Carrickfergus

reel

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on April 3rd 2005 by Bill Reeder.

This tune has been added to 195 tunebooks.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

3(three) by Birkin Tree
40 Years Reunion by The Dubliners
A Jacket Of Batteries by De Danann
An Feochan by Philippe Barnes
Banish Misfortune by Mithril
Celtic Dreams (Music Of Turlough O'Carolan On The Hammered Dulcimer, Volume III) by Joemy Wilson
Celtic Harp III: Secret Isles by Patrick Ball
Diamonds by Rapalje
Far Away Dreams by Various Artists
In Ireland by James Galway And The Chieftains
Irish Heartbeat by Van Morrison
Irish Piano Classics by J.J. Sheridan
Irish Showtime by The Irish Showtime Band
Irish Whistles by Various Artists
Live From Dublin - A Tribute To Derek Bell by The Chieftains
Mac Morin by Mac Morin
Master Cape Breton Fiddler by Jerry Holland
Musical Ireland by Derek Bell
My Lagan Love by Anne-Marie O'Farrell
O Riada Sa Gaiety by Na Ceoltoiri
O'Carolan's Harp by Siobhan McDonnell
Part II: Fire In Our Hearts by Na Connerys
Seven Years After by Sirkus
The Ancient Voice Of Ireland by Mick O'Brien
The Autumn Time Is Coming by Anam Chara
The Bear River Band by Bear River Band
The Chieftains 4 by The Chieftains
The Chieftains Live by The Chieftains
Traditional Irish Music From Galway And Clare by Bobby Casey, Gabriel McKeon, Raymond Roland, Liam Farrell & John Roe
Transatlantic Sessions 4 by Various Artists
Trip To Ireland by Clooney
What Is Friday by Comrade

X: 1
T: Carrickfergus
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
g2 g2 f2|e4 A4-|A2 AB c2 d2|B3 A G4-|
G2 G2 A2 B2|c4 E4-|E2 F2 G3 G|G8-|G2 :|
d2 g2 a2|b8-|bgab c'2 b2|a3 f d4-|
d2 dd g2 a2|b8-|bgab c'2 b2|a8-|
a2 g2 g3 f|e4 A4-|A2 AB c2 d2|B3 A G4-|
G2 G2 A3 B|c4 E4-|E2 F2 G3 G|G8-|G2||

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Submitted in response to a request. Naturally, it's not a reel, but an air, or melody of a song. This version sort of evolved while playing the pipes.

# Posted on April 3rd 2005 by Bill Reeder

Reel,carrickfergus

The that this is set, it brings me back to an air. I just can't get it to feel like a reel.
Jim

# Posted on April 4th 2005 by seammc

" I just can't get it to feel like a reel."

That would be a good thing.

# Posted on April 4th 2005 by Bill Reeder

Does anyone have the history of this song?

# Posted on September 2nd 2005 by musicfan

A three-verse version of the song "Carrickfergus":

The song goes as follows, including a second verse I heard John Doonan the piccolo player sing in Durham in the 1970's - I've never heard it sung or recorded elsewhere:

I wish I was in Carrickfergus, only for nights in Ballygrand,
I would cross over the deepest ocean, only for nights in Ballygrand;
But the water is wide, I cannot get over,
Nor have I wings, that I might fly -
O bring to me a handsome boatman,
To ferry me over to my love and die.

My childhood days now are surely over,
Those happy hours I spent so long ago,
And all my friends and my kind relations
Have all passed on now like the melting snow,
But I'll spend my days in the endless glory,
Where the grass is green and my bed is free -
O to be back now in Carrickfergus,
Where the mountain road winds down to the sea.

But in Kilkenny it is reported,
On (or,There are) marble stones there as black as ink:
With gold and silver I did support her,
But I'll sing no more till I get a drink;
For I'm drunk today and seldom sober,
A handsome rover from town to town,
O I am sick now, my days are over,
Come all you young men, and lay me down.

Someone told me that under British rule both Carrickfergus and Kilkenny were garrison towns, and that there is a kind of local black rock found at the latter.

# Posted on September 28th 2006 by nicholas

Alternative version of Carrickfergus (D major)

# Posted on March 15th 2007 by Falkbeer

Air vs. a Reel

I honestly think that this song is an Air verses a Reel, it's very lamenant of wanting to be somewhere you can't be at the point in time.

# Posted on February 5th 2009 by fiddlesRfun09