Michael Dwyer’s jig

This is the jig that follows “Lacey’s” in McGoldrick/McSherry’s set in “At first light”. I think it has a very unique, magical ability to make people strangely happy… 🙂

This tune was recorded by Jackie Daly & Seamus Creagh as Connie O’Connell’s, played before Cuil

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on May 30th 2003 by whistleman.
https://thesession.org/tunes/1715

This is the first tune in Dervish’s World’s End set on Boys of Sligo:

X: 1
T: Michael Dwyer’s
S: Dervish - The Boys of Sligo
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Gmaj
BGG Add|~B3 BAG|BDD ADD|~G3 GED|
~B3 Add|~B3 ABc|dge f2d|1 cAF G2A:|2 cAF G2F||
GBd ~g3|fed cAF|GBd ~g3|faf ~g3|
faf g2e|fed cAG|~B3 BAG|BdB cAF|
GBd ~g3|fed cAF|GBd ~g3|faf ~g3|
faf g2e|fed ^cde|~f3 ge^c|~d3 dcA||
|:GBB B2d|cAA dcA|GBB BAG|BdB cAF|
GBB B2d|cAA ABc|dge f2d|1 cAF G2F:|2 cAF G2A||

This tune is related to the “Gold Ring”, isn’t it?
https://thesession.org/tunes/37

This lovely jig is on Cathal McConnell’s 1970 album An Irish Jubilee as “McNamara’s”:

X: 1
T: McNamara’s
S: Cathal McConnell
D: An Irish Jubilee (1970)
Z: Nigel Gatherer
M: 6/8
K: G
BGG Add | B/c/dB BAG | BGG ADD | GAG GED |
BGG AFF | BAG ABc | dge f2d | cAF G2z :|
GBd g2e | fed cAF | GBd g2g |f/g/af gzg |
f/g/af g2e | fed cAF | BBB c/B/AG | BdB cBA :|
GBB B2d | cAA AFD | GBB BAG | BdB cAF |
GBB B2d | cAA ABc | dge f2d | cAF G3 :|

this tune was composed by his brother, Michael.

To me, it’s one of these tunes that sounds similar to many others and not to itself.. I guess it depends on which tunes you learn first..

Played beautifully here by Eimear Donnellan: http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_389_6_eimear_donnellan/

This is how this fine jig is usually played… (There are some rather peculiar versions posted above!).

And according to a very reliable source, it was written by Michael Dwyer for Connie O’Connell, whose name he then gave it.

I agree with Dougal. His is the setting I learned from the playing of Northern fiddler Denis Sweeney and my preferred setting of those listed here. Lovely tune.

This tune is only called “Connie O Connell’s” purely by association of his regular, and indeed, fine playing of it.
Michael himself named this tune “The Restless boy”. This was heard from Michael’s own mouth, God rest his Soul, when a flute player friend of mine many years ago played the tune in his presence and was unaware of either its provenance or title, Michael , who was sitting beside him, bashfully enlightened him.
Michael’s cousin, herself also a fine whistle player and known to me personally, concurs with the above information.

This should be the tune linked from the album ‘Contentment is Wealth’ track 13.