The Glen Of Aherlow reel

By Sean Ryan

Also known as The Crane’s Leg, The Girl I Left Behind, The Glenn Of Aherlow, The Glens Of Aherlow, Lafferty’s, Lafferty’s Favourite, The Maid I Never Forgot, Mary’s Favourite, Reddican’s, Rediggan’s, Ríl Uí Laithbheartaigh, The Woman I Left Behind Me, The Woman I Never Forgot.

There are 83 recordings of this tune.
This tune has been recorded together with

The Glen Of Aherlow appears in 3 other tune collections.

The Glen Of Aherlow has been added to 195 tune sets.

The Glen Of Aherlow has been added to 904 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Twelve settings

1
X: 1
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
|:B2AF B2AF|EDEF EDB,D|B2AF B2AF|DFBA FE~E2|
B2AF BFAF|EDEF EDB,A,|B,E~E2 DEFA|dBAF FE~E:|
|:eB~B2 egfe|d2fd Adfd|eB~B2 egfe|dBAF FE~E2|
eB~B2 egfe|d2fd Adfd|B~B2d efge|dBAF FE~E2:|
2
X: 2
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
B2AF BFAF|~E3F EDFA|B2AF BFAF|DFBA FE~E2|
B2AF BFAF|~E3F EDBA|BEEF DEFA|dBAF FE~E2:|
3
X: 3
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
B2AF BFAF|E3F EDBd|B2AF BFAF|DFAF FE E2|
B2AF BFAF|E3F EDBA|BE E2 DEFA|BdAF FEFA|
B2AF BFAF|E3F EDBd|B2AF BFAF|DFAF FE E2|
B2 AF B2 AF|EBAF EDBA|BE E2 DEFA|BdAF FE E2||
eB B2 efge|f3e defd|eB B2 e2 fe|dBAF Be e2|
eB B2 egfe|f3e defd|B3d egfe|dBAF Be e2|
eB B2 efge|f3e defd|eB B2 e2 fe|dBAF Be e2|
e2 b2 efga|f3e defd|B3d e2 fe|dBAF Be e2||
B2AF BFAF|E3F EDBD|B2AF BFAF|DFAF FE E2|
B2AF BFAF|E3F EDBA|BE E2 DEFA|BdAF FE E2|
B2 AF B2 AF|EBAF EDBA|B2 AF BFAF|DFEF FE E2|
B2 AF BFAF|EBAF EDBA|BE E2 DEFA|BdAF g3f||
eB B2 efga|f3e defd|eB B2 e2 fe|dBAF Be e2|
e2 b2 efga|f3e defd|B3d egfe|dBAF Be e2|
eB B2 efga|f3e defd|eB B2 e2 fe|dBAF Be e2|
eB B2 efga|f3e defd|B3d e2 fe|dBAF Be e2||
B2 AF BFAF|E3F EDBd|B2 AF BFAF|DFAF FE E2|
B2 B2 B2 AF|EDBA EDFA|BE E2 DEFA|BdAF FE E2|
B2 AF BFAF|e3f edBd|B2 AF BFAF|DFAF FE E2|
B3d BdAF|EDBA EDFA|B2 AF DEFA|BdAF GEEf||
g4 g3a/g/|f4 f3g/f/|eB B2 e2 fe|dBAF Be e2|
e2 b2 efga|f3e defd|B2 Ad egfe|dBAF Be e2|
eB B2 gB B2|fB B2 eB B2|eB B2 e2 fe|dBAF b3a/f/|
eB B2 efga|z3e defd|B3d e2 fe|dBAF e2 e2||
4
X: 4
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
|:B2AF BFAF|E3F EDBA|B2AF BFAF|DFAF FE E2|
B2AF BFAF|E3F EDBA|BE E2 DEFA|BdAF FE E2:|
|:eB B2 efge|fd d2 Adfd|eB B2 egfe|dBAF FE E2|
eB B2 efge|f3e defd|B3d egfe|dBAF BE E2:|
5
X: 5
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
|:B2AF BFAF|~E3F EDB,D|B2AF BFAF|DFAF FE~E2|
B2AF BFAF|~E3F EDB,A,|B,E~E2 B,EGB|dBAF GE~E2:|
|:eB~B2 efge|fdd2 Adfd|eB~B2 egfe|dBAF GE~E2|
eB~B2 egfe|fdd2 Adfd|~B3d (3efg fe|dBAF GE~E2:|
6
X: 6
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
B2AF BFAF|~E3F EDB,D|B2AF BFAF|DFAF FEEA|
B2AF BFAF|~E3F EDB,A,|B,E~E2 DEFA|BdAF FEE2:|
eB (3BBB egfe|fd (3ddd Adfd|eB~B2 egfe|dBAF FEEA|
eB (3BBB egfe|fd (3ddd Adfd|~B3d egfe|dBAF FEEA:|
7
X: 7
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
|:B2 AF BFAF|E2 EF ED B,2|B2 AF BFAF|DFAF FEEA|
B2 AF BFAF|E2 EF EDB,A,|B,E E/E/E DEFA|dBAF FE E2:|
|:eB B/B/B effe|fddd Adfd|eB B/B/B effe|dBAF FE E2|
eB B/B/B effe|fddd Adfd|B2 Bd effe|dBAF FE E2:|
8
X: 8
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
|:B2AF BFAF|E3F EDBA|B2AF BFAF|DFAF FE E2|
B2AF BFAF|E3F EDBA|BE E2 DEFA|dBAF FE E2:|
|:eB B2 egfe|fd d2 Adfd|eB B2 egfe|dBAF FE E2|
eB B2 egfe|f3e defd|B3d egfe|dBAF BE E2:|
9
X: 9
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
|:B2AF DFAF|EGFD ED[BB,][AA,]|B2AF DFAF|DFAF FE~E2|
B2AF DFAF|EGFD ED[BB,][AA,]|BE~EE DEFA|dBAF FE~EE:|
|:eBB2 egfe|d2fd Adfd|eB~BB egfe|dBAF ~FEE2|
eB~BB egfe|fdd2 Adfd|BA(3Bcd egfe|dBAF ~FEE2:|
10
X: 10
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
|:"Bm"B2 AF BFAF|"Em" E2 EF ED ~B,2|"Bm" B2 AF BFAF|"D"DFAF "Em"FEEA|
"Bm"B2 AF BFAF|"Em"E2 EF EDB,A,|"Bm"B,E ~E2 DEFA|"Bm"dBAF "Em"FE ~E2:|
|:"Em"eB ~B2 ef"A"fe|"Bm"fd~d2 Adfd|"Em"eB ~B2 ef"A"fe|"Bm"dBAF "Em"FE ~E2|
"Em"eB ~B2 ef"A"fe|"Bm"fd ~d2 Adfd|"Em"B2 Bd "D"effe|"Bm"dBAF "Em"FE ~E2:|
11
X: 11
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
|:"Bm"B2 AF BFAF|"Em" EDEF EDB,A,|"Bm" B2 AF BFAF|"D"DFAF "Em"FEEA|
"Bm"B2 AF BFAF|"Em"EDEF EDB,A,|"Bm"B,E (3EFE DEFA|"Bm"dBAF "Em"FE E2:|
|:"Em"eB (3BcB eg"D"fe|"Bm"fd (3ded Adfd|"Em"eB (3BcB eg"D"fe|"Bm"dBAF "Em"FE E2|
"Em"eB (3BcB eg"D"fe|"Bm"fd (3ded Adfd|"Em"BABd "D"egfe|"Bm"dBAF "Em"FE E2:|
12
X: 12
T: The Glen Of Aherlow
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
|:B2AF BFAF|EGFD EDBd|B2AF BFAF|DFAF FEFA|
~B2AF BFAF|EGFD EDBA|B ~E3 DEFA|1 BFAF F ~E3:|2 B2 AF FEBd||
e ~B3 efge|~f3 d Adfd|e ~B3 e2 fe|dBAF BEBd|
ez BB egfe|~f3 d Adfd|ABBd e z fe dBAF BEBd|
e ~B3 efge|~f3 d Adfd|e ~B3 e2 fe|dBAF BEBd|
e z BB egfe|f3 d Adf z|B3 d ez fe|dBAF BEFA||

Thirty-four comments

Lafferty’s

I learned this tune in Cape Cod from one of the locals named Chris Nowichik (or, “Prodigy Boy” to Tim Livernois :P ). It’s also on the Lunasa album “Otherworld.” It’s a really enjoyable and fun tune to play, especially with Ms. McLeod’s reel (that’s what I play it with).

Lafferty’s

I believe this is a Sean Ryan composition originally written with the title “Glen of Aherlow.”

Played by John Cunningham

On his album (Fair Warning?) or something like that. Or is that Van Halen album? He pairs it with a tune I know as “Father Kelly’s.”

Flute-friendly version

I play the first part of the tune like this:

K: Edor
B2AF BFAF|~E3F EDFA|B2AF BFAF|DFBA FE~E2|
B2AF BFAF|~E3F EDBA|BEEF DEFA|dBAF FE~E2:|

I think this is almost the same as what Michael McGoldrick does on the low whistle.

In the sleeve notes of Mary MacNamara’s solo album, Jackie Small informs us that the tune was originally composed by Tipperary fiddler Sean Ryan as “The Glen of Aherlow,” but Paddy Canny and P.J. Hayes renamed it after their piano accompanist when they recorded it.

See The Fiddler’s Companion for the history of this tune and the related English tune known as Brighton Camp.

“The Glen of Aherlow” ~ by Seán Ryan

"The Hidden Ireland:
The First Selection of Irish Traditional Compositions of Seán Ryan"
Compiled by Brian Ryan

Page 25 ~ “The Glen of Aherlow”

Lovely tune. I just learnt it off Kieran Hanrahan’s album. Don’t know what those weird notes are that he hits at the end but I’ll get them.

McGOLDRICK’S Setting

X: 1
T: Lafferty’s
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Edor
|: B2AF BFAF | E3F EDBd | B2AF BFAF | DFAF FE~E2 |
B2AF BFAF | E3F EDBA | BE~E2 DEFA | BdAF FE~E |
B2AF BFAF | E3F EDBd | B2AF BFAF | DFAF FE~E2 |
B2 AF B2 AF | EBAF EDBA |BE E2 DEFA | BdAF FE E2||
|: eB~B2 efge | f3e defd | eB~B2 e2 fe | dBAF Be~e2 |
eB~B2 egfe | f3e defd | B3d egfe | dBAF Be~e2 :|
eB~B2 efge | f3e defd | eB~B2 e2 fe | dBAF Be~e2 |
e2 b2 efga |f3e defd | B3d e2 fe | dBAF Be e2 ||
|: B2AF BFAF | E3F EDBD | B2AF BFAF | DFAF FE~E2 |
B2AF BFAF | E3F EDBA | BE~E2 DEFA | BdAF FE~E |
B2 AF B2 AF | EBAF EDBA | B2 AF BFAF | DFEF FE E2|
B2 AF BFAF |EBAF EDBA |BE E2 DEFA | BdAF g3f ||

|:eB B2 efga | f3e defd | eB B2 e2 fe | dBAF Be e2 |
e2 b2 efga | f3e defd | B3d egfe | dBAF Be e2 |
eB B2 efga | f3e defd | eB B2 e2 fe | dBAF Be e2 |
eB B2 efga | f3e defd | B3d e2 fe |dBAF Be f2 ||
|:B2 AF BFAF |E3F EDBd |B2 AF BFAF |DFAF FE E2 |
B2 B2 B2 AF | EDBA EDFA |BE E2 DEFA | BdAF FE E2 |
B2 AF BFAF | e3f edBd | B2 AF BFAF | DFAF FE E2 |
B3d BdAF | EDBA EDFA | B2 AF DEFA |BdAF GEEf ||
g4 g3f | f4 f3e | eB B2 e2 fe | dBAF Be e2 |
e2 b2 efga | f3e defd | B2 Ad egfe |dBAF Be e2|
eB B2 gB B2 | fB B2 eB B2 | eB B2 e2 fe | dBAF b3a/f/ |
eB B2 efga |z3e defd | B3d e2 fe | dBAF e2 e2||

Bridie Lafferty

Paddy Canny and PJ Hayes recorded this tune with my Great Aunt ( grandmother’s sister) Bridie Lafferty. It was her favorite reel to play on the piano, hence the name “Lafferty’s Favorite” or Ril Ui Laithbheartaigh.
She had also played with the Castle Ceili Band, Kincora Ceili Band among others.
Her house in Drumcondra, Dublin was a favorite stopping off point and parlor partys with all of the greats in the 50’s and 60’s
were common occurances.
Patrick Murphy
The Indulgers

Better late than never

When did Sean Ryan compose this?
If James Morrison recorded this tune (The Glen of Aherlow) sometime between 1921 and 1936 on The Professor,(1) and Séan Ryan didn’t start composing […]

# Posted on August 22nd 2007 by joebowbeer

Are you sure it’s the same tune we’re talking about? The track on ‘The Professor’ is a pair of waltzes.

David

Glen of Aherlow

James Morrison recorded an instrumental version of the old song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_of_Aherlow_(song) Sean Ryan later composed this reel with the same title. It would be like throwing together a hornpipe and calling it Boolavogue, dig?

Posted by .

Nice variation in 2nd part

Variation from fifth bar of second part on repeat,

~g3 a gfeg|~f3 g fedA|~B3 c dfef|dBAF FEE2|

Re: Lafferty’s

In my playing my Irish D flute how do I apply the low A/Bs (in 2nd measure) meaning, what would I play?

I understand I could transpose but then what to do if I were to play in a session?? What do the other flutes play?

Re: Lafferty’s

Ok- I see now in the above McGoldricks version

Re: The Glen Of Aherlow

Since we know the original name of this beautuful tune by Seán Ryan, it’s also been published in his tunebook, and it’s definitely not some obscure title - roughly 35 recordings on the list use “The Glen of Aherlow” or “The Glens of Aherlow”, including almost all of the recent ones - I see no reason for it to be called “the wrong way” in 2021😉 Variations on “Lafferty’s” are all saved in alternative titles and searchable.

Here’s the collection of Seán Ryan tunes that includes The Glen of Aherlow:
https://www.cranfordpub.com/books/ryansean.htm

The Glen Of Aherlow, X:11

From X:11 I got this setting that has some differences:

- The offbeat rolls are replaced by the combination quaver-triplet.

- I changed one note in the second part that was the one I am more familiar with. It was an f, now it is a g. I see this note in other settings as well.

- I changed the A chord with a D chord. Maybe sounds better to me because of the note change I did.

Re: The Glen Of Aherlow

It would be interesting to know which chords Bridie Lafferty chose to accompany this with 🙂

The Glen Of Aherlow, X:12

I found this version scribbled in a notebook and thought I’d upload. Not sure where it’s from, but likely to be based on Michael McGoldrick’s playing.