Hooper's Jig & The burdett

Two jigs goes together well!

Dennis Murphy's Polka

Carrickfergus

A beautifull song, here brought by Jim McCann and The Dubliners.

From this song I made a transcription for bouzouki

The hills of Greenmore & Cailin rua

Two songs, performed by Dervish

One fine winter's morn my horn I did blow

To the green fields of Keady for hours we did go
We covered our dogs and we searched all the way
For none loves this sport better than the boys in the Dale.
And when we are rising we're all standing there
We sit up by the fields, boys, in search of the hare

We didn't get far till someone gave the cheer
Over high hills and valleys this sweet puss did steer
As we flew o'er the hills, 'twas a beautiful sight
There was dogs black and yellow, there was dogs black and bright
Now she took to the black bank for to try them once more
Oh it was her last ride o'er the hills of Greenmore

In the field fleet stubble this pussy did lie
And in growing chary they did pass her by
And there well we stood at the top of the brae
We heard the last words that this sweet puss did say:

"No more o'er the green fields of Keady I'll roam
In touch of the fields, boys, in sporting and fun
Or hear the long horn that your toner does play
I'll go home to my den by the clear light of day"

You may blame ?our right man? for killing the hare
For he ?said his o.k. first? this many a year
On Saturday and Sunday he never gives o'er
With a pack of strange dogs round the hills of Greenmore.

Bonaparte crossing the Rocky Mountains

a slow reel, used for the song 'The Irish Pub' (see post december 2010)

The Bog Down in the Valley

One well-known Irish Drinking Song

The Bellaghy Fair (swaggering jig)

A story at the Fair of Bellaghy

Off She Goes

It's a Long way to Tipperary

Jack Judge was a music-hall entertainer, and composer of popular songs. He was born in 1872, and died in 1938. He achieved his main fame for being the composer of the world famous song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary", which he wrote in 1912. This song was adopted by the 7th. Battalion of the Connaught Rangers Regiment of the British Army. The Rangers were mostly Irishmen, and the regiment had connections with Tipperary Town. No doubt the 7th. Battalion taught the song to their comrades who were transported from Ireland to England in 1914 to muster before The Connaught Rangers went to France at the start of 'The Great War' in August 1914. From the battlefields of France & Belgium, the fame of the song spread far and wide, and it is still known and sung today. It is the main thing for which the town of Tipperary is known worldwide.

Richard Conan

On my trip to Brittany, last week, I visited Richard Conan in his workshop in Carhaix-Plouguer where I could try some of his mandolines and his bouzoukis.