barndance

Lord Leitrim (Barndance) | Tunes From Doolin | Irish Traditional Music

Lord Leitrim

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.

The Kilnamona Barndance | Tunes From Doolin | Irish Traditional Music

Kilnamona Barndance (The)

I learned The Kilnamona Barndance from the playing of Gerdie Commane, in a video published by Custy’s Music Shop on their website a good few years back. John Williams, a great accordion and concertina player from Chicago who spent a lot of time in Doolin, also recorded this tune on one of the first albums of the band Solas.

Jimmy Duffy's No 2 | Tunes From Doolin | Irish Traditional Music

Jimmy Duffy’s No 2

This is the second tune of the “Jimmy Duffy’s Barndances”, which I learned from my friend, flute player Stéphane Germain. He actually enjoys playing these two barndances on the accordion, and it is one of our favourite sets to play at our Sunday afternoon session at Gus O’Connor’s Pub.

Jimmy Duffy's No 1 | Tunes From Doolin | Irish Traditional Music

Jimmy Duffy’s No 1

I learned the “Jimmy Duffy’s Barndances” from my friend Stéphane Germain, and I believe he learned himself when he used to live in County Leitrim. This set of Barndance is one of our favourites, which we enjoy playing on the Sunday afternoon session at Gus O’Connor’s Pub.

If there weren't any women in the world barndance | Tunes From Doolin | Irish Traditional Music

If There Weren’t Any Women In The World

I learned this lovely barndance, “If There Weren’t Any Women In The World”, from a session with Terry Bingham, Yvonne Casey and Stéphane Germain at Fitzpatrick’s Pub back in 2012. I have played it with Terry on other occasions since and he likes to play it after a hornpipe called “Caisleán an Óir”.

The Earl of Thomond | Tunes From Doolin | Irish Traditional Music

Earl of Thomond (The)

“The Earl of Thomond” is a barndance composed by Charlie Lennon. He wrote this tune for Tony O’Connell, concertina player from Limerick, who recorded a lovely album with Ben Lennon (Charlie’s brother) called “Rossinver Braes”.

Around The Fairy Fort | Tunes From Doolin | Irish Traditional Music

Around The Fairy Fort

“Around The Fairy Fort” is a barndance composed by Vincent Broderick. I picked it up at a session in McCarthy’s of Coore during Willie Clancy Week 2014, from my friend Samuel König, a great fiddle player from Switzerland. It is usually followed by an other barndance from Vincent Broderick called “The New Broom”, which I also learned at that session.