I learned the jig “Donnybrook Fair” from the playing of concertina player Dympna O’Sullivan. It is a common session tune, which was also recorded by Josephine Marsh on the album “To Meet A Friend” with Cyril O’Donoghue.
X:1
T:Donnybrook Fair
R:Jig
M:6/8
K:G
|:G2G AGA|Bee dBA|BAB GAB|AGE EDE|
GFG AGA|B2e dBA|BAB GAB|1 AGF G2D:|2 AGF GBd||
gfe fed|ege dBA|Bee dBA|Bed e2f|
g2g fed|ege dBA|BAB GAB|AGF GBd|
gfe fed|ege dBA|B2e dBA|Bed e2f|
g2g aga|bge dBA|BAB GAB|AGF G2D||
I learned The Boys of Ballinahinch (also known as “The Strawberry Blossom”) from the Hugh Healy and Blackie O’Connell’s duet album “We Were Drinking And Kissing The Ladies”.
“The Collier’s” is a common session tune and one of my favourite reels. I associate this tune with the great Tommy Peoples, but also with my friend John Fitzgerald, who is a great local whistle player here in Doolin with a style that reminds me very much of Micho Russell.
I learned “Mac’s Fancy” from the playing of Josephine Marsh, who recorded it on the great compilation album “The Sanctuary Sessions”, recorded live at Cruise’s Pub in Ennis. This jig is usually played after “Winnie Hayes’ Jig” around Doolin.
