Father Kelly’s reel

I don’t know this tune, but apparently i’m the only one. I was surprised it’s not on the site; and since i don’t know it I’m just assuming that this is the right version. If it’s not then could someone please post the correct version?
Thanks.!

This tune seems to be going through an unfashionable phase, as I haven’t heard it in a long time.

This is a different version form the one I know (that doesn’t make it any the less correct) - it’s usually played in G for a start. Is possible that this is a bagpipe setting? It just happens to fit exactly into the range of the bagpipes.

We play this one with a Garret Barry’s round here in Denver, when it’s played at all. I’ve heard it out at sessions very occasionally, but as David says, it seems to be going through an unfashionable phase — one player I know of says he thinks it’s a boring tune, and thinks of it rather like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I wouldn’t personally go that far, myself, I think it’s a charming little tune — although we call it "the cute set", so I guess I know what he means. 🙂

Zina

This is usually played in G and Father Kelly himself gives it a different name, I heard him on "C

Here, in Bristol UK, Father Kelly’s is taught to beginners at the Hibernia Centre in Bristol, and is played regularly at almost every session in the area. This is the version in G that is taught and played.

B2GB AGEG|DGGF G2AB|c2AB cBAG|EAAG FDGA|
B2GB AGEG|DGGF GABc|d2Bd gdBd|1 cAFA ~G3A:|2 cAFA GABc||
|:d2Bd gdBd|d2Bd gdBd|e2ce agfe|defg agfe|
d2Bd gdBd|d2Bd gdBd|c2Ac BAGB|1 AGFA GABc:|2 AGFA ~G3A||

It is also known as The Rossmore Jetty.

-m

Father PJ Kelly (happily still alive and well) named this tune The Rossmore Jetty, after the pier on the river Shannon near his hometown Woodford in East Galway. Rossmore is a most beautiful and peaceful spot. Shannon cruisers regularly stop there.
Trevor’s version of the tune is spot on, and should really replace Mark’s.

There is an excellent version of the tune on The Chieftain’s album ‘Another Country’, played in unison with Ricky Skaggs rendition of "The Wabash Cannonball".

There’s not too many "correct" versions of a tune. I don’t think Mark’s version is replaceable…just another setting. But I’m glad to finally know who Father Kelly *is*! I’ve always wondered and no one was ever able to tell me.

I know the version in G which I’ve seen in the set: Maid behind the Bar: Paddy on the Railroad (The Merry Blacksmith): Father Kellys

Also recorded by Evergreen,
https://thesession.org/recordings/display.php/267

I just heard on last week’s Ceili House that Father Kelly died recently. No details.

https://thesession.org/discussions/8908/comments#comment189940

Ah, that explains it. I was in Ireland at the time, going to sessions every night, and therefore out of the loop on what was happening in the world of Irish music.

LOL. Yes, playing and jawing about the music are two very different things….

My comments on the related tune "The Sliabh Aughty March" (https://thesession.org/tunes/3285) refer.

It was broadcast on March 25: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/ceilihouse/rams/2006/25march.smil
It’s from Ceili House Archive 2006: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/ceilihouse/1075154.html

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on December 1st 2006 by AlBrown.
https://thesession.org/tunes/6445

R: reel
K: G Major
|: GA |
(3BcB GB AG (3EFG | DGGF G2 AB | (3cdc AB cBAG | EAAG FDGA |
B2 GB AGEG | D ~G3 ~G2 (3ABc | (3ded Bd gd (3Bcd | cAFA ~G2 :|
|: (3ABc |
d2 (3Bcd gd (3Bcd | (3ddd Bd gdBd | e2 ce agfe | defg ag (3gfe |
(dcd Bd ~g2 Bd | dc (3Bcd gdBd | c2 Ac BA (3GAB | AGFA G2 :|

NOTE: as AlBrown’s transcription was note-for-note lazyhound’s ~ I’ve doctored this a bit… 😉

"While the D version of this tune is posted on the website (here), the G version is more commonly played around here, and I noticed that lazyhound had posted the ABCs for the G version in the discussion (comments?! ~ above). So that version shows up when people search, I am adding it under a separate tune heading. In either key, this is a very nice, straightforward tune that is fun to play. (agreed!)" ~ AlBrown

But I’m not sure if the argument for a seperate post will necessarily hold, so for posterity I’ve cut and pasted your valued duplication and notion in the comments here…

Why the Hollyoaks Omnibus would you post a tune if you don’t know it?

This website never ceases to amaze me.

Hey, ease up, he’s in limbo ~ he no longer exists… In which case how could he know the tune?

Pretty similar to lazyhound’s just cleaned up the ABC so that you can use it with a converter like
http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html

GA|B2 GB AGEG | DGGF G2AB | c2 AB cBAG | EGAG FDGA |
B2 GB AGEG | DGGF G2Bc | d2 Bd gdBd | cAFA G2 :|
|: Bc | d2 Bd gdBd | d2 Bd gdBd | e2 ce agfe | defg agfe |
d2 Bd gdBd | d2 Bd gdBd | c2 dc BAGB | AGEF G2 :|

I’d vote for either changing the ABC for this tune here to the ABC given in noah’s March 4th post or making an additional tune entry. When I print out my tunebook, it would be nice to see the tune close to the way I play it!

Discussion: father kelly’s reel
# Posted on December 7th 2007 by Richard D Cook
https://thesession.org/discussions/16034

Alright, another take, but not that different from the one given previously, just some other ‘options’, which keeps this music from petrification and putrification ~ proof of ‘life’!

X: 5
T: The Rossmore Jetty
C: Father P.J. Kelly
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K:G Major
|: GA |\
B2 GB AGEG | DGGF G2 AB | c2 AB cBAG | EGAG FDGA |
B2 GB AGEG | DGGF G2 A/B/c | d2 Bd gdBd | cAFA G2 :|
|: A/B/c |\
d2 Bd gdBd | d2 Bd gdBd | e2 ce agfe | defg agfe |
d2 Bd gdBd | d2 Bd gdBd | c2 Ac B2 GB | AGEF G2 :|

The version on The Mulcahy Family played before Belles of Tipperary is not at all like this. Can anyone enlighten me?

https://thesession.org/tunes/6899

Compiled by Dave Bulmer & Neil Sharpley, 1974
ISBN: 0-9503784-4-5

Page 1: "Father Kelly’s No. 1"

X: 6
T: The Rossmore Jetty
T: Father Kelly’s No. 1
C: Father P.J. Kelly
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: GMaj
|: GA |\
~B2 GB AGEG | DGGF G2 AB | cBAB cBAG | EGAG FDGA |
~B2 GB AGEG | DGGF G2 Bc | ~d2 Bd gdBd | cAFA G2 :|
|: Bc |\
~d2 Bd gdBd | ~d2 Bd gdBd | ~e2 ce agfe | defg agfe |
~d2 Bd gdBd | ~d2 Bd gdBd | ~c2 Ac ~B2 GB | AGEF G2 :|

it wouldn’t take much to make a nice Bminor reel out of this one.

the whole tune is within the Scots Pipes range.

The second version listed here just needs the c sharp removed from the key signature. Surely no one plays that with a c sharp (?).

X:8 as played by older musicians who actually knew the Fr., Kevin Keegan, Joe Burke, Ray Roland; also Paddy Reynolds.

Watch Charlie Coen from E. Galway play this reel with another tune composed by Fr. Kelly: http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_316_5_monsignor_charlie_coen_and_dylan_foley