Key signature: Gmajor
Submitted on March 11th 2003 by MichaelBolton.
This tune has been added to 24 tunebooks.
Also known as Aughacashel, Sean Ryan's.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Aughacashel, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
|: DEGA BG(3GGG | AGBG ABGE | DEGA Bded | gedB ABGE |
DEGA BG(3GGG | AGBG ABGE | Bded Bdge |1 dBAc BGAG :|2 dBAB GABd ||
|: (3ggg dB G3B | e2dB G3B | (3AAA AB AE(3EEE | c2B2 ABcd |
(3ggg ga (3bbg ef | gage d3B | cABG AGEG |1 DGGF GABd :|2 DGGF G4 ||
Help us find the name of this tune!
There's a lengthy and enormously inconclusive discussion about this tune at http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/1412, despite the best efforts of Kenny and Will Harmon to help sort things out. The tune can be found in two places that I know of: the very last tune on the first Danu album (where it is not given a name), and on an Eoin O'Neill album called "In Session" where it is billed (mistakenly, apparently, as Kenny reasonably suggests) as "Martin Wynne's #3". Sadly, JC's Tune Finder doesn't match Kenny's title suggestions, which he helpfully collected from a couple of other recordings.
Anyway, it's a hummer of a little tune, and it would be a shame not to spread it around just because nobody knows its name!
---Michael B.
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by MichaelBolton
I've just read that discussion and none of it makes any sense at all. I need to go out and buy some CDs I think.
Michael, has anyone pointed out that at least the 1st part of this is identical to the quite-common reel "Bill Harte's" (posted here by Zina)? Sorry if that's been mentioned somewhere already...
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by Dow
In Session
I just posted the Eoin O'Neill album, if it'll help... you can get it at Custy's online.
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by Trinil
Help us find the name of this tune!
I think your Gan Ainm is titled The Flower of the Flock.
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by fiddlecase
Same first bar but different to the "Flower Of The Flock" I play. Mine goes DEGA BG~G2|caBG AGEG|DEGA BABc|dBAc BAGE...and then again and then g2 (3gfe dBGB|cABG AGEf|g2 (3gfe dBGB|Aaaf gfef...blah blah blah and then my version ends DEGA BABc|dBAC BAG...
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by Dow
Oh why didn't I just cut and paste a link to Will's transcription? Duh?!
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by Dow
What I meant to say was http://thesession.org/tunes/display.php/585
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by Dow
I have an email query ot two out to the lads in Danu, so maybe they can help us with a name.
If it *is* Flower of the Flock, it certainly has Danu's spin on it--not the "standard" session setting (whatever that is). What troubles me most is the B part, which sounds much more like some other tune--but I'm unable to sort out which one.
# Posted on March 12th 2003 by Will CPT
Danu's#3
Michael's quite right - whatever the tune's title is , it's a fine reel, and well worth the posting.
# Posted on March 12th 2003 by Kenny
Is it "The Aughacashel" ?
I was listening to the CD by Dublin whistle player Gavin Whelan the other night, and recognised this tune - the same as “Danu’s 3rd” – as the 3rd tune on the 4th track. Now, the track listings on the sleeve notes are wrong, in my opinion, as the titles for the 3rd and 4th reels seem to have been swopped. This particular tune is listed as “Paddy Fahy’s”, but the 4th tune in the set is the “Paddy Fahy’s” which I’ve known as “The Ould House” (from Gary Hastings), and is in the database 3 times, in different keys. It was posted recently as “Hammy Hamilton’s”. There is no doubt whatsoever that Gavin’s 4th reel is “Paddy Fahy’s”. The other tune name given is “The Aughacashel”, composed by Josephine Keegan. Aidan Crossey recently posted in the Recordings section the track listings of the double CD Josie Keegan made of her compositions, and there is a tune by that name on the first CD. It has also been recently requested by “Noldorin”, so that’s two people who might be able to identify it. I’ll e-mail both Aidan and “Noldorin” to ask them if they can confirm that this tune is indeed “The Aughacashel” by Josie Keegan , ( and if it is , she should be getting royalties from several musicians for it.)
It also may not be a coincidence that Marcus Hernon recorded this tune as “The Rock Of Cashel”. That’s very close to “Aughacashel”.
# Posted on January 16th 2004 by Kenny
Keegan's Aughacashel
This is how Josephine sets out Aughacashel in her recent book:
It's in the key of G and I haven't bothered with the ABC headers:
GE|:DEGA BG (3GGG|AGBG AGEG|DEGA Bdef|gedB cBAG|
DEGA BG (3GGG|AGBG AGDC|A,DGB (3ddB EB|dBAB GFGE:||
|:gB (3BcB GABd|EBdB GABG|(3ABA GB AE (3EEE|(3cdc Bc Adef|
gfga bgag|ge (3dBA BGED|EGAB (3ddB eB|1 dBAB GF G2:||2 dBAB G2||
Does this help?
# Posted on January 19th 2004 by Aidan Crossey
Tune identified - or not?
Thanks for taking the time to check this out , Aidan. I appreciate the effort. But the big question is this - is the "Aughacashel" the unknown third reel in "Danu's" set or not ? What do you reckon ?
# Posted on January 20th 2004 by Kenny
Well ...
There are passages which come close to Josephine's tune ... but by the second part the two tunes diverge. I reckon the Danú tune is a relative, maybe even a derivative, of Keegan's tune, but the two are hardly the same beast any more (if they ever were).
# Posted on January 20th 2004 by Aidan Crossey
Aughacashel
Seems to be the closest one so far.
Danu also plays an alternative version of The Battering Ram on All Things Considered, so, all things considered... we must be close.
---Michael B.
# Posted on January 22nd 2004 by MichaelBolton
I learned another version of this nameless tune. My tutor doesn't remember where it comes from though.
K: Gmaj
DEGA BG~G2|AGBG AGEG|DEGA Bded|gedB ABGE|
DEGA BG~G2|AGBG AGEG|Bded Bdge|1 dBAB G3E:|2 dBAB G2Bd||
gedB G2Bd|eBdB ~G3B|~A3B A~E3|cABG A2Bd|
~g3a bgag|egdB ABGE|DEGA Bdge|1 dBAB G2Bd:|2 dBAB G3E||
Somewhat similar to what Aidan transcribed.
# Posted on June 11th 2004 by slainte
Gan Ainm
I played this great, nameless reel in Corofin a couple of weeks ago! I was really excited when I heard the local musicians start playing it. Considering it's on Eoin O'Neill's album, it may be a relatively well-known tune in Clare. Not so often, but it's sometimes played here in Yorkshire too.
# Posted on August 12th 2004 by slainte
Aughacashel
It's taken about 2 years, but this is definitely, "The Aughacashel" composed by Josephine Keegan. It appears , twice, on the double CD "Lifeswork" - The Compositions Of Josephine Keegan", [ she composed all the tunes except for 2 by O'Carolan ], and also on the "lamh ar lamh" /"Many Hands" double CD. It's played by "The Naomh Padraig Ceili Band", and the notes say "The Aughacashel" was composed by Josephine Keegan after a good night's music in that Co. Leitrim spot".
# Posted on February 5th 2005 by Kenny
Aughacashel
Kenny, you're right. I find Tain Ceili Band playing this tune: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/ceilihouse/rams/6november.ram The set starts around 29:00. Now I see why it's popularised in Leeds: they always pick up new tunes from other ceili bands.
# Posted on February 9th 2005 by slainte
Aka Sean Ryan's
X: 1
T: Sean Ryan's
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
DEGA BGGG|AGBG AGEG|D2 GA B/c/d ed|gedB AEGE|
Here's the banjo seting from Maiden Voyage, track 13, a duet with flute.
X: 1
T: Sean Ryan's
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: G
DEGA BG G/G/G|AGBG AGEA|B/c/d ed Bdeg|dBAB GGGE|
DEGA BG G/G/G|AGBG AGEG|D2 GA B/c/d ed|gedB AEGE
DEGA BGG,G|AGBG AGEA|B/c/d ed Bdge|dBAB GABd||
gB B/B/B GABd|egdB GGGA|A-BGB AEEE|cABG AAde|
ggga bgaf|gedB ABGE|DEGA B/c/d ge|dBAB GGBd|
gB B/B/B GABd|egdB GGGA|A-BGB AEEE|c/B/A BG AAde|
g/g/g ga bgaf|gedB ABGE|DEGA B/c/d ge|dBAB GGGE||
# Posted on April 19th 2005 by Will CPT
Aughacashel
This reel can also be heard on tenor banjo player Kevin Griffin's CD "Traditional Irish Music from Doolin Co. Clare". It's the second of two reels on track #10 titled "Terry Bingham's Reels". Kevin apparently learned the tune from Terry.
Interestingly, Eoin O'Neill (who play's this tune on his "In Session" CD as mentioned above) accompanies this tune on Griffin's CD. O'Neill also play's this tune with Gavin Whelan (who play's this tune on his self-titled CD)
Mr. O'Neill apparently like this tune as much as I do.
Great tune, for sure one of my favorites.
# Posted on May 23rd 2005 by Chef Paul
This tune also appears on North Cregg's "... And They Danced All Night" as Sean Ryan's. There is one slight difference to the version in the dots there; the ending is the one that Will posted above. 'Tis a fantastic tune
# Posted on December 21st 2005 by Tize
So, why is it so popular in Clare, composed by a Armagh fiddler?
# Posted on December 21st 2005 by slainte
The second reel on Kevin Griffins CD (as mentioned above) is NOT the "Aughacashel". It's the same "Paddy Fahey's" as listed on Gavin Whelans CD track number 3. Kenny (above) is quite right in noting that the titles were switched on Gavins CD. Props to Kenny for pointing that out.
# Posted on March 4th 2006 by Chef Paul
Watch and listen to 5 young girls play this reel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYDkL3nmdLw
I remember playing this with a young fiddler in Edinburgh last year. She is from E. Clare and instantly recognised the tune when I started playing it.
# Posted on February 4th 2007 by slainte
Sean Ryan's
It is also called Sean Ryan's on They Sailed Away from Dublin Bay by Joe Whelan and Liam Farrell. I'd be interested to know how his name got attached to it and which Ryan it was (whistler or fiddle). It is a suitable tune for both whistle and fiddle so it would be difficult to go on the tune itself in that aspect of things.
On that same album, they play it before Martin Wynne's No. 3:
dged B3
I wonder if there is an old source to this pairing. People are saying Eoin O'Neill played the Aughacashel but called it Martin Wynne's No. 3. Maybe Liam Farrell and Joe Whelan where his source for the tune and he got the titles mixed up.
Still though, it is one of my favourite tunes. We played it in a session on Friday when the members from the Comhaltas congress came down for the weekend. Among them were Vincent Jordon, Carmel Commins and MÃcheal O'hAmhlain. Great crack!
# Posted on May 6th 2007 by PaddyCmusic
Aughacashel Reel
I was in Ennis a few weeks ago and tried playing this tune in a session. Two of three young lads instantly recognised it and joined me. I have always associated this tune with Clare, but the tune seems to have gained popularity in other places too. I actually played it with two young fiddlers while staying in Edinburgh last year. While one of them was from E. Clare, the other was a local musician. It's also on a Matt Cunningham tape which "ceolachan" gave me last week though it's not named. And you can watch an American flautist play it here: http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/programme_181_segment_8_eoghan_conway
# Posted on May 6th 2007 by slainte
I've heard this a lot in sessions over the last year or two. I find that pretty much all the musicians passing through Sydney from Ireland know it, regardless of which part of Ireland they're from, and a lot of the musicians here in Australia play it too. I think it must be well-known everywhere as a session standard these days.
# Posted on May 6th 2007 by Dow
Not very sure, but I suspect this tune was initailly popularised in Clare and brought to the other parts of the world.
# Posted on May 6th 2007 by slainte
As for Paddy's enquiry, this tune was first recorded as Sean Ryan's by Kevin Crawford and Padraic Mac Donnchadha on "Maiden Voyage" CD (1991). They in fact play Martin Wynn's No.3 after it. So Joe Whelan and Liam Farrell maybe learned the set from "Maiden Voyage," or vice versa before it appeared on commercial recordings. Eoin O'Neill most likely got this tune from Crawford and Padraic because the CD was recorded in Feakle, Clare.
# Posted on May 6th 2007 by slainte
Thanks for the info slainte.
# Posted on May 7th 2007 by PaddyCmusic
It was actually Will who first noticed this is Sean Ryan's on "Maiden Voyage."
# Posted on May 7th 2007 by slainte
I think it was me, actually - not that it matters at all.
# Posted on May 7th 2007 by Kenny
Sorry, Kenny.
# Posted on May 8th 2007 by slainte
You still brought it to my attention slainte so you deserve some credit. You're only being modest! Thanks Kenny as well.
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by PaddyCmusic
What a bunch of Anoraks !!!
This tune was played on the radio ( RTE ) by Kevin Crawford several years ago, & and he paired it with the big Martin Wynne reel in G. Davey Muir ex Glasgow, had a name for this: "West Clare Reel"
'swhy it was recognised in Clare, and the link to Kevin Crawford above.
A stonker of a tune .
carry on.
Pat
# Posted on May 17th 2007 by Pat Higgins