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Sleeve Notes
Slip Jigs: Na Ceannabháin Bhána (The Little Fair Canavans) & Páidin O Raifeartaigh — These two slip jigs are used as song airs in the powerful Connemara sean n6s singing tradition.
Reels: Martin Wynne's, Jackie Coleman's & Malynn's Fancy — John put the first tune together after hearing a home made recording of tin whistle player Jimmy McGettrick from Bal lymote, Co Sligo. On the tape Jimmy said that it was one of Martin Wynne's tunes the second tune is a Sligo version of Patsy Tuohy's reel that John got from the Gurteen flute player Jackie Coleman. Fiddle player Packie Dolan from Longford who recorded in New York in the 1920s first recorded the last tune.
Song: Sergeant Small — An Australian song from the depression. The life of the Australian migrant worker mirrored the American experience quite closely. Having to travel long distances to look for a job, inevitably led to travelling by freight train/goods train. State police would be detailed to dress up as hoboes and apprehend 'rattler jumpers'. This song is an amalgamation from two sources put together by Brad Tate - the recording made by Tex Morton in the forties (which was immediately banned!) and a poem written by Terry Boylan in the seventies. Andy first heard it sung by Seamus Gill of Canberra, a Donegal man who has lived most of his life in Australia.
Jigs: Happy to Meet Sorry to Part & Old Apples in Winter & Cherish the Ladies — The source for this version of "Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part" was flute player, Mick Gorman, from Tubbercurry, nephew of the famed Sligo fiddler Michael Gorman. Both the Old Apples in Winter and the G version of Cherish the Ladies are from Michael Coleman's early recordings (1922).
Air/Jig: Seanamhac Tube Station — Named after a bogland area in Connemara, near John's Mother's home in Co. Galway.
Song: The Rich Irish Lady — Andy learned this song at the very outset of his career. One of his first influences was Peggy Seeger. He learned nearly all the songs, including this one, from a 10 inch LP she brought out in the late fifties. In 2005 Andy had the great pleasure of playing with Peggy in Australia and was delighted to find she is as good as ever!
Reels: Down the Broom, The Gatehouse Maid & Mulvihill's — Down the Broom and the Gatehouse Maid came from the famous Sligo fiddler Paddy Killoran and this version of Mulvihill's is from the playing of Lad O'Beirne and Louis Quinn.
Song: The Galway Shawl — This is an old song and the author has been long forgotten. It was popular in the Folk Clubs of County Durham in the 1970's where Ged learned it by osmosis from Dennis Rowan at the Red Lion Folk Club in Trimdon Village.
Hornpipes: The Long Acre & "Cuz" Teahan's — In some areas "the long acre" is a name given to the grass verge that grows along the side of the road. Ferry "Cuz" Teahan was a much-loved Kerry musician who spent most of his life in Chicago,
Song: Erin Go Bragh — Andy first heard this great Scottish song sung by the wonderful Ian 'Jock' Manuel in the Bluebell pub in Hull about 1964. It will remind a lot of Irish people of their experiences in Britain, especially in the seventies. The tune came out of Andy's head and he's not quite able to tell where it came from it seems to have bits of several other tunes in it. It was triggered, however, by a recording of another song sung by Kevin Mitchell from Derry, a great singer who has lived in Glasgow for many years. It probably also owes something to the musicianship of Garry O Briain. The song is, of course, associated quite rightly with the great Dick Gaughan.
Polkas: The Return of Spring & The Mountain Path — Two Polkas popular in Co. Sligo.