Memories Of Sligo barndance

Hands up, down on my knees - apologies to all after reading the comments on Gard’s contribution of the strathspey ‘The Inverness Fiddler’. I’ve dropped the lad a line and hopefully he’ll return with some history. I knew I’d left something uncommented on so went trawling, and remembering. This one was left on hold because I know I’ve got another version or two somewhere, and possibly another name, so I went looking, and, as my badly wired brain sometimes does, thing went on hold or I was distracted, as I have been lately. I still haven’t found that other version and name but continue to look.

The version given here is from an old recording of Paddy Killoran & Paddy Sweeney, remastered and rereleased by Topic several times, including the latest compilation "Round the House and Mind the Dresser". I hope that was it, except I keep remembering a melodeon being involved, hmmmm? Sorry if there’s anything else I’ve left incomplete or uncommented on, it is the nature of my affliction and frustrates me more than anyone else, even more than my dear wife…

Harry Bradley and Jesse Smith recorded this tune as the Belle of the Ball.

I’d forgotten again. I was trying to source the earliest recording for this. Dow just woke me up. Thanks ‘slainte’, yes, that is the ‘other name’… I’d also planned to come back with another transcript of it and forgot that too. I suppose someone will be reminding me of that in the future too? 😏

As you might imagine, the name being popular enough, including for song, there are several tunes that take this title, including in the same form.

A hornpipe by that name can be found here, not the same melody ~

"Ryan’s Mammoth Collection" ~ 1883
( = "Cole’s 1000 Fiddle Tunes" )

The other place I was checking is the Library of Congress collection, where a lot of old schottisches and barndances can be found, but it is a long and hard slog and I haven’t been there of late. I’ll try to remember to chase up more info and add at least one other take here in the future. I’d better make a note… 😏

Thanks Mark/Dow for reminding me…

This tune is also on Michael Coleman 1891-1945, track 8. Played after Jame’s Gannon’s. It doesn’t show up because it isn’t on the track list.

https://thesession.org/recordings/32#details

From Killoran and Sweeney’s old 78. I guess "Old 78" is redundant…curious that Healy and Duffy called their LP "Memories Of Sligo" but didn’t think to throw in this grand old barndance.

Learned this version from Manus McGuire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FXdSNgYDfk&t=135s

play video