Saint Ruth’s Bush (reel) on The Session

I’ve posted this tune in response to a request in
discussions. I got this version from a recording of the
Kincora Ceili Band, played after The Boys of Carracastle
(Carrowcastle?), alias George White’s Favourite, and The
Maids of Mt. Kisco. Since transcribing it, I have
discovered that I already have an abc version in a
collection by B. Black, taken from a Tony Sullivan book.
The only significant difference in Sully’s setting is
in bars 2 and 6, so I have tagged this on the end as a
variation.

Perhaps not strictly relevant to the tune, but does anyone know who St. Ruth was, and what’s the story connecting her with a bush? Is there a place, or a bush, somewhere in Ireland called St. Ruth’s Bush?

St. ruth’s bush

According to the sleeve notes on the CD "Warming Up" by Martin Mulhaire,Seamus Connolly & Jack Coen, this tune was (quote) "composed by fiddler Paddy Kelly to commemorate the Battle Of Aughrim fought in the 1600s"(unquote). Miko Russell was recorded playing it on one of the "Irish Folk Tour" LPs in the 1980s, but apart from that ,it’s not a tune I’ve heard played very often.

Thanks for the version.

St. Ruth was the French General in Charge of the Jackobite army at the battle of Aughrim 1691. They were making a stand against the forces of William (of Orange) who had been successful at the battle of the Boyne in 1690. Within sight of victory a cannonball decapitated St. Ruth as he commaned his forces from a distance. Word of his death and the lack of a nominated 2nd in command demoralised his forces and the Williamites made a successfull charge and won the day. This was the last major battle on Irish soil 40,000 soldiers were involved with over half being killed in the fewhours of fighting.
The defeated Irish forces retreated to Limerick and that is another story .

the tune is also to be found in ‘The Northern Fiddler’ under the name of Judes Bush

A.K.A Joe Bane’s

Also found on "Open Hearth" by Mary & Andrew MacNamara under the title "Joe Bane’s".

Joe Banes = St Ruth’s bush ? I don’t think so.

Joe Banes = St Ruth’s bush ? I don’t think so.
Definitely two separate tunes. Not even close.

There are three tunes on Open Hearth listed as Joe Bane’s. The one that follows Morning Star on Track 9 is St. Ruth’s Bush.

One tune can have lots of different names. It’s shocking, I know.

And, more to the point, one name can refer to more than one tune.

That’s what I meant to say, yes… that it’s unsurprising that multiple tunes can be named after one musician, since that musician in all likelihood knows (or knew) more than one tune.

Two versions:
Starting a set (Saint Ruth’s Bush/Dick Gossip’s/The Cup Of Tea)
http://www.paythereckoning.com/3BS1.mp3
Ending a set (The Belles of Tipperary/St. Ruths’ Bush)
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_282_1_under_18_trio_champions/

Heard this slow version on an American mandolin site:
X: 1
T: Saint Ruth’s Bush
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Ador
|:gf | eAAB cBcA | GEED EDEG | AGAB cBcd | eaaf ge df |
eAAB cBcA | GEED EDEG | AGAB cdeg | dBGB A2 :|
|:Bd | eaag abag | eaag bgag | eggf g2fg | eg dg eg Bd |
eaag abag | eaag bgag | edef gage | dBGB A2 :||

Just learned (sort of) from a Maeve Donnelly recording :
X: 1
T: Saint Ruth’s Bush
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
Z:Maeve Donnelly
R: reel
K: Ador
A3B ceBA | GEDG EAGE | A3B cBcd | ea2b gedB |
eAAB ceBA | GEDG EAGE| A3B cege | dBGB ABcd|
eEdE cEBE|AEGD EAGE|A3B cBcd | eaab gedB |
eAAB ceBA | GEDG EAGE| A3B cege | dBGB ABcd||
ea a/a/g aBga| ba ~a2 bgag | eggf gage | d2 gd edBd |
eaag abga | b3 a gedB|d3 e gaba |gedB A2 :||