I learned “Young Tom Ennis” from a session in McGann’s Pub with Yvonne Casey and Terry Bingham. This jig was recorded on the wonderful album “In Good Company” by Kevin Crawford, on which he plays this particular tune with James Cullinan, the great fiddle player who lives in Doolin also.
I first heard “Little John’s Hame” played by Dermot Byrne and James Cullinan at an amazing concert at the Corofin Traditional Festival back in 2013. This strathspey really stuck in my head the the following day I learned it from a video I found of Dermot Byrne playing with Tommy Peoples.
The Lady on the Island is a very common session tune. I first learned it from James Cullinan & PJ Crotty’s album “Happy to Meet”. It was also recorded by Dympna O’Sullivan on her beautiful CD “Bean chairdín” and by Hugh Healy and Blackie O’Connell.
“Imelda Roland’s” is without a doubt one of my favourite reels. I learned if from the playing of concertina player Claire Keville, who recorded it on the album “An Trí is a Rian” with John Weir and Eithne Ní Dhonaile. In the sleeve notes of the album, Claire explains that she was told by Imelda Roland’s daughter that her mother used to lilt this tune while boiling potatoes for the pigs. The tune was picked up and made popular later by Joe Cooley and her brother Raymond Roland.
“The Honeymoon” is a reel I learned from one of the best sessions I ever saw, during the Russell Memorial Weekend back in 2013 in Gus O’Connor’s Pub. It was a magical night with free flowing music by Noel O’Donoghue, James Cullinan, Donie Nolan, Christy Barry, Terry Bingham, Carol Cullinan, Angela Crotty and several others.
“The Harvest Moon” is a reel that was composed by Paddy O’Brien. I first heard it on PJ Crotty & James Cullinan’s album, but I learned it through various sessions, with Stéphane, Yvonne Casey & Terry Bingham in particular. Adam & Dave Shapiro also recorded it on their album “Cape to Clare”.
I learned “Happy to Meet and Sorry to Part” from James Cullinan & PJ Crotty’s CD “Happy To Meet”, one of my favourite albums ever. This jig is the first of a set from the album that we play regularly around Doolin. The two jigs that follow are “Dooney Rock” and “The Humours of Ballingarry“.
“The Humours of Ballingarry” is a popular jig around Doolin. It is the last tune of a set that I learned from James Cullinan abd PJ Crotty’s album. The First two jigs of this set are “Happy to Meet and Sorry to Part” and “Dooney Rock”. Hugh & Colm Healy also recorded “The Humours of Ballingarry” on their CD “Macalla na hÓige”.
“The Glen Road To Carrick” is a great reel from Donegal which I learned from the playing of James Cullinan and Dermot Byrne. They played an amazing concert at the Corofin Trad Fest back in 2013, and I learned this tune afterwards. They actually recorded it a good few years ago (1987!) for a TG4 program (see the video).
A composition of fiddle player Sean Ryan, “Dooney Rock” is part of a set recorded by James Cullinan & the late PJ Crotty on their album “Happy To Meet”. The first tune of the set is “Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part” and the last one “The Humours of Ballingarry”.
