“Father Kelly’s” is quite a common session reel. I learned it after a Sunday evening session at Gus O’Connor’s Pub with Hugh Healy, Noel O’Donoghue and Kevin Griffin.
X:1
T:Father Kelly’s
M:4/4
R:Reel
K:G
|:B2GB AGEG|DGGF G2AB|c2AB cBAG|EGAG FDGA|
B2GB AGEG|DGGF GABc|d2Bd gdBd|1 cAFA ~G3A:|2 cAFA GABc||
|:d2Bd gdBd|d2Bd gdBd|e2ce agfe|defg agfe|
d2Bd gdBd|d2Bd gdBd|c2Ac BAGB|1 AGFA GABc:|2 AGFA ~G3A||
“The Limestone Rock” is a common session tune here in North Clare and the name is actually a reference to the Burren. This reel appears in O’Neill’s book as “Tit for Tat”. It is very often followed by “The Humours of Loughrea”, another great reel. I learned this set from Noel O’Donoghue.
“The Laccaroe” is a tune a learned from my friend JB Samzun, who plays fiddle. He got this lovely reel from the playing of Pat O’Connor and it is also know as “The Old Ashplant” or “Eonach Mhic Coilín”.
I learned “Lillies in the Field” from Terry Bingham’s wonderful concertina album (he calls it “PJ Conlon’s on his album). It is a great reel which I have enjoyed playing for many years now and I also associate it with the playing of Tony MacMahon.
