“The Hag at the Churn” is a jig that I associate with piper Paddy Keenan, who is a regular visitor to Doolin. He recorded it with The Bothy Band and also on his album with Tommy O’Sullivan “The Long Grazing Acre”. Josephine Marsh also recorded a very nice version of this tune on the album “To Meet A Friend” with Cyril O’Donoghue.
X:1
T:Hag at the Churn (The)
R:Jig
M:6/8
K:Dmix
|:A2G ADD|A2G Adc|A2G ADD|EFG EFG:||
AdB c2G|Add efg|AdB c2G|EDE GED|
AdB c3|Add efg|fge dcA|GEF GED||
“Dowd’s Favourite” is a very beautiful reel which I associate with the playing of Paddy Carty. It is also simply called “Dowd’s” or “O’Dowd’s” and was recorded by Tommy Peoples on his album “The Iron Man”. I am not really sure where I originally learned this tune though, I think it might have been from my friend Damian Werner.
“The Atholl Highlanders” is a tune of scottish origin. Mostly played as a jig, even though it was originally a march I believe. It is very much associated with the fiddle music of Donegal and was recorded by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy on their legendary album “Ceol Aduaidh”.
“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.
