After The Battle Of Aughrim

polka

Key signature: Adorian

Submitted on January 8th 2003 by Mark Cordova.

This tune has been added to 266 tunebooks.

Also known as The Battle Of Aughrím, Battle Of Aughrim, The Battle Of Aughrim March, The Battle Of Aughrim, Cath Eachroma, Return From The Battle Of Aughrim.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

A Celebration Of 50 Years by The Tulla Ceili Band
Around The World For Sport by The Doon Céilí Band
Avakatoo by Dirty Linen
Barde by Barde
Caught In The Moment by The Island Girls
Drink The Night Away by Blackbeers
Each Other’s Shadow by Flaithrí And Eoghan Neff
Irish Button Accordion by Billy Moran
Looking For A Rock by Juniper
MacMahon From Clare by Tony MacMahon
Maiden Voyage by Various Artists
Masters Of Irish Music by Martin Byrnes
Masters Of Tradition by Various Artists
Micho Russell by Micho Russell
Reunion Concert: Fleadh Nua 2001 by All-Ireland Céilí Band Champions
Set Dances Of Ireland, Volume III by Various Artists
The Chieftains 4 by The Chieftains
The King Of The Pipers by Leo Rowsome
The Leg Of The Duck by Joe Burke, Michael Cooney And Noreen Donoghue
The Music Of Kevin Keegan by Kevin Keegan
The New Road by Charlie Piggot And Gerry Harrington
The Schoolmaster's House by Mike McHale
They Sailed Away From Dublin Bay by Liam Farrell And Joe Whelan
Threads Of Time by Cherish The Ladies
Traditions by Maggie Sansone
Volume 3: The Rhythm Chapter by Fiddlers 3

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

After the Battle of Aughrim

Take this one slow. I believe I heard a popular group playing this at an expressive pace. It seems to fit best. Here is the ornamentation I use on the piece along with a few note variations.

AG|:E2A2 ABcd | e2d2 {B}c2 A2 | {c}B2G2 {A}GFGA | BGAG {EF}E2D2 |\
E2A2 ABcd | e2 ed e2ag | e2d2 BedB |1A4 {B}A2 AG :|2A4 {B}A2 (3(efg))|
|:a2ag e2 (3(efg)) | abag e2 (3(efg)) | a>baf g>age | d>edB G2 (3(efg))|
a2 ag e2 (3(efg))| abag e2d2 | B2e2 d2B2 | A4 {B}A4 :|

# Posted on January 8th 2003 by Mark Cordova

A little History for you

http://www.geocities.com/clontuskert_ie/history/battleof.htm
The horrors of battle and the left overs. It comes right out of those nightmare visions.

# Posted on January 8th 2003 by Mark Cordova

After The Battle Of Aughrim

Thanks Mark - a great tune. It is more usually played as a march though and is very much associated with the Aughrim Slopes C�il� Band (All Ireland winners way back in 1953!!); in fact the band played the tune at the Fleadh Nua C�il� Bands reunion concert in Ennis in 2001. However, it's more commonly known just as the Battle of Aughrim.

# Posted on January 8th 2003 by Bannerman

Interesting

It does have a March feel to it and I can easily play it with a 6/8 meter If I give it a little thought. Perhaps you could provide the ABC's for the March version?

I am going to post what I believe is the "Battle of Aughrim" soon. I heard the two individual numbers on a Cheiftan's release but my memory is hazy. Just getting a little older I guess. None the less - I have heard this tune referred to as "The Battle of Aughrim" on several occasions.

Mark

# Posted on January 8th 2003 by Mark Cordova

Reminds me of The King of the Fairies hornpipe. I wonder if they perhaps had a common source.

trevor

# Posted on January 8th 2003 by lazyhound

This is a march

I must agree with Bannerman that this is a march. I can't imagine it being played as a reel.

# Posted on January 8th 2003 by milesnagopaleen

Hope I haven't confused you - the tune is fine as it is to be played as a march and doesn't need to be changed into 6/8 time.

# Posted on January 8th 2003 by Bannerman

I think it is played as a polka as well as a march.

# Posted on January 9th 2003 by OrganicPeatCreature

Once Again - the holes in my knowledge are making that flute like sound as the Wind passes through it.

I thought that Marches were 6/8 only. It's good to find out that there is no standard meter for marches. A good one two count is all you need.

This tune has been posted as a reel in the source I learned from. This will not be the first inaccuracy in the book. I learned it many years ago. Even as a beginner I began to slow the tempo more and more. I also began to place the accents in the right place just because the tune demands it.

As for the tune being a Polka as well - I have also seen that. I didn't post a very Polka like setting for it here.

I looked around for the Battle Of Aughrim and found the same tune as this one. Fine by me. The 'Battle Of Aughrim' that I know is a dirge (even though that same book shows it to be a reel). If I get in the mood to post a dirge - I'll put it out there. In the meantime - Thanks for the comments and education.

Mark

# Posted on January 9th 2003 by Mark Cordova

March Time Signatures

This can be a bit confusing as you'll find marches in both 4/4 and 6/8 time. I think the majority will be in the former although there are some great 6/8 ones. O'Sullivans, Brian Boru's March and Maguires are three examples which come to mind in 6/8 and musicians have to watch the tempo very closely to ensure they're not sped up and converted into jigs. There is also another variant which is more like 3/4 time (ie March of the King of Laoise - A2F|A2D|A2F|A2D|B2G|A2F|G2F|E2D....). Maybe this should have been a discussion thread topic as I'm sure there are many views out there on the correct speed for these more unusual marches.

# Posted on January 9th 2003 by Bannerman

March

I've updated the ABC to reflect the more polka/march type feeling of this tune.

# Posted on January 9th 2003 by Jeremy

Thanks for the extra attention Jeremy.

# Posted on January 9th 2003 by Mark Cordova

After the Battle of Aughrim

Here's a march version of the tune I picked up in Yorkshire:

I'm still in between a beginner and an intermediate player, but was fortunate to join Leeds Ceili Band for a couple of shows in west England. This is one of the tunes we played on the stage. This one comes from the repertoire of Michael Tennyson, the band leader playing box, and nobody else knew it at first.

Try playing an Ador jig after it as we did.

# Posted on November 3rd 2004 by slainte

# Posted on January 19th 2005 by gian marco

Billy Moran's version of the Battle of Aughrim

Here's box-player Billy Moran's version of the tune that I got from this mp3 on line at this address: http://www.irishaustralia.com/Billy/track4.mp3

X: 1
T: The Battle Of Aughrim
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: march
K: Ador
AG|:E2A2 ABcd | e2d2 c2 A2 | B2G2 GFGA | (3BAG AG EGDG |
E2A2 ABcd | ea2g eaed | B2e2dBGB |1 A2AB A4 :|2 A2AB A4||
a3g efge | abag e2 fg | a3fg3e | dedB G4|
abag efge | abag eaed | B2e2 dBGB |1 A2AB A4 :|2 A2AB A2||

He follows it with "The Corner House" and I posted the abcs for his setting of that here: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/479

# Posted on March 24th 2005 by Phantom Button

"Return from the Battle of Aughrim"

I can't see this thing as a polka, despite the many notations where it is defined as such. The two bar phrasing doesn't work well in that way, having more of a feel of:

| EA A/B/c/d/ e>d cA | BG G/F/G/A/ B/G/A/G/ ED | ~

Here's another few ways with it:

# Posted on July 27th 2005 by ceolachan

The Battle of Aughrim actually is a clan march. I learned it from the legenday Joe Burke. Its a really lovely tune,

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Walnut Box

Doon Ceili

the Doon Ceili Band does this on their album "around the world for sport"

# Posted on August 7th 2008 by Clifardo Albrechto

Irish Traditional Music Tune Index
Tune ID# 47 (Battle of Aughrim)

Rhythm Bars 8-bar phrase structure Mode
March 32 AABB A Doria

http://www.irishtune.info/tune/47/

# Posted on September 6th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler

Up or Down to begin After The Battle Of Aughrim?

I know some say don't worry...just play but I can't decide which way is best. The tune in the Fiddler's Fakebook begins with 2 8th notes, an open A to a G.

Any help/guidance would be appreciated.

Go raibh maith agaibh!

# Posted on June 8th 2009 by ceolgaelach

Re: Up or Down to begin After The Battle Of Aughrim?

For the two pickup notes I do a down - up,
then that sets up the down bow for the
first note of the first measure of the A part.

I pretty much start the first note of each
measure with a down bow.

That is a tune that is played moderately
slow but I often play it fast. Very fast.

# Posted on June 8th 2009 by dogmageek

Re: Up or Down to begin After The Battle Of Aughrim?

Either way, whichever you are more comfortable with at first (though later on, it helps if you have no preference).

I'd listen to those telling you not to worry about it. If you are getting hung up on such a thing, you may be missing the bigger picture.

# Posted on June 8th 2009 by llig leahcim

Re: Up or Down to begin After The Battle Of Aughrim?

Oh hullo michael, where have you been?

# Posted on June 8th 2009 by mcknowall

Re: Up or Down to begin After The Battle Of Aughrim?

Thanks to you both. I know what you mean about playing it fast. I'm still trying to commit it to memory and it seems like I can't help but speed up the further into the tune I get.

I've been starting on a down bow so I guess that's good. Although, I do understand that being able to work either way is beneficial. Right now, I'm just trying to develop some consistency...it helps with my muscle memory.

# Posted on June 8th 2009 by ceolgaelach

also on the Tulla ceili band 'Celebration of 50 Years' (short preview on Amazon mp3 downloads)

# Posted on October 4th 2009 by WhistlinLeeds

Chieftains 4: "The Battle of Aughrim"

Hi can anyone help unpack this track on the Chieftains 4. It seems there are several pieces played on this track and not all of them are available here.

Besides this music here and under 'Return ffrom Fingal' there are at least a few other tunes under this track heading, including a particularly haunting dirge/lament.

# Posted on November 13th 2009 by John Ryan