The Blackthorn Stick

jig

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on May 27th 2002 by Musicalbison.

This tune has been added to 774 tunebooks.

Also known as Blackthorn Stick, Catholic Boys, The Coach Road To Sligo, The Humours Of Bantry, The Mail Coach Road To Sligo, The Robin's Nest, The Scotia Reel.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

A Tribute To John McKenna by Mick Woods
After The Tempest by Figgy Duff
Another Measure: Scottish Country Dance Music From The 1950's, Volume 2 by Adam Rennie And His Scottish Country Dance Quartet
Anything Strange? by Ditte Fromseier Mortensen
As We Got Them: Traditional Flute And Fiddle Music From County Sligo by Various Artists
At The Feis by John Doonan
Between The Strings by Adrian McAuliffe And Cathal Flood
Bridgetown by Johnny B. Connolly
Castles In The Sky (Celtic Music) by Allan Alexander And Michael Carlito
Cé by Cé
Celtic Ceili by Various Artists
Celtic Harp II: From A Distant Time by Patrick Ball
Celtic Reels And Jigs - The Blackberry Blossom by Various Artists
Celtic Thunder by Celtic Thunder
Cronin And Burke by Johnny Cronin And Joe Burke
Cuig by Blackbeers
Dance Album by The Bushwhackers Band
Dawn In The Hills Of Ireland by Marty O'Keefe
Dónal Ring Céilí Band 21st Anniversary CD by Dónal Ring
Draw The Bow by Malachy Bourke
Empty Pockets by Skip Healy
Farewell To Evening Dances by Colm O'Donnell
Foinn Seisiun 3 by Ennis/Dublin Session Group
From Ballymote To Brooklyn by Paddy Killoran and James Morrison
In The Footsteps Of Coleman by Various Artists
Instrumental by The Dubliners
Irish Dancer by Larry McKee And The Shandonairs
Irish Fiddle Solos by Pete Cooper
Irish Whistles by Various Artists
Keepers Of Tradition: Concertina Players Of County Clare by Various Artists
Live At The Crane by Dusty Banjos
Looking For A Rock by Juniper
Music From The Coleman Country by Various Artists
Old Irish Melodeon Masterpieces by Alan Morrisroe
Reunion Concert: Fleadh Nua 2001 by All-Ireland Céilí Band Champions
Roguery Road by Jason O'Rouke And Ruadhrai O'Kane
Rossinver Braes by Ben Lennon And Tony O'Connell
Saint Bushmill's Choir by Saint Bushmill's Choir
Sea Changes Of The Toucan Pirates by Toucan Pirates
Set Dances Of Ireland, Volume IV by Various Artists
Swarbrick 2 by Dave Swarbrick
Take To The Floor by Haste To The Wedding
Taking Note by Meitheal Cheoil
The Best Of Seamus Tansey by Seamus Tansey
The Coming Of Spring by Cliff Moses
The Dusty Miller by Conor, Gay And Seán McKeon
The Final Round CD 1 by Kevin Joyce
The First Month Of Spring by John Vesey And Paul Brady
The Frost Is All Over by Paul McGrattan
The Kitchen Recordings by Sean O'Driscoll And Larry Egan
The Long Notes by Brian Kelly, Jamie Smith, And Collette O'Leary
The Maid At The Well by Tony O'Rourke
The Merry Love To Play by Peter Horan And Gerry Harrington
The Music Of Kevin Keegan by Kevin Keegan
The Stone In The Field by Tommy Reck
The Tidy Cottage by Turlach Boylan
The Tunes We Like To Play On Paddy's Day by Flanagan Brothers
The Whirlwind by Paddy Glackin And Robbie Hannan
The Wild Hills O'Wannie: The Small Pipes Of Northumbria by Various Artists
Think Before You Think by Danu
Toss The Feathers by Ted Furey And Brendan Byrne
Traditional Irish Dance Rhythms by Various Artists
Traditional Irish Music by William Sullivan
Traditional Music From The Legendary East Clare Fiddler by Paddy Canny
Water From The Well by The Chieftains
With Eugene O'Donnell by Mick Moloney
Wood And Stones by Rockin' Ceilidh Duo

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

AKA the Joys of Wedlock

Another name I've heard this tune called is the Joys of Wedlock. Anybody else?

# Posted on May 27th 2002 by banjorex

Many Joys of Wedlock

The jig that I know as "Joys of Wedlock" is different. I guess that just means the joys of wedlock are many.

Sarah

# Posted on May 28th 2002 by x

Another Joy(s) of Wedlock

I just checked JC's ABC Tune Finder. Search on "Joys of Wedlock." The second one in the list (index 10) is exactly the version I know as Joys of Wedlock. The first one in the list is the same melody but slight differences. I didn't look at any of the others -- there were 15 hits.

By the way, Joys of Wedlock (as on the ABC Tune Finder) is a nice, bouncy little jig -- I like it a lot.

Sarah

# Posted on May 28th 2002 by x

Another name...

I know a version called "The Catholic Boys" and the name seems to fit the tag at the end of each melody line.

Maryland Highlander

# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by The Merry Highlander

No ornamentations on the notes :( And something about Danu's version

Well first of all it's a pity there are no Ornamentations on the notes, can anyone donate them?

Second - I have "Think Before you Think" by Danu, and for some reason "The Blackthorn Stick" though it is played as a jig, I couldn't find any resemblence.

# Posted on April 13th 2004 by thesheep

I originally learned this tune in A where I think it falls pretty nicely (at least on fiddle).

# Posted on March 15th 2006 by lurker

Sixpenny money

Celtic Thunder play this following Sixpenny Money...

I play it following A Health to the Ladies. Both tunes rollick along at a good clip, and I like the immediate key change from A to G between without slowing down. I recently looked at the entry for the former and discovered that someone else plays it the same way!

I should post my own ornaments for this tune, although it's fairly easy to see where one might put any.

# Posted on May 23rd 2006 by gravelwalks

Another name..

i know this tune as "Blackthorn", and it appears on the Bradley Brother's CD entitled "Irish Dance World"

However, the tune we are discussing is listed on this site as on Kevin Joyce's CD "Final Round", this is incorrect. "Blackthorn Stick" is the title of a track on this CD, however, the tune is very different, as is the structure.

hope that provides a little clarity.

# Posted on August 1st 2006 by abalsdon

"The Blackthorn Stick" ~ all in the family

I wish you folks with your versions would add your ABC take on it here...please?! :-/ Here are two historical relatives ~

"The Maid On The Green"
Key signature: G Major
Submitted on July 20th 2003 by gian marco.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1831

"Mick McGarry's Jig"
Key signature: D Major
Submitted on June 24th 2004 by Dow.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/3202

# Posted on March 8th 2008 by ceolachan

"The Humours Of Bantry" ~ slight differences & a 2nd ending

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on March 8th 2008 by ceolachan.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/8328

# Posted on March 8th 2008 by ceolachan