Tag Archives: Irish Session
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 […]
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 […]
Maggie in the Woods (G)
“Maggie in the Woods” is a popular two-part polka, similar to âThe Scartaglen Polkaâ (also in G), though the latter has three parts. There are some common lyrics to this polka: Â If I met Maggie in the wood / I would kiss her if I could / thatâs the thing would do her good / […]
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 […]
 Drowsy Maggie (Edor)
“Drowsy Maggie” is a very popular reel at sessions all over the world. Itâs #1425 in OâNeillâs 1850 â i.e., O’Neill’s Music of Ireland (1903) â and so probably dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. However, thereâs not much clear information about the tuneâs origin or subsequent history. It should not be confused with a set […]
The Banshee (G)
The reel entitled “The Banshee” is a session favorite pretty much everywhere. It was composed by James McMahon (b. â1900 – Dec. 1980 RIP), a flute player originally from South Fermanagh, in Northern Ireland.  He married Rose Tally, eventually moved to Belfast, and became an influential flute player there in the 1960’s.  He composed several other […]
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 […]