Hornpipes

Index of all Hornpipes

An Tri Is A Rian

January 5, 2020 No Comments

I learned this hornpipe from the playing of Cormac Begley, who learned it himself from East Clare concertina player Mary MacNamara.

Bird’s (The)

October 30, 2021 No Comments

The Bird’s Hornpipe is a tune I learned from Noel O’Donoghue, great flute player from Kilfenora. Hugh Healy also recorded this tune on his wonderful album Ceolaire.

“The Boys of Bluehill” is one of the most common tune in Irish Music. Some would say it is only a beginner tune, but I think it is a beautiful hornpipe. This is the version we play around Doolin, I think I got it from Terry Bingham. I like playing this tune with flute player Adrian McMahon, he usually plays it after “The Good Natured Man”.

Caisleán an Óir

February 13, 2020 No Comments

Caisleán an Óir (The Golden Castle) was composed by Junior Crehan from Miltown Malbay. I learned it from Terry Bingham, who often plays it after “If there weren’t any woman in the world”. It was also recorded on Matt Molloy and Sean Keane’s brilliant album “Contentment is Wealth”.

Chief O’Neill’s Favourite

February 17, 2020 No Comments

I learned this hornpipe from Hugh Healy and Sean Vaughan. There are different versions “Chief O’Neill’s Favourite” (with only F# for example), but this is what I think is the most common setting in the area.

Cronin’s Hornpipe

March 21, 2020 No Comments

“Cronin’s Hornpipe” is a popular tune that I learned from Terry Bingham. I also associate this tune with my good friend Adrian McMahon, a great flute player from Kilfenora. Adrian likes to play it after “The Rights of Men”, which makes a really nice change.

Flowing Tide (The)

March 28, 2020 No Comments

“The Flowing Tide” is a hornpipe that is very much associated with the playing of the legendary Chris Droney, concertina player from Bell Harbour. I actually learned it from Christy Barry, James Devitt and Terry Bingham.

Galway Hornpipe (The)

March 29, 2020 No Comments

I learned “The Galway Hornpipe” from Hugh & Colm Healy’s album “Macalla na hÓige”. I always enjoy playing “The Good Natured Man” after it, I think it is a very nice change.

Good Natured Man (The)

April 2, 2020 No Comments

I learned “The Good Natured Man” with my friend Gilles Tabary (flute), on one on his visit to Doolin. I have enjoyed playing this hornpipe for many years now and it is still one of my favourites, which I particularly enjoy playing with Adrian McMahon, flute player from Kilfenora.

Her Lovely Hair Was Flowing Down Her Back

April 15, 2020 No Comments

“Her Lovely Hair Was Flowing Down Her Back” is a hornpipe I first learned from The Mulcahy Family on their wonderful album “Notes From The Heart”. I came across this tune many times and in different keys, so I transcribed two keys below, Aminor and Bminor. I think it is also played in Gminor sometimes.

Humours Of Tullycrine (The)

April 25, 2020 2 Comments

“The Humours of Tullycrine” is a wonderful hornpipe and has been one of my favourite tunes for many years. It is quite a common hornpipe in Clare, and I associate it Sean Vaughan in particular. It is often followed by another beautiful hornpipe, “Mickey Callaghan’s Fancy”.

Jim Coleman’s

June 1, 2020 2 Comments

“Jim Coleman’s Hornpipe” is named after Michael Coleman’s brother who was, as far as I know, a flute player. I heard this tune played by the great banjo player from Doolin, Kevin Griffin, during a session at Gus O’Connor’s Pub. However, I actually learned it later John Wynne’s album “With Every Breath”.

Josephine Begley’s

February 4, 2021 No Comments

I first learned “Josephine Begley’s” many years ago from Terry Bingham’s album, on which he calls this tune “Mairtin O’Connor’s”. I only found out in February 2021 that this hornpipe was in fact a composition of Frankie Gavin. It is the great flute and concertina player from Laois Tommy Fitzharris who provided me with this information.

Kitty Hayes’ Hornpipe

July 16, 2020 1 Comment

I learned Kitty Hayes’ Hornpipe from the great album “Rooska Hill” by Tony O’Connell and Éamonn O’Riordan. Kitty Hayes recorded this tune herself as Junior Crehan’s. I couldn’t find this hornpipe in the book of Junior Crehan’s compositions, There is howver a reel called Crehan’s Banbhs in the book which shares a lot of similarities with this tune.

McGivney’s Fancy

September 18, 2021 5 Comments

McGivney’s Fancy is a hornpipe associated with Éamon McGivney, a great fiddle player from Co. Longford originally but resident of West Clare for many years and one of the directors of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy since the early 1980s.

Miss Galvin’s

December 7, 2020 2 Comments

I learned “Miss Galvin’s Hornpipe” through various sessions, it is usually played after “Poll Ha’Penny” around Doolin, as Mary Bergin recorded them on her legendary album “Feadóga Stáin”. “Miss Galvin’s” is associated with Ellen Galvin, a fiddle and concertina player from West Clare.

Rights of Man (The)

June 28, 2020 1 Comment

I learned The rights of Man during my very first summer in Ireland, back in 2006, on the tin whistle. It is my friend Stéphane who got me started, and I am ever so grateful for all the advice and tips he gave me, especially around his respectful approach to traditional music.

Around The Fairy Fort

“Around The Fairy Fort” is a barndance composed by Vincent Broderick. I picked it up at a session in McCarthy’s of Coore during Willie Clancy Week 2014, from my friend Samuel König, a great fiddle player from Switzerland. It is usually followed by an other barndance from Vincent Broderick called “The New Broom”, which I also learned at that session.

Down The Back Lane

I learned “Down The Back Lane” from Terry Bingham’s album, but it is a jig widely associated with piper Willie Clancy from Miltown Malbay, as well as fiddle player Bobby Casey.

Con Cassidy’s (Slide)

I learned this “Con Cassidy’s Slide” from the playing of Derek Hickey & Liam Flanagan. They recorded it on the fantastic compilation album from the Corofin Trad Festival “Teach Cheoil”.