The Maid Behind The Bar is one of the most common reel in Irish Music, but I have to admit we don’t hear it in Doolin very often. I learned it from Chris Droney, the legendary concertina player from Bell Harbour, Co. Clare.
X:1
T:Maid behind the Bar, The
R:reel
M:4/4
K:D
|:FAAB AFED|FAAB ABde|fBBA Bcde|f2af efdB|
~A3B AFED|FAAB ABde|fBBA BcdB|1 AFEF D2DE:|2 AFEF D2De||
|:f~a3 fdde|fdad fdd2|efga bee2|gebe gee2|
faa2 b2af|defd e2de|fdBA BcdB|1 AFEF D2De:|2 AFEF D2DE||
I learned The Boys of Ballinahinch (also known as “The Strawberry Blossom”) from the Hugh Healy and Blackie O’Connell’s duet album “We Were Drinking And Kissing The Ladies”.
I learned the jig “Donnybrook Fair” from the playing of concertina player Dympna O’Sullivan. It is a common session tune, which was also recorded by Josephine Marsh on the album “To Meet A Friend” with Cyril O’Donoghue.
“The Collier’s” is a common session tune and one of my favourite reels. I associate this tune with the great Tommy Peoples, but also with my friend John Fitzgerald, who is a great local whistle player here in Doolin with a style that reminds me very much of Micho Russell.
