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The Gurteen Cross polka

Also known as The Ballyfin Polka #3, The Ballyfin Polka No. 3, Ballyfin Polkas, The Ballyfin Polkas #3, The Ballyfin Polkas No. 3, Gurkin Cross, Paige’s, Saint Mary’s, St Mary’s, St. Mary’s.

There are 25 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with

The Gurteen Cross appears in 3 other tune collections.

The Gurteen Cross has been added to 32 tune sets.

The Gurteen Cross has been added to 167 tunebooks.

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Six settings

1
X: 1
T: The Gurteen Cross
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
GB AB/A/|Gg e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|BB/A/ G/F/E/D/|
GB AB/A/|Gg e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|1 BG G2:|2 BG G>A||
|:Bd g>d|Bd g>d|Bd ge|f2 fg|
a/b/a/g/ e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|Be d/B/A/B/|1 G2 G>A:|2 G2 G2||
2
X: 2
T: The Gurteen Cross
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:GB AB/A/|Gg e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|B>A G/F/E/D/|
GB AB/A/|Gg e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|1 BG G2:|2 BG G>A||
Bd g>d|Bd g>d|Bd ge|f2 fg|
a>g e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|Be d/B/A/B/|1 G2 G>A:|2 G2 G2||
3
X: 3
T: The Gurteen Cross
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
GB AB/A/|Gg e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|BB/A/ G/F/E/D/|
GB AB/A/|Gg e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|BG G3/2:|
Bd g>d|Bd g>d|Bd ge|f2 f>g|
ag e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|Be d/B/A/B/|G2- G3/2:|
4
X: 4
T: The Gurteen Cross
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:GB AB/A/|Gg e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|BA G/F/E/D/|
GB AB/A/|Gg e/f/g/e/|dB AG/A/|1 BG G2:|2 BG G>A||
Bd g>d|Bd g>d|Bd ge|f2 fg|
a>g f/g/f/e/|dB AG/A/|Be d/B/A/B/|1 G2 G>A:|2 G2 G2||
5
X: 5
T: The Gurteen Cross
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:uD|v"G"GB "D"vAu(B/A/)|"G" vGu(g "C"e/f/g/e/)|"G" vdu(B B/A/G/A/)|"D" vB>u(A G/F/E/D/)|
"G"vGB "D"vAu(B/A/)|"G"vGu(g "C"e/f/g/e/)|"G" vdB "D"vAu(B/A/)|"G" vG3:|
|:uA|"G" vBud vg>u(d|Bd) vg>u(d|Bd) vge|"D"vf2 u(f>g)|
"C"v(a/b/a/g/) "D"u(f/g/f/e/)|"G"v(dB) "C"u(AG/A/)|"G"vBu(e "D"d/B/A/B/)|"G"vG2 G:|
6
X: 6
T: The Gurteen Cross
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
D|:"G"GB "D"AB/A/|"G" Gg "C"e/f/g/e/|"G" dB B/A/G/A/|"D" B>A G/F/E/D/|
"G"GB "D"AB/A/|"G"Gg "C"e/f/g/e/|"G" dB "D"AB/A/|1 "G"G3D:|2 "G"G3A||
|:"G" Bd g>d|Bd g>d|Bd ge|"D"f3f/g/|
"C"a/b/a/g/ "D"f/g/f/e/|"G"dB "C"AG/A/|"G"Be "D"d/B/A/B/|1 "G"G3 A:|2 "G"G4||

Twelve comments

Gurteen Cross

This is the other Sligo/Leitrim polka which follows Memories of Ballymote. Both tunes were recorded by Paddy Kiloran in the 1930s and more recently by Ben Lennon on “The Natural Bridge” CD.

This polka is also known as St. Mary’s

“Gurkin Cross” ~ polka ~ in a pickle, getting the name wrong

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on March 18th 2007 by gian marco.
https://thesession.org/tunes/6958

Source: The Natural Bridge by Ben Lennon And Friends
Transcription: gian marco pietrasanta

R: polka
K: G Major
|: GB AB/A/ | Gg e/f/g/e/ | dB AG/A/ | B>A G/F/E/D/ |
GB AB/A/ | Gg e/f/g/e/ | dB AG/A/ |[1 BG G2 :|[2 BG G>A ||
Bd g>d | Bd g>d | Bd ge | f2 fg |
a>g e/f/g/e/ | dB AG/A/ | Be d/B/A/B/ |[1 G2 G>A :|[2 G2 G2 ||

“It’s really ”Gurteen Cross“, a place in Sligo. I think they got it wrong on Ben’s CD sleeve notes which also caught me out originally until it was pointed out to me. The tune is nearly always played after another Sligo polka, ”Church Street“, making for a great combination.” ~ Bannerman

# Posted on March 18th 2007 by Bannerman

“Church Street” / “Gurteen Cross”

“Memories Of Ballymote” / “Church Street” ~ polka
Key signature: G Major
Submitted on April 1st 2003 by Bannerman.
https://thesession.org/tunes/1560

Isn’t this one on Kevin Henry’s cd?

“Gurteen Cross” / “St. Mary’s Polka” / “The Ballyfin Polka #3”

X: 3
T: Gurteen Cross
T: The Ballyfin Polka #3
S: “The Chieftains: Water from the Well”, track 14, tune 3 of 3
S: https://thesession.org/recordings/192
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Gmaj
|: D/ |\
GB AB/A/ | Gg e/f/g/e/ | dB AG/A/ | BB/A/ G/F/E/D/ |
GB AB/A/ | Gg e/f/g/e/ | dB AG/A/ | BG G3/ :|
|: A/ |\
Bd g>d | Bd g>d | Bd ge | f2 f>g |
ag e/f/g/e/ | dB AG/A/ | Be d/B/A/B/ | G2- G3/ :|

Re: Gurteen Cross

Memories of Ballymote and Gurteen Cross has been recorded by John Carty. It appears on his album Settle out of Court.

St Marys

At Comhaltas sessions in Australia, we generally play St Mary’s after Sweeney’s Polka.
I’m surprised not to find St Mary’s on the Session. Perhaps it is under a different name?