“Dan Breen’s” is a reel I love playing very much. I learned it from a session with Yvonne Casey, Terry Bingham and Stéphane Germain. There’s a great version of this tune on the album “The Kilmore Fancy” by Catherine & John McEvoy as well.
Below is a video from a few years back, as I recorded this tune for a “30 Tune-a-day” challenge.
X:1
T:Dan Breen’s
R:Reel
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Ador
|:e2dB A2AG|EAAG ABcd|eBdB ABAG|EGGF GABd:||
|:e2ge edBd|e~A3 e~A3|e2ge edBd|d2ef g2fg:||
“Contentment is Wealth” is a great jig I learned from my friend Thierry Masure, a fiddle player from Belgium who lives in Co. Clare also. There are a few different versions of this tune, but this is the one I got from Thierry, which was also recorded by Paddy Murphy, the legendary concertina player from Fiach Roe, Co. Clare. Another great recording of this lovely jig can also be found on Dan Gurney’s album.
I learned The Kilnamona Barndance from the playing of Gerdie Commane, in a video published by Custy’s Music Shop on their website a good few years back. John Williams, a great accordion and concertina player from Chicago who spent a lot of time in Doolin, also recorded this tune on one of the first albums of the band Solas.
I learned ”The First House in Connaught” from a one of Doolin’s legends, concertina player Packie Russell. It is an old favourite amongst concertina players in County Clare and has been recorded by Paddy Murphy, Tom Carey and Dympna O’Sullivan among others.
