Eddie Duffy’s Favourite reel

Pardon my obsession with Fermanagh tunes. This was learned from the playing of Galway fluter John Creaven. The sleeve notes inform it’s a version of the “Dark-Haired Lass,” but I can’t see much similarity between the two tunes. I’ve just looked through Hidden Fermanagh book, but it’s not on it.

Reminds me a little of the Monaghan Twig.

Too obvious to point out….

Altan actually recorded a similar tune as Neilly O’Boyle’s Highland: https://thesession.org/tunes/2461

I’m surprised you didn’t spot this one, Slainte. It’s the mixolydian version of Scotch Mary, recorded by Dervish as the “Abbey Reel”. I posted it in the comments section of this tune https://thesession.org/tunes/96.

I’ve been away from Dervish’s albums for long. Thanks NB for pointing that out.

This particular version of the reel is also on Niall Keegan’s solo flute recording. He plays it with other Fermanagh tunes.

This tune is essentially the second and third parts of John Doherty’s version of “Scots Mary”, played backwards.

Hi slainte. I’m a bit late to this party. What a great tune and your set with The Monaghan Twig is superb. (I might well borrow it - and maybe even add Scotch Mary into the set somewhere. Need to play around with that for a bit to see how best to slot all three together.) Here’s how after playing with the tune for a while I’ve settled on a setting which favours a staccato instrument such as mandolin. Anyway - thanks for posting the original. Always a pleasure to come across a tune which makes my ears prick up…