This is a jig composed by Eddie Kelly, fiddle player from East Galway. He wrote several other beautiful tunes, including “The Meelick Team“. I learned this particular one from my friend Stéphane.
I learned “Barrel Rafferty’s” from the playing of Mike Rafferty, I listened to his recordings a good bit a while back and this is where I got this jig. Danny Mahony also recorded this tune on his solo album “In Retrospect”, on which it is followed by “The Drumraney Lass”.
“Johnny Boyle’s” is a slide I learned from the playing of Derek Hickey and Liam Flanagan, on the compilation album from the Corofin Trad Festival. Apart from being an amazing accordion player, Derek is a real gentleman and it is always such a treat to see and hear him at festivals.
The Sligo Maid is one of the most common reel in Irish traditional music. I associate this tune with two musicians in the area : Seán Vaughan, the great box player from Kilmaley, and Christy Barry, whistle and flute player from Ennistymon.
