Jim Donoghue’s reel

Source: Kevin Crawford - “D Flute Album”
Transcription: g.m.p.
Notes: with variations

A great reel Gian. I think John Carty’s version on the fiddle is pure magic where he plays it innumerable times but each one is that bit different so that one could almost listen to it forever!

This was the pet tune of the late Jim Donoghue, a Sligoman renowned for his playing of the Clarke’s tin whistle.

On the notes of Micheal O’Raghallaigh’s “Inside Out” album, he says that Jim Donoghue composed this tune. Great tune altogether!

Jim Donoghue’s is the first tune played in this set: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RokME3ZWOyo and its a great inspiration to make me sit down and learn the tune!

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It’s also on Danny O’Mahony’s In Retrospect. For some reason it didn’t link. Superb.

Here’s Jim Donoghue playing the Templehouse and Cooley’s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOLIJUq9Lg0

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Ah, someone has extracted this track from “Come West Along The Road”. Nice!
A while back I’ve posted his setting of Cooley’s BTW… 🙂
https://thesession.org/tunes/1#setting20960

Does anyone have a recording of Jim Donaghue playing Jim Donaghue’s reel? I love his style and would love to hear his own take on the tune that bears his name.

Hi Pat, can be seen on YouTube at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOLIJUq9Lg0

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I’m sure Jim Donoghue’s reel will be played more than once at the Fleadh this year in Sligo.

There is a nice flat-picked version of this on guitar on Kris Drever’s album Black Water, played after Rodney’s Glory.

Here’s a more generic, session-friendly version.

Played by Seamus Tansey : https://youtu.be/UlhuITrM83M

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(First Reel ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMoAM2bkh34

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Here’s a nice setting of Jim Donoghue’s from Fergal Scahill and friends:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQqiD-6hKzA

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This setting is from the playing of Frances Marriott.

Are there any singers out there who might like to try this

JIM DONOGHUE

We gathered in Kilcolman on a lovely day in May,
And laid to rest Jim Donoghue who had sadly passed away,
He was a fine musician one of the very best,
And his passing saddened everyone as the large crowd could attest.
The people came from far and wide in order for to grieve,
To think that he would be no more is still hard to believe,
He was a modest gentleman who came from Drumacoo,
And as long as music will be played they’ll speak of Donoghue.

His music was his pride and joy, he never ceased to play,
Until at last his spirit left on that nineteenth day of May,
No one could say he’d refuse to play if ever asked to do,
He’d turn it out without a doubt and play it sweet and true,
He was a man who always loved the country of his birth,
And many times he took his spade and turned its brown earth,
He always was prepared for work, for music and for fun,
At any time of day or night or at the rising sun.

No more we’ll see him on the bog or working in the fields,
The fingers now are stilled for good that played a million reels,
Music was his passion and he played it like a dream,
He will always be remembered because he was the cream,
When did you last hear Miss McCloud’s or the Pigeon on the Gate,
Or how he’d Toss the Feathers or polish The Copper Plate,
The way he played that black tin whistle, it was a special thing,
When he’d tone it up and thrash out tunes it made the rafters ring.

They say that we have just one life and then we have to go,
But I wish to God he was here now to give it one last blow,
I wonder is there music in the heavens great on high,
Or do the players get together at a session in the sky,
Michael and Jim Coleman would make those fiddles sing like larks,
But they would sit and listen when Jim he took the ‘Clarke’s,
The angels they would shout for joy when they heard his tone unique,
And they would dance amongst the stars upon that lofty peak.

Memories will linger on through the passing years,
Of reels and jigs and hornpipes which he played loud and clear,
Perhaps that music echoes now somewhere beyond the blue,
Making angels dance with joy for the man from Drumacoo.
Adieu, adieu Jim Donoghue we will not see you more,
Or hear the music that you played in the happy days of yore,
But we will treasure every note you played with grace and style,
And ne’r forget the joy you brought with a pleasant friendly smile.

Harry Bradley version, posted earlier this year :
https://youtu.be/anGjc3jBpYk

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