The Lads of Laois is a beautiful reel that I associate with the playing of Gerdie Commane, concertina player from Kilnamona. Michael Queally (fiddle) also recorded this tune on the band Moher’s first album, “Out on the Ocean”.
X:1
T:Lads of Laois, The
R:reel
M:4/4
K:Edor
|:EB,B,B, EGFE|DA,A,2 DEFD|GEED EFGA|B2ec dBAF|
EB,B,2 EGFE|DA,A,A, DEFD|E2BE dBAF|1 DEFA BEED:|2 DEFA BE~E2||
|: eB~B2 egfe|defa gfed|(3Bcd ed efge|fgaf gfed|
eBB2 GBFB|EBBA (3Bcd ef|g2ge ~f3d|1 efed BAFA:|2 efed BAFD||
This is a lovely jig that I learned from Cathy Custy’s beautiful album “An Ceoltoir Fanach”. She plays if after “Gerry’s Beaver Hat”. The late Dympna O’Sullivan, who was one of my favourite concertina player, also recorded it on her first CD “Bean Chairdín”. This tune is played quite regularly in sessions around Doolin.
”The Shoemaker’s Fancy” is a jig that I learned from Yvonne Casey & Terry Bingham at a session in McGann’s Pub. It also features on a great CD called “The Humours of Highgate” by John Blake, Lamond Gillespie & Mick Leahy, which is one of my favourite albums.
This is a reel I learned from the old LP “The Russell Family”, featuring Micho, Packie & Gussie Russell. This particular tune is played on the recording by Micho and Gussie, both on tin whistle. I haven’t heard it in session that much, but it’s a nice tune nonetheless.
