Whelan's Old Sow

jig

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on May 13th 2004 by Phantom Button.

This tune has been added to 37 tunebooks.

Also known as Cat's Rambles, The Cat's Rambles, Eddie Moloney's, Whelan's Sow, Whelan`s Old Sow.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• Croch Suas E by Frankie Gavin
• Dance Music Of Ireland: Jigs And Reels by Various Artists
• Dancing To Jigs And Reels by Various Artists
• Foinn Seisiun 3 by Ennis/Dublin Session Group
• Hand-Me-Downs by Mary Rafferty
• He Didn't Dance by Cucanandy
• Looking For The Early Opener by Dana Lyn
• Loozin Air by Garry Shannon
• Memories From The Holla by Peter Carberry, Angelina Carberry And John Blake
• Mysterious Ireland by Various Artists
• Potsticks by Sean Moloney
• Raise The Rafters by Raise The Rafters
• The Fine Art Of Piping by Liam O'Flynn
• The Fire Aflame by Keane, Molloy, O'Flynn
• The Groves by Laurel Martin
• The Home Ruler by Catherine McEvoy
• The Man Behind The Box by Joe Derrane
• The Mountain Road by Comhaltas Tour Group 1997
• The Mulcahy Family by The Mulcahy Family
• The Singing Kettle by Chulrua
• The Thing Itself by Maeve Donnelly And Peadar O'Loughlin
• Tracin' by Gearóid Ó HAllmhuráin And Patrick Ourceau
• Traditional Irish Music On Flute And Guitar by Jack And Jimmy Coen
• Up She Flew by Dana Lyn
• Warming Up by Martin Mulhaire, Séamus Connolly And Jack Coen

X: 1
T: Whelan's Old Sow
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
~F3 EDE|F2D DAG|~F3 EFE|DFA dAG|
~F3 EDE|F2D DFA|B2dA2d|F2B AFE:|
DFA ~d3|ABF AFE|DFA d2A|Bcd ecA|
AFA d2e|fdB BAF|B2d A2d|F2B AFE:|

Whelan's Old Sow (not bow)

I got this setting off the recording by Matt Molloy, Sean Keane, and Liam O'Flynn called, "Fire Aflame." In this database the tune was incorrectly listed as "Whelan's Old Bow," so the link to it won't show up I'm afraid.

# Posted on May 13th 2004 by Phantom Button

The Mulcahy Family

Sorry... everything about the incorrect listing of this tune refers to the Mulcahy Family's recording as it is listed on this site, not the "Fire Aflame." That's why "The Mulcahy Family" doesn't show up.

# Posted on May 13th 2004 by Phantom Button

East Galway Version

This setting comes from the playing of Jack Coen, and can be found on the the album "Traditional Irish Music on Fulte and Guitar" which he made with his son Jimmy. According to Jack, this was composed by Tommy Whelan, formerly of the Ballinikill Traditional Players, in the 1930's.

It was taught to me by Patrick Ourceau, who recorded it with Gearoid O hAllmhurain on their album "Tracin'". There they play the same setting in a different key (one full step down - Patrick played it as transcribed here with a filddle tuned to FCGD). When I get the chance, I'll transcribe it in the other key, but you just need to take this one and bump it down a notch.

Thanks to Laitch for helping me clean up the abc.

X: 1
T: Whelan's Sow
M: 6/8
C: Tommy Whelan
S: Partick Ourceau
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
DE|:FAF EFE|DFA dAG|(3FGA F EDE|F2D DFA|
B2d A2d|F2A AFD|1 FAF ~E3|F2D D2E:|2 FAd ded|ABF AFD|
DFA ~d3|B (3Bcd ecA|Aff d2e|fdf ecA|
B2d A2d|F2A AFD|1 FAd ded|ABF AFD:|2 FAF EDE|F2D D2E|

Cheers,
Tim

# Posted on July 16th 2006 by tmcelrea

Whelan's Old Sow

Listen to legendary Ballinakill fluter Eddie Moloney play this jig: http://www.lafferty.ca/music/irish/flute-geezers/edmaloney6.mp3
It's from Rich Lafferty's flute tape page: http://www.lafferty.ca/music/irish/flute-geezers

# Posted on July 16th 2006 by slainte

Information on the tune

I did a bit of research on this tune today. It seems to be associated widely with flute player, Eddie Moloney, hence the alternative title.

According to The Mulcahys, the Whelan in question was Pat Whelan, a piper from Wexford but, as is mentioned above, it is also thought to be a composition of Tommy Whelan from the Ballinakill band.

Noel Hill may also act as a source as he thought this tune at the Drumshanbo Summer School (Joe Mooney Summer School) a few years ago.

# Posted on December 7th 2007 by PaddyCmusic

Here's the new link to Eddie Moloney's playing of this tune: http://www.lafferty.ca/files/flute-geezers/edmaloney6.mp3

It is said that Tommy Whelan was a big influence on both Eddie Moloney and Jack Coen in terms of the repertoire as well as the flute playing style.

# Posted on December 7th 2007 by slainte

I see. So, although Eddie Maloney has played it often, he must have gotten it from Tommy Whelan. Now, if Tommy Whelan acts the oldest source that I have so far, it is still unclear whether he composed it. The Whelan in question could be Tommy though, more likely than Pat as the Mulcahys have suggested. Thanks slainte.

# Posted on December 8th 2007 by PaddyCmusic