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 Girls of Farranfore” as part of a set played by the great accordion player from Limerick Donie Nolan, which I recorded during the Russell Weekend 2013. It comes after another reel called “The Pride Of Rathmore”. They are also played together sometimes, but as a three part reel (“The Pride Of Rathmore” followed by the first part of “The Girls Of Farranfore”).
The Maid Behind The Bar is one of the most common reel in Irish Music, but I have to admit we don’t hear it in Doolin very often. I learned it from Chris Droney, the legendary concertina player from Bell Harbour, Co. Clare.
“Castletown Connors” is a jig I learned while I was working at Magnetic Music Café, my first ever job in Doolin. It actually featured on a compilation album from The Irish Folk Festival 2001, which I enjoyed listening to while working, and was played by the band Na Dórsa (feat. Paul Bradly, Martin Quinn, Tiarnán Ó Duinnchin among others). I’ve always liked this tune and you hear it in session every now and then.
