Farrel O’Gara’s reel

The title of this tune is spelled however anybody feels like (it seems) so I just chose the most popular anglified spelling. This tune is almost always paired with ‘Good Morning to Your Nightcap’ and is popular at both a session or a feis.

T:Fergal O’Gara
M:4/4
L:1/8
S:Matt Molloy - Paul Brady - Tommy Peoples
R:reel
Z:g.m.p
K:D
~A,3B, DEFA|BFAF EFGA|dBBA BAGF|(3GFE ED EDB,D|
~A3,B, DEFA|BFAF EFGA|dBcA (3Bcd AF|G2EG FDD2:|
fdde fdgd|fdgf edBc|dBBA Bcde|fdgf e2ge|
fdde fdgd|fdgf edBc|dBBA BAGF|G2EG FDD2|
fdde fdgd|fdgf edBc|dBBA Bcde|fdgf ~e3g|
faaf edBc|d2ed BAFD|EDB,D A,DFA|(3Bcd AF EFD2||

Haven’t seen this suggested anywhere but I notice the Sligo lord Fearghal Ó Gadhra was patron of the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Ireland, and perhaps this title commemorates him.
Farrell O’Gara is also an old title for the reel in O’Neill’s called the Macroom Lasses - https://thesession.org/tunes/1042 or the Killarney Wonder - https://thesession.org/tunes/2709
K.W. is a popular title for whatever - Packie Dolan recorded the Bantry hornpipe (which was composed by Chicago fiddler Edward Cronin) under that title, Paddy Cronin used it for Kitty’s Wedding.

I’d go with something between Mad Baloney’s version and gian marco’s. Mad Baloney’s is much closer in notes to what I learnt ages and ages ago in the West of Clare, but they played it doubled reather than single, which is how I’ve always found it to be played.

There’s a version commonly played in sessions nowadays which has less notes, a bit more like gian marco’s version, except with even less and played way too fast.

As played in Galway by an incredible piano accordion player:

X: 1
T: Farrel O’Gara
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
A,D (3DDD A,DFA | BFAF E2 (3ABc | d2cA BdAF | (3GFE FD EDB,D |
A,D (3DDD A,DFA | BFAF EFAc | cdcd BdAF |1 GFEG FDB,D :|2 GFEG FDD2 ||
fd (3ddd fdgd | fd (3ddd edBc | dBBA Bcde | fagf e3d |
fd (3ddd fdgd | fd (3ddd edBc | dBBA BdAF | GFEG FDD2 |
fd (3ddd fdgd | fd (3ddd edBc | dBBA Bcde | fagf ef (3gfe |
a3f edBc | dfed BAFA | A,D (3DDD A,DFA | BFAF D2DB, ||

First tune here by the White Hare Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTOBgBqFsCQ

play video

Here it is by Noel Hill and Tony Linnane, the third tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHHZflPb41o

play video

Listen to Leeds fiddler Des Hurley’s beautiful rendition of the tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPYlJENsrAs

play video

Thanks I heard Pete Cooper on fiddle but as I play concertina I was glad of the reminder to listen to Hill and Linnane. it’s also on Peoples, Brady,Molloy.

The tune is dedicated to the patron – Fearġal Ó Gaḋra – who paid for the production of the Chronicles of the Kingdom of Ireland as written by the Four Masters. http://mocleirigh.ie/

The tune is dedicated to the 17th century patron — Fearġal Ó Gaḋra — who paid for the production of the Chronicles of the Kingdom of Ireland (Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) as written by the Four Masters (na gCeithre Máistrí) starting in 1616. http://mocleirigh.ie/

Can’t even say where I originally learned it, but this is how I’ve played it for years now. One of my favorites

Here’s a blast of Farrel O’Gara’s on mandolin:

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

play video

Here’s another great clip with Conor McEvoy and his family starting off a set with this tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmNRIrh2JIQ

play video

Version on tin whistle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgEyBnFFFz8

play video

This sits nicely on flute.