by George Petrie, whose collection is available online. His best known collection is entitled Ancient Irish […]

The Lilting Banshee (Ador)

The tune we know as “The Lilting Banshee” is listed as “The Miller of Glanmire” in O’Neill’s Dance Music of Ireland (1907) – called “O’Neill’s 1001” because it has 1001 tunes in it, or called “not the yellow one, the other book.” In fact, this tune has many names, and what it’s called will depend […]

Father O’Flynn’s Jig (D)

“Father O’Flynn’s” jig was more often called “Top of Cork Road” until A. P. Grave’s (the father of poet Robert Graves) wrote lyrics for it in 1906, and called it “Father O’Flynn.” The song became very popular and so the tune took on the new name.  Unfortunately, after writing it A. P. Graves sold it […]

Haunted House (G)

There are a variety of variations of this G Ionian jig, Haunted House, which is becoming popular at sessions.  The tune is from the prolific Galway flute player Vincent Broderick (1920-2008). He and his brother Peter were well-loved musicians, generous with their time and talents.  According to legend the brothers used to explain the origin of […]

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.  […]