I learned “The Green Gates” from various sessions, it is quite a common reel. I associate this reel with accordion player Seán Vaughan, who played this tune during a Riches of Clare Concert with David Sanders (fiddle), Eddie Moloney (mandolin) and Ian Lambe (guitar). This set features of the Riches of Clare compilation from 2010.
“The Green Fields of Rossbeigh” has been one of my favourite tune for a very long time! I learned it from my friend Stéphane, when he used to work in the Traditional Music Shop in Doolin. I also associate this tune with accordion player Seán Vaughan.
I learned this reel from Terry Bingham’s album, but it is also a tune I associate with Sean Vaughan, a great accordion player from Kilmaley who plays in Doolin often. It was also recorded by John Williams on his first album. He plays it after “Thadey Casey’s” and this is a set I play regularly.
“The Ballykett Courthouse” is an old reel from West Clare which is part of a much loved set around Doolin, which I learned at the Sunday evening session with Noel O’Donoghue, Sean Vaughan and friends. The first tune of the set is “Tomeen O’Dea’s”, followed by this reel. Ballykett is an area just oustide of Kilrush and the name was given by flute player Michael Tubridy.
I learned this hornpipe from Hugh Healy and Sean Vaughan. There are different versions “Chief O’Neill’s Favourite” (with only F# for example), but this is what I think is the most common setting in the area.
“The Chattering Magpie” is a common reel in County Clare, very much associated with concertina players. I learned it from Noel O’Donoghue and Seán Vaughan back in 2015, and I actually remember that evening quite well as it was one of the first time (if not THE first time) I was playing a gig with Noel and Seán together, at O’Connor’s Pub.
I learned the “Bag of Spuds” a long time ago and associate this tune with the great accordion player Seán Vaughan. It is a common session tune in Clare and I think I first learned it from Edel Fox and Ronan O’Flaherty’s album.
