Dandy Dinny Cronin reel

A reel which in my experience is 100% associated with the North of Ireland. Bernie Stocks ( of “The Microphone’s Rambles” fame ) lived in Aberdeen for several years and gave me a tape once of various Belfast musicians, including Dermy Diamond whose main instrument at the time was the banjo. This was one of the reels played. I got the name of it from “La Lugh’s” CD, “Brighid’s Kiss” and the sleeve notes say they also got the tune from Dermy, who got it from Desi Wilkinson. A slightly different version was recorded by Frankie Kennedy on the 1st “Altan” LP. It’s the 3rd tune in a set of 3 reels which only gives 2 names. A simple tune, but with real drive in it.

Is Bernie the “Tape Worm”? I’ve been given numerous tapes of sessions around Ireland recorded by this fellow from the mid-80s and early 90s. Some great stuff. Tunes I’ve never heard on some of them.

Thanks for the tune Kenny.

There was some discussion about the “Tapeworm” a week or so ago, and the answer would be “no”, Jack. Doesn’t sound at all like the Bernie Stocks I knew. Thought I should clear that up.

This is a cool northern tune, which I recently recorded from Radio Ulster’s programme Culan. The player is Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, and this tune is called “Over the Water to Bessie”: the same tune on “Altan.” I’m not really sure, but what Gian Marco posted on this site might not be the real “Over the Water to Bessie.” I need someone else to confirm this.

Well, you can actually listen to C. Mooney playing this tune: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/thelatesession/rams/9january.ram The set starts around 24:00. What a player he is!

O’Neills #1467

As collected by Mr. Beamish

X;1
T: Dandy Denny Cronin
M:2/2
L:1/8
K:A
e2 AA e2 ef | gefd e2 (ef) | e2 AA e2 ef | gefd (~BA) A2 |
e2 AA e2 ef | gfgd e2 (dB) | d2 ef g2 a2 | gefd (~BA) A2 ||
a2 ef g2 a2 | gefd e2 (dB) | a2 ef g2 a2 | gefd (~BA) A2 |
a2 ef g2 a2 | gefd e2 (dB) | d2 ef g2 a2 | gefd (~BA) A2 |]

Tiarnan’s version from Ceol is Phiob

A shorter version.

Transcribed from Matt Molloy’s playing.

As noted above, in O Neill’s 1870 Melodies the title is Dandy Denny Cronin.

Don’t know why the main header is spelled Dinny.

At 2’53"
https://youtu.be/XrR0wQaEwPA?t=173

play video

I suppose this is the source of the X:5 transcription ?
Called erroneously by Fleadh TV “Pigeon on the Gate”…
(The present tune as been posted under “Frankie Kennedy’s” name here https://thesession.org/tunes/3616)
I allways regret that, very often, settings of tunes don’t give place to comments by transcribers revealing their origin/source. Especially when it is the way one transcriber plays it…
Jeremy, it would be fine if you could allow the O: or S: ABC fields in the submission of a setting !

Hi Didier, that video isn’t the one I transcribed the tune from.

I transcribed the tune from a video that was Matt Molloy by himself, no accompaniment.

You seem to imply that I would post my personal version and claim it was transcribed from a famous player.

I would never do such a dishonest thing. I do believe I’ve been clear as to whether a setting is my own, or heard at session, or found in a collection, or transcribed from a recording.

In fact I don’t play Dandy Denny Cronin quite like the Matt Molloy transcription I posted.