This jig comes from the playing of John Williams, a great concertina and accordion player from Chicago, whose father came from Doolin. John spent a lot of time in Doolin over the years, but I learned this particular tune from a YouTube video, see below (it’s the second tune).
X:1
T:John Williams’ Jig
R:jig
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Dmaj
|:AFF dFF|AFA A2e|f2f fed|efe edB|
A2F dFF|AFA A2e|f2f efe|1 d3 dcB:|2 d3 d2A||
|:Bcd Bcd|Bcd d2e|fgf f2e|fgf fed|
Bcd Bcd|Bcd d2e|f2f efe|1 d3 d2A:|2 d3 dcB||
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”).
“Tommy Peoples’” is one of the first reels I ever learned. It is associated with the great fiddle player and composer Tommy Peoples, even though he didn’t actually write this particular tune. I also associate this tune with the playing of Kevin Crawford, who recorded is as the opening tune of his amazing album “In Good Company”.
“Gerry’s Beaver Hat” is a common jig. I learned it from the playing of Cathy Custy, who recorded it on her lovely CD “An Ceoltoir Fanach”.
