Donnie Nolan’s barndance

“slainte” asked about a wooden flute convention in a “Discussion” thread I started today. We had one in Aberdeen in 2002. 45 wooden flute players from all over the place, possibly the biggest assembly of traditional flute players ever in Scotland. This was the first tune taught by Niall Keegan, and he called it “Donnie Nolan’s”, who I believe is an accordion player. My first thought was “I’ve heard this as a hornpipe somewhere”, but apart from Niall, I’ve heard this played as a reel by Dermot McLaughlin & Maura O’Keeffe, and it’s also been recorded by Brendan Regan, who I think called it “The Clare” or “West Clare” reel.

Lovely on flute—tailor made. Although I quickly found myself playing the third bar of the A part as |Bdge dBGA|. Guess I need to work on my d cranns….

You’ve got a great stock of gems Kenny. Keep them coming!

In Aberdeen in 2002? I think I was staying in Edinburgh at that time. What a shame!

This tune was popularized by the Kilfenora Ceili Band on a recording that is, unfortunately, no longer available.

Don - can I ask , is "Donnie Nolan’s" the title they had for this tune , because I think that’s just the title Niall Keegan gave it because he learned it from him?

This tune was popularized by the Kilfenora Ceili Band, but I haven’t got the LP or cassette and can’t supply their title. Donie Nolan is a great Limerick box player.

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on February 6th 2008 by Bannerman.
~ /tunes/8233

X: 2
T: Kilrush Polka 2
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
|: GA |\
B2 BA BAGA | B2 BA BAGA | Bdde dBGA | BAAG A2 BA |
GABd g2 gd | egdB A2 GA | Bdde dBAB | G2 GF G2 :|
|: fg |\
afdB dega | bagb a2 ba | g2 ga gedB | BAAG A2 BA|
GABd g2 gd | egdB A2 GA | Bdde dBAB | G2 GF G2 :|

Kilrush Polka 2

This is the other Kilrush Polka played around North Clare which is a reel! I haven’t been able to locate the Kilfenora Céili Band version but I think that this transcription taken from the Craobh Naithí Tune book no. 2 is pretty close.

Craobh Naithí Music Books

Having taken a tune from this book the least I can do I suppose is give it a plug! This is one of two music books, compiled originally by veteran musician, Michael Tubridy, and are a great resource for both starter and more advanced musicians. Each book contains over 100 traditional tunes and there are also accompanying CDs. More information on the books including details on how to order copies is given at

http://www.craobhnaithi.com/booksCdTutor/

Kilrush Polka 1 ~ The one that goes before this is notated at

https://thesession.org/tunes/252

# Posted on February 6th 2008 by Bannerman

~ is based in South Dublin, centered around the Churchtown, Ballinteer, Dundrum and Rathfarnham areas…

http://www.craobhnaithi.com/

That sounds like a great branch of Comhatlas…

Thanks for coming to the rescue once again "c". I just checked the name (I never seem to have any success searching for tunes using the "snippet" method). Have to agree about Craobh Naithi - with members such as Michael Tubridy, Séamus MacMathúna, Sarah Jane Woods of Liadán, etc it sounds like an ideal branch!

There are a lot of great branches… I used to frequent half a dozen of them in Dublin alone ~ good people, good fun ~ all imperfections and niggles amongst Ye Lords & Lordesses aside… ;-)

I seem to remember Paul McGlinchey playing this version on one of the "Wooden Flute Obsession" CDs, possibly the 3rd pair. He called it "Cronin’s", and it does seem very closely related to "Cronin’s" hornpipe. Please don’t anyone put that in as an alternative title, because the link will become automatic to all the recordings of "Cronin’s" hornpipe and indeed to any other tunes with his name attached to it. I’ve only heard it recorded by Paul McGlinchey and Brendan Regan, who I think had it as a "West Clare" reel, which would connect it to the "Kilfenora".

I learned this from Tommy Keane around 1982 and like him have always played it as a hornpipe.

I fins it equally hard to think of Port an Gioboige which Seamus Ennis got (as a test) from Colm O Cathaine as a reel.

Bars 2&3 of this tune are almost note for note bars 1&2 of The Mouth Organ (barndance) https://thesession.org/tunes/10434

https://thesession.org/recordings/display/3838
This is the 2nd reel on track 6, which is only identified on the album as "Kilrush Polka"

St Columbkill Ceili Band, Caledonian set :
16:28 The Virginia
17:20 Siobhan O’Donnell’s (reel of Sceachog)
18:20 Donnie Nolan’s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SN3tsWUa6o

play video