The Happy Bloom Of Youth reel

Sourcs: John McKenna
Transcription: g.m.p.
In Mckenna’s recording this reel flollows https://thesession.org/tunes/311

In both reels all the Cs are not exactly c natural. Many seem C sharp.

This tune is also widely known as the Happy Days of Youth, and less frequently goes by the title Thomas Byrnes.

This is slightly different version. My transcription of Liam O’Flynn’s playing on “The Piper’s Call”

X:1079
T:The Happy Days of Youth
T:Sean McKenna’s #2
C:from Liam O’Flynn
D:Liam O’Flynn: “The Piper’s Call”
Z:transcription Johannes Schiefner(jschiefner@gmx.net)
Z:id:js_1079
R:reel
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
.B/.c/d|~e3d ~B3 A|GABG AE ~E2|~G3 B dBeB|dBAc BGGd|
.e.f.ed B.d BA|GABG AE ~E2|~G3B dBeB|dBAc BG G2 ||
fa{b}af gfed|.B/.c/d ef ~g3 f|eB ~B2 .g.fed|BAGA Bcde|
fa{b}af gfed|.B/.c/d ef ~g3a|bgaf gfed|.e/.f/g af ~g3f:|]

Here’s a version inspired by Frankie Gavin’s “flashy” flute playing.

K: Gmaj
efed ~B3A|GABG AGEF|~G3B dg~g2|dBAd BG~G2|
~e3d BdBA|G2BG AGEF|~G3B dgge|dBAd BG~G2||
faag fedf|edef ~g3f|eB~B2 gfed|BAGA BA~A2|
f2ag fedf|edef ~g3a|bgaf gfed|egfa ~g3f||

I believe this is simpler and easier on the flute, but still as effective as other versions. There’s lots of room for variation and ornamentation though.

here’s a version I had from last year’s Clancy festival

X: 1
T: John McKenna’s reel #2
S: Siobhan ni Chonarain (Clancy Week 2007)
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
efed ~B3A|GABG AGEF|GAGE DEGB|dBeB dBAd|
efed ~B3A|GABG AGEF|~G3F DEGB|dBAc BGG2||
e|fgag fd~d2|(3Bcd ef ~g3f|eB~B2 gB~B2|BAGA BA~A2|
fgag fd~d2|(3Bcd ef ~g3a|bgaf gfed|egfa ~g3|

This tune appears, under the title The Happy Days of Youth, in O‘Neill’s ’Music of Ireland’. Does anyone know how John McKenna’s name came to be associated with it?

Because he recorded it early on in the 78 era, after Colonel Roger’s Favourite, and the set is still very often played together.

plays “Thos Byrne’s” on the first Dervish album (on an E whistle though).
https://thesession.org/recordings/394
… followed by “The Man Of Aran”…
https://thesession.org/tunes/973#setting14170

I’ve notated the breath-rests only because he always takes a breath at the very same places, so I couldn’t compensate this by mixing up his takes through the tune.