Twenty-seven 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.
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 until the early 50’s, when he was about 30 years old(2), then Séan Ryan could not have written this tune.
References:
1. https://thesession.org/recordings/display/356
2. http://www.brendantaaffe.com/sean_ryan.html
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||
Lafferty’s
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
Glen of aherlow
yes it is, Robert, but the guy in the video plays it in Dminor.
If it helps you can transpose the ABC at: http://www.8ung.at/abctransposer/
Where’s Aherlow?
It’s in Co. Tipperary: http://www.aherlow.com/html/home.html That’s where the composer came from.
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
Liam O’Flynn, Andy Irvine, Paddy Glackin, Donal Lunny
aka "LAPD" - yes, it’s an awful joke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIQBD4aNysw
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?
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|
Sean Ryan
Here’s a video of Sean Ryan playing this tune in 1982, it’s the last tune, skip to 5:05
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0pXmS1Ljmk
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
Lafferty’s, X:5
transcription from the Youtube video of Sean Ryan playing it himself
The Glen Of Aherlow, X:6
I always knew it as Lafferty’s…
Re: The Glen Of Aherlow
Had a go at this one today - First tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9KDNaMSzmo
Re: The Glen Of Aherlow
Played by Kevin Burke : https://youtu.be/sKnXKeKkeY8
