Magh Seóla barndance

This is the only tune I know with this name. It appears someone has given this name to Greig’s Pipes on this site, not sure why. Anyway this tune is usually played at a slower pace.

I believe this was composed by Gerard Fahy?

- and I think it’s f sharp?

I’ve just come back from a holiday in Galway where I had the pleasure of hearing the composer of this tune, Gerard Fahy, play it on the uilleann pipes. Its Irish name is Maigh Seóla, which translates as ‘the level plain’ – an ancient region of Ireland around Galway. This version is basically how he played it (I haven’t put in the ornamentation) and you can hear him playing it here on Youtube.
http://youtu.be/0oIing0ocLc

play video

By the way, the other version of this tune has been posted in the key of Am, which is why it sounds off key – it should be in G.

What a beautiful piece. I don’t know if I could get it to sound as pretty on my fiddle. Harmony would be awesome in places methinks.

This was the tune as we played it years ago with chords. I think I first heard this tune from Jim and Mary Coogan (Cherish the Ladies).

I have been trying to research this beautiful tune & its composer online, but haven’t come up with much. This is what I have thus far, with sources:

Magh Seóla, AKA, MAGH SEOLA. AKA - “Level Plain (The).” Irish, Air. Composed by uilleann piper Gerard Fahy from Ballinkill, who named it after the site of an ancient battle in the west of Ireland. Magh Seola is a plain in County Galway, and the battle fought there is variously dated. The Annals of Ulster gives that it was fought in the year 652, while the Annals of Clonmacnoise gives the date as 649. The latter records: "The battle of Connaguth, wherein Marcan mac Tomayn, Prince of Imain, in the province of Connaught, was slain, and Ceanfoyle mac Colgan, and Moynagh, son of Bwyhyn, had the upper hand. https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Magh_Seola

Gerard Fahy: from Ballinakill, Co. Galway, an area steeped in traditional music. From an early age, Gerard played whistles , pipes and indeed composed many original works. He has won many All Ireland titles. Gerard enjoys experimenting with many different musical genres. His ethnic traditional roots have greatly influenced his present musical style. Many of his compositions have been covered by Boston Pops orchestra and many performers throughout the world. One of his proudest moments ever was seeing Michael perform to his music in Feet of Flames at Stormont. He has composed the new score to Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance Dangerous Games which opened in September 2014 at the historic West End’s London Palladium Theatre.
He is one of the most accomplished musicians and highly talented composers of contemporary Irish Traditional music. His original musical Tara received its European premier in the prestigious Luxor Theatre in Rotterdam. He is the founding member of his chart topping band Furry Village
https://www.lordofthedance.com/the-show/bios-vb18om/
https://www.tradontheprom.com/performers/meet-the-musicians/gerard-fahy

Recordings, in addition to the one already cited:

album/ artist
Celtic Earth/ Gerard Fahy
Traditional Irish Music/ Eileen Ivers
Song of the Irish Whistle/ Joanie Madden
The Celtic Album/ The Boston Pops Orchestra
Encore!/ Keith Lockhart, Joanie Madden, Gerard Fahy, The Boston Pops
Orchestra
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice/ Hammonds Saltaire Band
A Taste of Ireland Vol.2/ Ceoltoiri Maghlocha

links:
the one of Gerard Fahy playing the piece himself (see above) is essential- the best version of them all, so look at that one first. Here are a few others that I like…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMdbkVZtAtQ&ab_channel=JoanieMadden-Topic

play video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8t7FCiam78&ab_channel=getcrackingguitar

play video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp68amPs5S8&ab_channel=RavivSaxophone

play video

does anyone know the key of this particular recording?
and do you know what key his chanter is in?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oIing0ocLc

play video

G major played on a D chanter.