“Francis John McGovern’s” is associated with Charlie Lennon, even though it isn’t one of his compositions as far as I know. I learned it from my friend Thierry Masure, fiddle player from Belgium who lived in Clare for several years and still visits regularly.
X:1
T:Francis John McGovern’s
R:Reel
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
BcBA GEDE|G2BG cGBG|BcBA GEDG|EAAG A2GA|
BcBA GEDE|G2BG cGBG|BcBA GEDG|EAAG A2GA||
Bdef g2ed|gded B~G3|Bdef g2fg|eaag aged|
(3Bcd ed g2ed|gded B~G3|BcBA GEDG|EAAG A2GA||
I learned Kiss The Maid Behind The Barrel through various sessions, as it is quite a popular tune which I have heard very often over the years. I associate this reel with Noel O’Donoghue, flute player from Drummevin near Kilfenora and a great friend who has been very supportive over the years.
“The Maid I Ne’er Forgot” is often played before the “Lads of Laois”, another great reel. They were recorded together by Nollaig Casey & Arty McGlynn. I learned it here in Doolin though, from sessions with Christy Barry, Colin Nea and the great Michael Kelleher on fiddle.
I learned “Dever The Dancer” from Lorraine Hickey and Kevin Rowsome, who recorded this lovely slip jig on one of the Irish Folk Festival’s compilation CDs. I used to listen to these albums quite a lot when I was working in Magnetic Music Café, which my very first job in Doolin back in 2006. I actually met Kevin Rowsome at the Russell Memorial Weekend in 2020, a true gentleman a wonderful piper.
