I learned “Polca Dálaigh” (Daly’s Polka) from Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh on their album “A Moment of Madness“. As you probably all know, we don’t play many polkas here in Clare, but when that album came out I had to learn a few. It is a really great album which I highly recommend.
X:1
T:Dhá Pholca Dálaigh
R:Polka
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:Ador
|:eA BA|eA A B/d/|eA BA|G2 g>f|
eA BA|eA A B/d/|ed dB|A2 A2:||
|:ed ef|ga g2|ed e/f/g|a2 g2|
ed ef|ga ge|dB GB|A2 A2:||
Lord Leitrim is a barndance written by the great composer Charlie Lennon for his brother Ben Lennon, who sadly passed away in 2020. I learned this tune from Tony O’Connell at the Concertina Cruinniu in Miltown Malbay back in 2014. Tony recorded this barndance with Ben Lennon himself on their great album Rossinver Braes.
Kitty Gone A-Milking is a common session tune in the area. It is a reel very much associated with concertina players from County Clare, and has been recorded, among others, by Elizabeth Crotty, Kitty Hayes, Gerdie Commane and Tom Carey. I learned this tune through various sessions.
“Old John’s” has been one of my favourite jigs for many years. I learned it from a recording of Tommy Peoples and also associate it with Tony MacMahon, the great accordion player from Clare.
