Gavin Whelan - Liner Notes

       

1. The Black Haired Lass, The Mountain Top, Paddy Fahey’s
The first in this set is a tune a popular tune associated with the music of Donegal. The mountain top I learned from the playing of Terry Bingham, a concertina player living in Doolin, Co Clare. The third tune was written by Paddy Fahey, a great fiddle player and composer from Kilconnell, Co Galway.

2. Seamus Connolly’s, Tommy Peoples.
I learned the first tune from mandolin and fiddle player, Finbarr Naughton. Finbarr comes from a well-known musical family in Co Galway.
The second tune is a composition by the renowned fiddle player Tommy Peoples, from St Johnston in Co Donegal.

3. Brogans Ferry, Lough Mountain, Paddy Fahey’s, Josephine Keegan’s
Brogans Ferry is yet another great tune written by Tommy Peoples. Tommy recorded this tune on the 1981 album entitled, The iron man, with guitar player Dáthi Sproule. The second tune was recorded and made popular by the band Fisherstreet. Josiphine Keegan, piano and fiddle player living in Newry, Co Down, wrote Augha Cashel after a great night’s music in Co Leitrim.

4. James Byrnes.
James Byrne is a well regarded fiddle player from Min a’croise, Glencolmcille in Donegal. These particular tunes I learned from Dublin fiddler, Mick Brown.

5. The Eel in the Sink, Mamma’s Pet, Miss Langfords.
The Eel in the sink is another fine tune from the repertoire of Terry Bingham. Mamma’s Pet appears in Ceol Rince Na hEireann. Miss Langfords appears in Ceol Rince Na hEireann Vol. 2.

6. A Hiúdai Pheadair Éamainn
A Hiúadaí Pheadair Éamainn was written by Maighread’s father, Aodh ó Dhomhnaill, and was taken from the air, Mo Buachaillin Conn. It was also recorded on Maighread Ní Domhnaill’s first album on the Gael Linn 1976 LP.

7. The Pipe on the Hob, The Pipers Chair, Na Ceanabhain Bhana
The pipe on the Hob appears in O’Neill’s 185O. Ceol Rince Na hEireann Vol. l and the Dance music of Willie Clancy. Micho Russell, the well-known whistle player from Doonagore, Doolin Co. Clare, is the source of the second tune. Na Ceannabháin Bhána is a popular Conemara song.

8. The Westwind, The Goosebury Bush
The West Wind is a three-part version of the well-known tune, Colonel Fraser. The second tune is a popular tune particularly favored by whistle and flute players.

9. Mary McNamara’s, The Fairy Queen
Two hornpipes, which I learned from Dublin flute player, Paul McGratten. Mary McNamara is a concertina player from Tulla in the east part of Clare.
The Fairy Queen can be found in O’Neill’s 1856, and Ceol Rince Na hEireann Vol.3.

10. The Cliffs of Moher, Wallop the Spot, Paddy’s Resource.
The Cliffs of Moher is a Clare version of a well-known tune. The Second tune is popular tune among pipers. Paddy’s Resource comes from the playing of accordion and concertina player from John Williams.

11. John Brady’s, Palmers, Thady Casey’s.
I got the first tine from flute player Conor Byrne. Palmers gate is a composition from fiddle player Joe Liddy, who was born in Killargue, Co Leitrim. It can be found in Joe’s collection of compositions entitled, ‘The Letrim Fiddler’. Thady Casey was one of the last dancing masters an also an accomplished fiddle and bodhran player, and the uncle if fiddle player Bobby Casey whose father was (John Scully Casey ) from the Crosses of Annagh, Miltown-Malbay, Co Clare.

12. Beann Dubh an Ghleanna
Learned from the playing of Dublin whistle player Sean Potts.

13. Tie the Ribbons, The Girl That Broke my Heart, Devany’s Goat
Tie the Ribbons was recorded by Bobby Casey on the Clair VOL. 1 LP. The second tune can be found in Trip to Sligo by Bernard Flaherty. Devanys Goat appears in Ceol Rince Na hEireann Vol. 1.

14. The Walls of Liscarolll, The Kilmovee jig, Scattering the mud.
The Walls of Liscaroll is named after a town near Mallow Co Cork. The Kilmovee jig was learned from the playing of Gary and Mary Shannon. Scattering the Mud appears in the Dance Music of Ireland. Ceol Rince Na hEireann vol. 1 and O’Neill’s Irish Melodies 1850.

15. Micheal Relihan’s, Gan Ainm, Patsy Touhey’s
The first tune which was a favourite of fiddler and concertina player John Kelly (senior) from Kibaha, near loop Head in West Clare. The second tune I have no name for. Patsy Touhey’s is named after a great piper from Cahertinna, Ballaun, near Loughrea, Co Galway, who emigrated to the States in the 1870s.