The Plains Of Boyle hornpipe

A beguiling tune, which comes up in my sessions now and again.
I learnt it properly yesterday from Pete Cooper’s workshop in Bristol (UK). He linked it with Eamonn McGivney’s Hornpipe, which he also taught us.
Trevor

Pete Cooper’s version of the Plains of Boyle is very close to the version posted here. I hope to post Eamon McGivney’s as soon as I can do a transcription.
Trevor

Here is Pete Cooper’s version as played with ornaments and bowings. “u” = down-bow, “v” = up-bow, and “( )” encloses a series of notes played on one bow.

(FG)|uA(FDE) FEDv(F|(3ABA) GB AFD(e|{a}fe)df edc(e| dB)A(B =cA)GB|
AFDv(E {G}FE)D(F|(3ABA) GB AFD(e|{a}fe)dB ABAG|F2 D2 D2:|
|:v(fg|af)ud(f {a}g2)fe|dfe(d BA)Fv(G|(3ABA) FA BAF(B|(3ABA) F(A {d}BA)F(f|
af)df (3ggu(g f)e|dfev(d BA)F(G|A2) AF GBA(G|F2) D2 D2:||

Trevor

Here is Francis McPeake’s whistle version:

F>G|A>FD>E F>ED>F|(3ABA G>B A>FD>d|f>ed>f e>dc>e|d>cA>B (3cBA G>B|
A>FD>E F>ED>F|(3ABA G>B A>FD>d|f>ed>c (3ABA (3GAG|F2D2D2z2:|
f>g|(3agf (3gfe f>de>c|d>ef>d B>AF>G|(3ABA F>A d>AF>A|B>AF>D d>ef>g|
(3agf (3gfe f>de>c|d>ef>d B>AF>G|(3aba F>A d>BA>G|F2D2D2z2:|

i learned this tune on the banjo a few months ago, from a kieran hanrahan recording. he plays it splendidly. it’s a great tune for all fretted instruments; one of the best banjo hornpipes that i know of.

Had this down on my list of tunes to learn, followed by (or so I interpreted months after jotting down the note) “Pretty Maggie Morrissey.” Turns out they are one and the same! According to the discussion under that title, however, Leo Rowsome aficionados make a case that the true title is neither of the above, but rather “The Wexford.” However it is called, and whatever it’s place of origin, ’tis a grand tune altogether!
https://thesession.org/tunes/3564

Larke: have you mistakenly inserted alternative titles for the tune “The Plains of Boyle” as “The Wexford”, “Pretty Maggie Morrisey” and “Roscommon Airport” or did you mean that these are in fact titles of the other hornpipe “Pretty Maggie Morrisey”?

Frank Quinn (1893-1964) of Greagh, Drumlish, Co. Longford recorded this hornpipe “The Plains of Boyle” in January 1929 on the melodeon. A month later the fiddler James Morrison recorded it also and paired it with “Lawson’s Hornpipe”.

ConorW, the “Roscommon Airport” or “Roscommon Air Force” alternative title for the Plains of Boyle is an old joke. Boyle, being in Co. Roscommon, and ‘Plains’ sounding like ‘Planes’, I’m sure you get it 😉

A version I play

A version taught by Gay McKeon for the pipers.

This is essentially the same as the version by ficen but with “corrections” to the lead-in measures.

Oops - I meant to say that X:6 is essentially the same as the version by Innocent Bystander (X:3). Sorry.