I use the words of well known songs such as Rocky Road to Dublin, Hot Asphalt and Raglan Road to help me get the values of the notes right for the melodies. I was pleased when I realised that these all had recognised often venerable named melodies and airs.
Any other suggestions?
Lannigan’s Ball
I would have thought it depends a little on whether the song has a regular rhythm. Fainne Gael an Lae is often given here as a basic starter tune on the basis that the song Raglan Road is well known. But I remember finding this confusing because Fainne Gael an Lae played as a march has a regular rhythm whilst played as Raglan Road, the notes are somewhat drawn out in places - different beast. Well, I’m sure you can sing Raglan Road as a march but the usual version is more free flowing.
It is the difference between a tune, which follows a meter to keep the feet of dancers or marchers in their proper motion, and an aire, which follows the pace of a solo singer, freed from the burdens of convention. Many say that song without words is an aire, but I find that many songs are set to tunes.
Seek out Eddie Walker’s version of Raglan Road. I personally don’t enjoy it but I know others who do. Thanks John Bull. AlBrown and the wounded hussar I will ponder the words of wisdom and I’ve sought out Lanigan’s Ball.
I liked the tune "Where is the Cat? as the words ‘where is the cat that got the cream’ helped me get the rhythm of slides when I first played for Irish Set dancing..