Carolan’s Quarrel With The Landlady jig

Obviously not a jig. A Carolan tune. It is in E minor in the O’Sullivan book, but I prefer it in a lower register and B minor suits most instruments. It has major and minor moments!

O’Sullivan takes the setting from the Forde MS where it apparently appears under the heading “The Bold Rover (P. Carey). Ruisg a bhan na tabhairne (The Quarrel with the Landlady), by Carolan”. It also appears in the Pigot manuscript (in 3/4 time), and both versions were copied by Joyce, the Pigot version appearing in his “Old Irish Music and Songs” under the title “Bean an Tabhairne (The Lady of the Tavern)”.

There is a variant in Bunting’s 1840 collection under the title “Suidh síos ar mo dhídion” or “Sit Down Under my Protection”.

It is unknown what the quarrel was about or who, for sure, the landlady was, but it is suggested by O‘Sullivan that it may have been Bridget Waldron, “upon whom Carolan composed the pungent epigram given in vol.1”. O’Sullivan also notes that “his fondness for drink is well known, as is also his tendency to irascibility when kept in short supply”.

As played by Grainne Hambly here…. I prefer this key, myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb8njUwM9g0

play video