The Connaughtman’s Rambles jig

I don’t think I’ve ever been to a session where this tune didn’t get played. Unlike some of the other staple session tunes, this one never seems to get old.

There are a couple of slightly different versions of this tune floating around. I’ve heard the second part played with the first two phrases reversed so that the tune stays in D instead of shifting to B minor.

I find the change to B minor very dynamic ‘though it can be a bit of a stretch of the fingers for us bouzouki players. Here’s a tip for fellow bouzouki/banjo players: play the opening phrase of the second part holding down the F-sharp on the ninth fret of the A string and the B on the seventh fret of the E string.

At a local session, we play this preceded by "Health to the Ladies" and follow it with "My Darling Asleep." This is fondly termed The Cheap Jig Set.

At our sessions it’s sandwiched between Geese in the Bog (in C) and Out on the Ocean - its one of those great tunes you could use in many combinations.

Try this as a second voice:
G|:FA,A, DA,A,|FA,A, DEG|FA,A, DFE|DB,B, B,A,B,|
FA,A, DA,A,|FA,A, DEG|FA,A, DFE|1DB,B, B,2A,/G/:|2DB,B, B,2||
G|:FBB FAA|FEF DEG|FBB FAA|FED EDE|
FBB FAA|FEF DEF|GFE DFE|DB,B,B,2:|

You can also find Kevin Burke teaching this on his video / DVD, #1 of a pair:

"Learn to Play Irish Fiddle: Polkas, Jigs & Slides" ~ 90 minutes
Homespun Videos / DVDs
ISBN: 1-932964-44-4

https://thesession.org/recordings/2060

As a beginner on the box I found this tune easy to learn. I’ve got a ways to go before I’m throwing down in a session, but for now I’m content playing it between Donnybrook Fair and Out on the Ocean with the guy I’m taking lessons from.

An anecdote from the dancing side of things!

The Connaughtman’s Rambles is the most popular jig among sean-nós dancers in Connemara. If they’re going to dance a jig, 9 times out of 10 it’ll be this one!

Anyway, here’s some ‘other ways’ with it, a few alternatives:

K: D Major
|: AG |
FAA d2 A | B^AB d=AG | F2 A dfe | dBB BB/A/G |
F2 A dAA | B2 B def | g>fe dfe |1 dBB B :|
|: zg |
f2 b faa | f^ef dgg | fbb faa | ff/e/d e2 g |
fbb f2 a | fed d>ef | gfe d>fe |1 d2 B B :|
2 dB^A B ||

It seems a shame, this being such a traveler and so popular and present, that nobody has yet added any variations in the comments for this old standard. I do know that some folks take the first measure of the B-part the other way around, as given in the ‘Subject’ heading above… I hope some of the rest of you souls out there will consider adding your take on this tune…

This morning, as I was out driving in the heavy traffic, a large four door pickup, impatient on a small back country single lane, when it finally opened up into two lanes, screeched past me full throttle, almost taking off my wing mirror and almost doing a head-on with some ma who had just let her child off at the primary school nearby ~ …. Why did that suddenly remind me of certain folks I’ve come across in sessions in the past? I was suddenly overcome with the blues seeing how shook up that mother was, the panic and fear on her face…

In place of |gfe dfe|, try |a3 f2e| for a variation. I’ve heard Ronan O’Flaherty do that (or something like it).

I take it you mean like this:

A-part ~ | FAA dAA | BAA def | a3 f2 e | dBB B :|

B-part ~ | fbb faf | fed def | a3 f2 e | dBB B :|

Yes.

I just noticed that Colm Gannon also goes up to the a in the 7th bar of the B part.

When I came to live in SE Ireland, I found that many of the Wexford Mummers use this tune as the jig part of their set. Once when playing for local Mummers I tried a different jig and was nearly lynched. They also call the jig Mickey the Mauler in these parts.

Here’s Mickey the Mauler: https://thesession.org/tunes/4020 Not very sure, but I suspect they mixed up the titles of the two tunes.

All right C, here’s my basic setting, a bit different from Jeremy’s. This is still one of my favorite jigs, after 30 years. Part of what makes it tick for me is how the phrasing is almost slide-like—two bars at a time, call and answer. And I love how it ambles between major and minor even within each part.

X: 1
T: Connaughtman’s Rambles, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: D
FAA dAA|BAB dAG|FAA def|edB BAG|
FAA dAA|BAB def|gfe dfe|1 dBA BAG:|2 dBA B2 g||
fbb faa|fef deg|fbb faa|fed e2 g|
fbb faa|fef def|gfe dfe|1 dBA B2 g:|2 dBA BAG||

Nice one tat!

Will’s setting is the one Kevin Burke plays on his DVD, I think.

in our group we play kesh miller then connaughtmans rambles any other set ideas?

Two Junior Crehan tunes first - The Luadrachan / Mist on the Mountains / Connaughtmans. That’s the set I’ve most heard it in.

I’m surprised no one has offered this version on the table. Seamus Ennis played it this way on Bonny Bunches of Roses, and Todd Denman & Dale Russ on "Reeds & Rosin". Cheers,

X:1
T:Connaughtman’s Rambles No. 2
Z:EW
M:6/8
R:Jig
L:1/8
K:D
|: FAA dAA | BAB dAG | FGA dfe | dBB BAG |
FAA dAA | BAB def | ~g3 fed |1 edB BAG:|2 edB B2g |]
|: faf ~g3 | afe dcd | fff ggg | afd efd |
faf ggg | afe def | ggg fed |1 edB B2g:|2 edB BAG |]

X: 1
T: Connaughtman’s Rambles, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: D
FAA dAA|BAB dAG|FAA def|edB BAG|
FAA dAA|BAB def|gfe dfe|1 dBA BAG:|2 dBA B2 g||
faa faa|~f3 d2e|faa faa|fed e2 g|
faa faa|~f3 def|gfe dfe|1 dBA B2 g:|2 dBA BAG||

Got this from the playing of the Hanrahan family (John on accordion, Joan on fiddle, several others whose names I’m blanking on, with Pat Costelloe on banjo), played on ClareFM on Monday March 2, 2009 by Eoin O’Neill. I probably forgot some details while walking from the stereo to the computer, but the three things of note are t
(1) the A part has def|edB thing like Will’s version instead of the more common dfe|dBB,
(2) the B part substitutes a for b in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th bars, and
(3) there are rolls in the 2nd and 6th bars of the B part (I’m pretty sure on the f, but they might be on the d).

I know that some follow this with Out on the Ocean, but that’s never been one of my favourites…any other suggestions?

This jig is DEFINITELY a staple to any Celtic music itinerary. In Michael Flatley’s Feet Of Flames, this piece is sandwiched between "Big John McNeill’s" and "The Boys Of Malin" I truly enjoy this jig. 🙂

I love the Celtic music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywMPtwM8avs

play video

"sigh" I wish Feet Of Flames was still touring…

X:7 is also played that way by Joe Burke on his 3CD/book of Trad tunes. I always wondered if Seamus Ennis just wasn’t confused about what tune he was going into on that 50s LP, and people have mistaken it for an alternate setting since - he sounds a bit dubious about what he’s playing, like he’s trying to remember some other tune and the Rambles are getting mixed up; he only bothers with it once before going into the Lark in the Morning, notice.

These folks;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK-Q2Z6o7_g

play video

And quite a few others (inc. Boys of the Lough and Foinn Seisiun) are playing bar 7 as |gfe f2e| which does not appear in the settings above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk-tw-g5G70

play video

This tune is known as Mickey the Mauler in parts of Wexford.

Noah - see posts above. This was pointed out by "Free Reed" 8 years ago ! 🙂

Taught by Paddy Glynn, Irish Arts Center, NYC, 2016.

Perhaps this is a known tune? and, in the key of D?

Just wondering for X:1 should the final line end with |1dBB BAG| 2dBB B3| instead of what`s there right now,
|1dBB B3| 2dBB BAG| as it does for the second line.

Transcribed from a 1950’s recording of Sally Sloane lilting the tune - the original can be heard at http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-214814278/listen/0-1707~0-1753

Sally’s grandmother from Co. Kerry was the source of much of her music, and I think her version of Connaughtman’s Rambles has an interesting ‘minor’ feel.

I believe that I heard this tune played, in a session in Ennis, in Am - that would be a transposition one tone down from the popular version - are any of you familiar with such a take on it?

Very similar to the first setting - just the way I learned it.

Some variations, with an alternative ending for the B Part. Could also replace the bab, aba, and fef with b, a, and f rolls.

Taken from ‘A Fine Selection of Over 200 Irish Traditional Tunes for Sessions’, compiled by David Speers with a Forward by Matt Cranitch. I quite like the way the second part doesn’t immediately go to the high b.

Was happy to see this; it’s one of my favorite jigs (right up there with Buttermilk Mary). Yes, I prefer the B Minor chord change in part B. Thanks for this arrangement!!

This tune has already been added to the site (tune #19), as has The Soldier’s Cloak (tune #1146). Please take more care when adding tunes because it makes things a lot more difficult!

My take

Gerry O’Connor’s version on Time to Time shows off his great banjo work. Tatter Jack Walsh is paired as the first tune for a set. The Cd is a goodin’.

From the playing of Mike McGoldrick & Dezi Donnelly, transposed up from Cmaj/Amin. First time hearing a C Part to the tune.

The three part setting (X17), tweaked closer to a more typical setting for the tune.

From the playing of Coláiste Árainn Mhóir, on the album Rabharta Ceoil. Transposed down a semitone.

They play plenty of variations besides these, I’ve picked some of them in this setting.