Irish Flute Tunes

The Greencastle Hornpipe

Here's a melodic sort of a tune.  It used to be the theme tune of the TG4 programme "Geantraí".  It may well still be but it's on past my bedtime these days so I haven't seen it or heard its intro. for a while.

The Cocktail Reel

This might be related to Scotch Mary's tipple choices.  It's definitely related to the Dublin Reel.  I've heard this tune called "The Cock's Tail Reel" too.  As for this rendition (very ordinary), I can't quite recall when I played it but I hope it isn't so bad as to be offensive.

Scotch Mary (reel)

Ta CW for reminding me of this tune on C&F. I'm never too sure about C# vs. Cnat in pt.3 but I love this reel. As for Mary's taste in whiskey (or whisky) ... what's wrong with Power's or Jameson's? (apart from the paranoia they induce)

Maggie in the Woods (polka)

This was recorded by Tom Morrison in 1928 and probably by several other people since.  Maggie may be in them and I'm note sure that I'm out of them yet myself. This is the 500th posting I've put on this site so I'm away for a lie down and to think of a few tunes for the next thousand.

The Lillies in the Field (reel)

I once heard someone I know describe 2 women as being standing like "frillies in a field" but I have had little exposure to paddock based arums. This is a fairly popular tune which seems happy to have as much or little done to it is one may prefer.

The Good Natured Man

Here's a tune which seems to be going through my head a bit recently.  I think this os because Raidió na Gaeltachta are using it as the theme music for their pick of the week show "Rogha na Seachtaine", which often seems to call out from my radio when I'm washing potatoes for dinner.  With the soon to arrive winter here, the tap water will get colder and I'll get sore hands washing the spuds.  Three months of crunching at gritty tubas awaits me if I'm to save my fingers aching with the cold.

The Shetland Fiddler

Here's the tune I used to hear at sessions all the time played along with Dinky Dorrian's. For some reason it and Mr. Dorrian's reel seem fairly absent from the sessions I hear these days. Sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder. In my case it just makes my recollections of this, and of "Dinky's", grow vaguer. In any case, here what remains of my recollections of it. I'm sure www land contains some less time-bevaguened versions.

Dinky's 'lite'

The Dermis can be taken from the feline by various means.  This one might be less painful (but you'd really have to ask Tiddles). 'E's between the 'A's in the second part seem the ease the journey a bit.  Just a notion but it might sound normal enough in a crowded pub.

Dinky Dorrian's Reel (Dinky's)

Here's a reel which was released into the wild by Francie "Dearg" Byrne who was a fiddle player from Kilcar, Co. Donegal. It is often just known as "Dinky's". I was reminded of it by its being mentioned on the C&F flute forum today. I didn't know it was a hard tune until I tried to play it here. I think it is easier on a bowed flute with strings but it is probably quicker to practice it a bit on the flute than to go off and learn the fiddle just for this one tune. It's worth getting hold of RTÉ's CD "The Donegal Fiddle" to hear the late, great Mr. Byrne playing it.

The Ballykett Courthouse

Here's a single reel from Co. Clare.  I've always been well behaved when in Co. Clare so all I know of this courthouse is that it has a reel named after it.  I suspect it hasn't heard the clatter of a gavel for some time.

Dever The Dancer (slip jig)

I'm never quite sure the title of this tune refers to someone's name or is an instruction. It is a very popular tune and is on a lot of recordings.  Packie Duignan recorded a particularly nice version of it.

Lord Gordon's Reel

This reel started out as a perfectly respectable 2 part creation but Michael Coleman threw a whole pile of other bits at it.  He must of been either having a very bad or a very good day. Here's my attempt at remembering it.

The Congress Reel

I don't think I've recorded this one already.  If I have then the previous attempt is buried in the oblivion which befits its qualities.  This tune is probably usually played in something approaching A minor.  It also seems to quite like being played a key up the ways so I've 'B' ten as well.  I think that's as far along the alphabet as I'll venture today.

The Star Above the Garter

Here's a slide which gives its name to a great record of Juiia Clifford and Denis Murphy from Sliabh Luachra.  The name may have other connotations too but I don't understand them, whatever they may be.

The Moving Cloud (reel)

Here's a tune I was asked to play.  I haven't chanced it for a long time as the clouds in the sky above here seem to have forgotten how to move so this tune never seem to come to mind.  It was composed, I think, by Neillidh Boyle who was a remarkable fiddle player from near Dunglow in Donegal.  His birdsong impressions are equally as memorable as his tunes about his cumulus companions. I hope the tune survived my memory lapses and general inability to play at the moment.

The Boys of Portaferry (reel)

I don't know much about this one apart from how it goes (sort of).

Poll Ha'penny

I'm not sure what the name of this hornpipe refers to.  I far too young to remember ha'pennies. The "Poll" sometimes manifests itself as a "Paul".  That makes things even less clear to me.

John Byrne's Jig

Brendán Breathnach got this jig from James Byrne's father John and included it in Ceol Rince na hÉireann vol. 2.  That was very considerate of him.

Tommy Peoples' Reel

I know the title doesn't narrow down this tune's identity particularly well.  Mind you, neither does "Gan Ainm" which is the other label I have for it.  You can hear it played properly on a record that Tommy Peoples and Matt Molloy made some time ago.

O'Connell's Trip to Parliament

Here's a popular reel.  Mr. O'Connell's had his followers too, in places.

The Mossy Banks (reel)

This is probably more messy than mossy the way I play it but it's a good tune despite that.

Jerry's Beaver Hat

Here's a very popular jig.  Thanks Mary for reminding me of it.  I seem to be struggling a bit with it in places.  I think this might just be my blackwood flute getting jealous of its new sibling.

The Contradiction Reel

This is really a fiddle tune but apart from the differences with strings, shape, holes, method of playing, sound and a few other things, a flute is just like a fiddle.  I'm not sure whether this is really like a tune but it'll pass a couple of minutes finding out.

The Sally Gardens

Here's a very common tune.  Don't try singing Yeats to this version.

The Stone in the Field (reel)

I think I'm getting used to this new flute now.  I'm not quite so sure about being used to the recording levels to stop the Ps escaping from the MP3 files of it.

The Glencolmbcille Reel

Andy McGann called this as above.  John Doherty called it "The Fantastic Reel".  I think I should call it a day. I'll try again tomorrow.  I'll call that Friday.

The Whinny Hills of Leitrim

Here's a slip jig.  There are a few with this name, maybe not one for every hill in lovely Leitrim but at least two or three.  I'll try to remember them. In the meantime I'd better go off and feed my hungry new flute with almond oil.

Brendan Tonra's Jig

Here's a nice jig from a fiddle player I met the only time I was ever in America. I'm playing it on a brand new flute here and I have also been eating chicken too recently.  I'm not sure that that is a perfect set of circumstances for flute playing but I hope the tune is decipherable amidst the lathe whirring and the distressed clucking.

Stay Another While

This tune has probably stayed too many whiles in its limbo place prior to my posting it now.   As a result I can't remember how badly I played bits of it so I'll just apologise  for it all.

The Humours of Tulla

Here are some humours.  I hope you like them.  Bye bye for now.

Last Night's Fun (2)

It was such a good night that it required two reels to do it justice.

Last Night's Fun (1)

Here's a popular reel commemorating  a recent evening's  enjoyment.

Mrs. Creehan's Reel

Here's a flute-friendly tune.  I'm sure Mrs. C was very genial too.

The Sandmount

This is called "Mick Hand's Reel" on a Mary Bergin record.  That's tantamount to a hand mount.  Whatever all this amounts to it is a nice reel.

The Liverpool Hornpipe

This one has just raised its head inside my head for some reason so here it is before I forget it again.

Pretty Maggie Morrissey

Here's a fairly inoffensive sort of tune.  That in itself might be reason enough for playing it.

The Old Wheels of the World

I still haven't got round to playing the new ones.  They appear to be in the process of falling off at the moment so I'm maybe best leaving them to it.

Mama's Pet (2)

Here's Mama's other pet.  It think it is currently my pet Mama's Pet.

Mama's Pet (1)

Here's one of Mama's pets.  I know of at least one other so Mama must never have been lonely.

The Belfast Hornpipe

This is also known as the Sweep's hornpipe. Poor old Béal Feirste could do with a good brushing. Now that the whole town is a smokeless zone there are probably plenty of spare bristled implements with which to effect that very same cleanup.

Tomeen O'Dea's Reel (Ríl Thomáisín Uí Dheaghdha)

For such a simple reel there seem to be a lot of ways of playing the second part.  I've had a go at a few of them here. It's a great tune for the flute.

Dillon's Fancy (reel)

I don't know which Dillon liked this one - Bob, Thomas or the rabbit from the Magic Roundabout,  but I admire his, her or its taste.

Ask My Father

Here's a 12/8 single jig.  It's a sort of pipey thing but a flute can think that it is a pipe when necessary.

The Humours of Whiskey (2)

There seem to be quite a few tunes with this name.  Most of them are slip jigs.  I think I know what causes them to slip. It took me about ten minutes to get anything even resembling a tune out of my flute this morning.  I'm sorry if this tune sounds excessively reluctant.

The Scowling Wife

Here's a reel I think I heard from James Byrne who is a great fiddle player from Donegal. I'm not sure what scowling looks like (I've led a charmed life) so apologies if the attached image is erroneously selected.

Scatter The Mud (jig)

Here's a jig which doesn't seem to get just as much playing as it used to.  Maybe scattering mud has been superseded by slinging it. This version is fairly close to the one on O'Neill's book although my copy is very old and grubby and it can be hard to tell whether some of the black marks are notes or just scattered bits of dirt.

The Jolly Tinker

Here's a tune referring to a multi tasking person who can also be drunken, yellow and have daughters.  I'm sure there there are more things to add to that list too.

The Otter's Holt (reel)

Here's a popular reel.  I've probably seen an otter as recently as I have played this reel until now and I hope the notes have more or less landed where they belong.

Tansey's Favourite

Here's a reel which shares part of its name with a well known flute player.  I'll not say which part of the name applies. I might have played this one on my plastic flute but I'm not sure.  I've been to Dublin and appear to have left most of my memory there.

Crowley's Reel (2)

This is probably cruelty to a Crowley but here's the second half of the pair anyway. I'm posting this in absentia (one of my favourite places) so it will probably be on the wrong side of the introduction for a day. I'm sure that all means nothing but I wanted to type it anyway. (This is another plastic flute experiment)

Jenny's Welcome to Charlie

Here's one I've been asked to play.  I was never sure what to do with the first part (maybe play it on a fiddle) so I might be floundering a bit here.  I hope I haven't mangled it too much.  If I was Charlie and was welcomed by an attempt like mine here I wouldn't be too pleased with Jenny but I did try.

Crowley's Reel (1)

Here's a Crowley's reel.  There are a few of them.  Michael Coleman must have been a fan of Mr. Crowley as he recorded a few tunes named after him.  I've played this one on my plastic flute.  I hope Mr. Crowley doesn't mind.

The Reel of Sparks (Ríl na Drithleog)

I know that I heard this tune from the Donegal fiddle player James Byrne but I don't know for sure whether this is it's name. He does play one of this name so there's a chance I'm right. As for whether I remembered how it goes; who knows? I think it sort of goes like this. There's a record of James Byrne's playing which has this tune on it but I have it as an LP and my machine to making LPs sing has lost its voice and so I can't check.

The Floating Crowbar

Here's a tune I was asked to play and used to hear in sessions all the time.  Maybe that's got something to do with the fact that I used to go to sessions all the time.  I made slightly heavy weather of it here.  Maybe I should try playing the crowbar and floating the flute.

The Holy Land

Here's a common reel.  I played it here on a plastic flute.  I'm not sure whether playing reels into a computer using a plastic tube is really all that wholesome, or holy for that matter.  I'm pleased with the flute, though.

The Scottish Hunt

Here's a nice thing, except if you're a fox.  I suspect no foxes ever look at this site so I'll not be overly concerned about upsetting any of them.

Big John's Reel

Here's a fairly popular reel from Fermanagh which I heard on a record of Cathal McConnell.  That's all I have to say on the matter.

The Steampacket

This reel is also known as "The Mountain Lark".  Neither playing with packets of steam nor larking on mountains are particularly safe activities but playing this tune on a flute should be fairly harmless.

The Maids of Mitchelstown

Here's a reel which fairly popular and which I like despite never knowing whether E, F natural of F sharp should be in second part.  Here's a go at it anyway.

Gone For His Tea (reel)

Here's a nice reel which Michael Tubridy played on his LP "The Eagle's Whistle".  I've been stealing a lot of tunes from that LP lately which is odd as I haven't heard it for at least ten years.  I have it buried somewhere in my record collection which is, in turn, buried somewhere in my dust collection.

The Wheels of the World (jig)

There are world wheels of the reel variety but here are the ones in jig time.  This jig can be found on one of Mary Bergin's records, among other places.

Tie The Ribbons

I had intended to post a different tune but I must have forgotten to upload it and as a result it is languishing on my computer at home.  I, on the other hand, am languishing somewhere else. Here's this tune instead.  I think Bobby Casey used to play it.

Josie McDermott's (The Trip to Birmingham)

Here's a reel written by the great flute / whistle / saxophone player and singer Josie McDermott. I think it was called as above but I'm not totally sure. I'm sorry about the minor choking fit towards the end. I should really rerecord the tune but I have to go out before the shop shuts.

Billy McCormick's Jig

Here's a jig which had this name put on it when it was put on "Kerry's Own" Paddy Cronin's LP.  It was made into dots in Ceol Rince na hÉireann Vol. 3 (number 7). I don't think it's played all that often but it is a comfortable tune for playing on a flute.

Paddy Breen's Jig

Here's a nice jig (I have yet to admit to playing any horrible ones but I'm sure there are plenty of emetic melodies on this site) which comes from the tin whistle playing of Paddy Breen from Co. Clare.  Michael Tubridy put it on his LP "The Eagle's Whistle".  There's a recording of Paddy Breen to be got too, in case anyone is really keen. http://www.folktrax.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/menus/cassprogs/078.htm (26/09/2008  The link above doesn't work any more.  This one does: http://web.archive.org/web/20020605035813/www.folktrax.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/menus/main.html A search on the page for 078 will then find the recording. It a fine recording of a great musician.  I hope it is still available.  The contact details on the site will hopefully lead you to it.)

The Crooked Road to Dublin

I might start using this road myself instead of the train which took 5 hours last Saturday to get there from Belfast. This is yet another popular reel which I hadn't remembered until now.

The Wise Maid

Here's yet another one that got away.  This is close to the version the box player Joe Cooley from Peterswell, Co.Galway, played.  He mightn't have had a blocked left ear, though.  I think it's either blocked with bits of forgotten tunes or else maybe that's were all the odd socks are. The stereo version of this reel is very popular in sessions.

The Laurel Tree

Here's another tune which I thought I must have recorded already but doesn't come up in a search of this site.  I suppose it's like so many other things I think I've ever learned which don't come up in a search of my head either. I seem to remember this reel being quite pleasant and also quite popular in sessions.

The Fairy Reel

I did a search for "Fairy" on this site and nothing came back for it.  I'll take that to mean that this is the first time I have posted this tune.  It's a fairly popular fairy tune.

Eddie Duffy's Reel

Here's a reel which I think comes from Fermanagh.  Eddie Duffy came from Fermanagh so that's who I'm associating the tune with.  This is all a but tenuous but it might be right despite my best efforts.

Apples in Winter

I was asked to post this popular jig so here it is.  I've recently heard some people playing a couple of extra parts at the end of this tune.  I get the impression that the only function of the other parts is to make those who play them feel pleased with themselves for being able to remember four bits all at once.  As a two part jig I think it an excellent tune.

Father Kelly's (2)

I'm putting on a Father Kelly's (2) without first posting an FK's (1).  I know that this is the wrong way to go about things and I also know that this tune isn't either of the tunes which I think really are called Father Kelly's.  I saw this tune with the FK tag on it in a book.  If anyone has another name for it, please let me know.

Johnny "Watt" Henry's (Níl sé Gan Ainm níos mó)

Thanks for the name, Harry. I'm glad it wasn't Nelly. I've been trying to be organised by recording tunes in advance and then posting them over athe subsequent days. This is OK when I have names for them but I've labelled this mp3 file as "ganainm17-18" and I can't really remember what it is. I suspect that it is a reel from which appears on pages 17 - 18 of the book "A Trip To Sligo". If I'm right then it's a good flute reel and the Trip to Sligo version comes from the playing of Colm O'Donnell (although I have neither access to the book or to a sound source to check). On the other hand it might just be Danny Boy or Nelly the Elephant. That mightn't be so bad either as I'm probably posting too many reels anyway.

Brendan Mulhare's Reel

I've not much to say about this one.  It's called by this name in the "Trip to Sligo" book.  Some of it (the tune and / or the book) is fairly pleasant.

Gorman's Barndance (Jamesy Gannon's)

Here's a barndance by way of a change from all the tunes that aren't barndances.  This tune is called "Jamesy Gannon's Barndance" on a record of Michael Gorman, the Sligo fiddle player but then so are about half a dozen other tunes on the same recording.  I've also heard this tune in more Northern climbs such as Donegal.  Here it is in no geographical setting at all.

The Bellharbour Reel

Here's a popular reel.  I've seen this reel called "Dillon's Reel" on www.thesession.org where someone has written that this isn't called the Bellharbour Reel. Wharever about its name, some of its notes are pleasant enough.

Happy to Meet and Sorry to Part

Here's a good simple jig.  As for the sentiment in the title; well ...

The Golden Eagle

Here's a nice hornpipe.  The second part is supposed to have a couple of D sharps in it but my flute wasn't really convinced.

The Coachman's Whip

Here's a tune that was probably not written by a horse.  Very few are.  In fact, it was definitely not written by a horse.  It was written by Co. Galway flute player Vincent Broderick.

Trim The Velvet

I put this on before but in company.  I've just been asked to play it so here it is on its own.  It's only about 9:00am which is a bit early for trimming velvet or anything more elaborate than toast or toenails but I did my poor best.

Paddy Mills' Fancy

Here's a reel from the late, great Paddy Mills from North Mayo.

McFarley's Reel

Here's a Donegal version of The Maids of Castlebar.  A don't know whether there's a Mayo version of The Donegal Reel. I'll record The Maids of Castlebar as well when I get a chance so that the reference to McFarley's being a version of it makes some sort of sense.

The Setting Sun

Here's a popular and melodic jig which is called by this name in Ceol Rince na hÉireann 5.  It must have been taken down a long time ago.  I don't remember there having been a sun to set recently.

The Creel of Turf

Here's a popular jig dedicated to some semi fossilized plants which usually get thown on a fire.

The Lass of Ballintra

Here's one which Seán McGuire played.  It's reasonably flutable for all that.

Toss The Feathers

Here's a very very popular reel.  As for the activity described in the title, I know little of it.  The limit of my experience of plumage related activities would be the odd unsuccessful attempt at ruffling.

John Doherty's Cameronian Reel

The Donegal fiddle player John Doherty played a few tunes which he called "The Cameronian Reel", none of which are the normal one of that name. This one was also recorded by Michael Coleman at some stage but I can't remember what he called it. I've played the first part single here. It maybe ought to be double, or maybe I would have been better leaving both parts out completely.

The Broken Lantern

I never had a name for this jig but it appears as "The Broken Lantern" in Ceol Rince na hÉireann vol. 5.   This is more or less the version in that book too.

Around The World For Sport

Here's a popular reel which is sometimes also called "The Sword in The Hand" - worth two in the bush.

Kitty in The Lane

If this playing of this reel sounds bad, I'm blaming a big toe infection.  It's making tapping time very uncomfortable.

The Flower of The Flock

The name of this reel always reminds me of wallpaper.  I suspect I'm missing the point but I see more walls than birds or other flocking creatures in my daily life.

Miss McGuinness

Here's a reel which sounds like a few others but isn't any of them. It's a great tune for playing on the flute.

The Green Fields of America

Here's a reel celebrating the colour (color) of the grass in the USA.  Willie Clancy was one person who played this tune.

The Devils of Dublin

This reel seems to be a Sligo thing (recorded by Michael Coleman and his ilk).  I'm not sure exactly which Baile Átha Cliath Beelzebubs are referred to in its title.

Down The Back Lane

Here's a piping jig usually associated with Willie Clancy.  (It may well not usually be associated with him at all but I couldn't think of anything else to write.  Willie Clancy did play it, though).

The Navvy on The Shore

Here's a very flutish sort of reel.  It's a good one for just blowing at and flapping the digits a bit.

Old Hag You have Killed Me

Here's a piping jig which Willie Clancy and then the Bothy Band made popular. I'll not write anything about its name.

The Humours of Westport

Here's a reel which is often in 'F'.  I have it here in 'D' and 'G', either of which are a bit flutier.  'F' is often better for spelling a flute than playing one.

Tommy Bhetty's Waltz

Here's a waltz for a change. It comes from Fermanagh and goes more or less like this.

Swinging on the Gate

Here's a reel I was asked to play.  Make sure you ask the gate owner's permission before trying this.  I remember being shouted at as a child for just climbing on a gate, let alone  oscillating on it.