The Knocknagoshel polka

As played by Kevin Crawford (I think) on Moving Cloud’s “Foxglove” recording.

S: John Brosnan

A tune from a 1950s LP, “The Kerry Dances” by Jackie Roche and His Irish Dance Orchestra, this featured the 1st commercial recording of a slide, as well as interesting items like the Knocknaboul polkas which would soon become well known outside of Sliabh Luachra and places their musicians had emigrated to, such as New York City, where Denis Murphy lived for some years, passing along some of his homeland’s music on to his fellow musicians such as Jackie. I haven’t encountered this tune elsewhere despite searching for it a bit but admit to having only a cursory familiarity with polkas/slides and perhaps this is known under some other title.

I don’t have a title, Kevin, but I’d be surprised if this isn’t here somewhere already under a different name, and possibly in “A”. I’m hearing it in my head by maybe one of the Begleys, or possibly a band like “North Cregg” or “Patrick Street”, maybe “Sliabh Notes”.

In A: https://thesession.org/tunes/5454
In G: https://thesession.org/tunes/10784

🙂

Thanks for cluing me in here, fellows.

About 1987 or ‘88 I was in Knocknagoshel, Co. Kerry where dancing polka sets (and slides) went on a great deal in a pub run by one Nailus O’Connor, himself a box player. I had a few polkas and a couple of slides from him which I transcribed and are listed in www.rudemex/material. I never did get titles from him, so they’re simply down as O‘Connor’s polkas Nos 1- 6 and O’Connor’s slides Nos 1 & 2. They probably do have well-known names and can be found in other collections, so I’d be glad if anyone can identify them.

Played by Caroline Kane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C291rYNnHY

play video

Mick Culloty Melodeon, Sean Abeyta Viola, PJ Teahan Mandola:
Mick Culloty’s / Knocknagoshel / The Blackwater (polkas)
On youtube 28 April 2022, with the comment
Hope to see you all in Scartaglin on May 21 22 for WFD 2022