Johnny When You Die reel

From "The Star Above The Garter" by Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford. Followed by "Anything for John-Joe".

Did some extensive searching before adding this tune, but there’s nothing by this name, and a few related ABC searches didn’t turn up anything either.

Interestingly, a different version is on another site, here:

http://abcnotation.com/tunePage?a=thesession.org/tunes/5373.no-ext/0001

And, it points to thesession.org, but to a non-existent URL:

https://thesession.org/tunes/5373

Nice tune, which can also be found on "Kerry Fiddles" (Padraig O’Keeffe, Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford recorded in 1952 in Castleisland). Apparently the title came from "the first phrase of a song sung to this tune" (Music from Sliabh Luachra, booklet 1976).

As for concordances, have a look at "The Mayo Lasses" https://thesession.org/tunes/9888

There’s a similar untitled reel in Martin Mulvihill’s collection but in D (p24, No.93) which he appears to have got from Tony Smith. Bobby Gardiner also played that setting (see CRE3, No.204), whereas in O’Neill’s MOI (No.1417) and DMI (No.654) it’s called "The Old Maids of Galway". Other titles noted include Girls of the County Mayo; Johnny’s Gone to France; Paddy’s Gone to France; Into the Room, I Want You; Ballinlough Bay; and The West Mabou Reel.

Interestingly, I just came across a similar tune in Brendán Breathnach’s “Ceol Rince ná hÉireann 1”, where he lists it as “Gearrchailiú Chontae Mhuigheo” (The Mayo Lasses). But it’s more similar to this setting than the one you linked. That makes me suspect these are all the same tune, with various evolutions.

What a cheerful thread to encounter first thing in the morning…… NOT. 🙁

I picked this one up from Frances Marriott. She got it from the playing of Maura O’Keefe.

A few cousins:
The Old Maids of Galway - https://thesession.org/tunes/976
West Mabou - https://thesession.org/tunes/7980
Turf House - https://thesession.org/tunes/12808

(And I’m pretty sure I’ve heard it on one of Mike McGoldrick’s albums.)