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John Brosnan’s polka

Also known as Dan O’Callaghan’s, John Clifford’s, Johnny O’Leary’s, Johnny O’Leary’s #1, Johnny O’Leary’s No 1, Johnny O’Leary’s No.1, Night At The Fair, Pádraig O’Keeffe’s.

There are 109 recordings of a tune by this name.

A tune by this name has been recorded together with Padraig O’Keeffe’s (lots of times), O’Keefe’s (a few times) and Callaghan’s (a few times).

John Brosnan's has been added to 47 tunebooks.

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Five settings

X: 1
T: John Brosnan's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
D>E FA|Bc d2|B>A FA|B/c/B/A/ FA|
D>E FA|Bc d2|BA FE|D2 D2:|
d>c BA|Bc d2|B>A FA|B/c/B/A/ FA|
d>c BA|Bc d2|BA FE|D2 D2:|
X: 2
T: John Brosnan's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|: D/ |G>A Bd | ef g2 | ed Bd | e/f/e/d/ BA |
GG/A/ B/c/d | ef gf/g/ | ed B/d/B/A/ | G2 G3/ :|
|: d/ |g>f ed | ef g2 | ed Bd | e/f/e/d/ Bd |
gg/f/ e/f/e/d/ | d/e/f gf/g/ | ed B/d/B/A/ | G2- G3/ :|
X: 3
T: John Brosnan's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Amaj
|: A>B ce | fg a2 | fe ce | f/a/f/e/ cB |
A>B ce | fg a2|fe cB|A2 A2 :|
|: a>g fe | fg a2 | fe ce | f/a/f/e/ ce |
a>g fe | fg a2 | fe cB | A2 A2 :|
X: 4
T: John Brosnan's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|: D |GA Bd | ef g2 | ed Bd | e/f/e/d/ B/c/B/A/ |
G>A Bd | ef g2 | ed BA |[1 G2 G :|[2 G2 G2 ||
gf ed | ef g2 | ed Bd | e/f/e/d/ Bd |
gf ed | ef gf/g/ | ed B/c/B/A/ |[1 G2 G2 :|[2 G2 G |]
X: 5
T: John Brosnan's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|: G>A Bd | ef g2 | ed Bd | ed BA |
G>A Bd | ef g2 | ed BA |[1 GD EF :|[2 G2 G2 ||
|: gf ed | ef g2 | ed Bd | ed Bd |
g>f ed | ef g2 | ed BA |[1 G2 G2 :|[2 GD EF |]

Ten comments

John Brosnan’s

I first heard this simple polka on Hammy Hamilton’s solo album, but later found it’s also on John Brosnan’s solo recording "The Cook in the Kitchen." It’s usually followed by another polka associated with J. Brosnan: https://thesession.org/tunes/3835

It seems this tune originally comes from Johnny O’Leary’s playing. Hammy Hamilton informs us it appears in Terry Moylan’s "Johnny O’Leary of Sliabh Luachra" as no. 109 - John Clifford’s.

I’ve just found this polka is also on Beginish’s first album: the 3rd one on track 7.

John Clifford’s Polka - also in the key of G

|: G>A Bd | ef gf/g/ | ed Bd | e/f/e/d/ BA | ~

John Clifford played this in a set with Sweeney’s…

“Pádraig O’Keeffe’s” ~ a duplication brought back from the future

Key signature: A Major
Submitted on September 19th 2007 by Dow.
~ /tunes/7730

X: 2
T: Pádraig O’Keeffe’s
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: A Major
|: A>B ce | fg a2 | fe ce | f/a/f/e/ cB |
A>B ce | fg a2|fe cB|A2 A2 :|
|: a>g fe | fg a2 | fe ce | f/a/f/e/ ce |
a>g fe | fg a2 | fe cB | A2 A2 :|

I’ve had this in my head today, so I must have picked it up at a recent session. I hope it’s not here already. I have a feeling it’s pretty common as far as polkas go. ( heh, heh, heh! ;-) )

# Posted on September 19th 2007 by Dow

I think my friends at the session might have got this one from Seamus Creagh and Aidan Coffey’s CD, track 3. SC and AC put it in a set with Nell Fees’, so they probably got it off the Abbey Ceili Band.

Or maybe of course John Brosnan’s album which came out 4 years before the Abbey one.

“Pádraig O’Keeffe’s” / “John Brosnan’s” ~ in G

X: 3
T: Pádraig O’Keeffe’s
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: G Major
|: D |\
GA Bd | ef g2 | ed Bd | e/f/e/d/ B/c/B/A/ |
G>A Bd | ef g2 | ed BA |[1 G2 G :|[2 G2 G2 ||
gf ed | ef g2 | ed Bd | e/f/e/d/ Bd |
gf ed | ef gf/g/ | ed B/c/B/A/ |[1 G2 G2 :|[2 G2 G |]

Also the second tune in this set:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egxa2Hn_rcA

Q: 128-130 bpm (1 beat = one crotchet/quarter note)

~ after adjustment for pitch…

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