Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Bank Of Turf

jig

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on July 13th 2003 by nobu.

This tune has been added to 134 tunebooks.

Also known as Bank Of Turf, Bill Harte's, Donegal Jig No. 2, Padraic O'Keeffe's, Padraig O'Keefes, Tom Billy's.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Bank Of Turf, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
dB|:ABA DFA|BAF DFA|dcd ede|~f3 def|
~g3 gab|afd B3|1efe e2d|cBA AdB:|2ABA efe|d3 dcd||
|:eAA efg|fdd fga|gfe fed|edB ABd|
eAA efg|fdd fga|gfe dcB|1A3 Bcd:|2A3 AdB||

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments
The Bank Of Turf sheetmusic
Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Bank of turf

nobu,
this is definitely not the hornpipe of the same name on Liam O'Flynn's unnamed first recording.
What is the source for this tune?
I's a nice tune anyhow!

# Posted on July 13th 2003 by swisspiper

Bank of turf

This is a great tune - I think I learned it from a Tommy Peoples record ~? 'The Iron Man' isn't it?

# Posted on July 13th 2003 by stephen wilson

Bank of Turf

I don't know the full story but there was something about Padraig O' Keefe writing the notation for this jig on a bank of turf in the bog when passing on the melody to a fellow musician (possibly Dennis Murphy). Maybe this is just a "folk tale" but at least it puts this great tune into a Sliabh Luachra context.

# Posted on July 14th 2003 by Bannerman

The Bank Of Turf

This is also called " Padraig O'Keefes " on ( one of ) Mary Bergins records, and I think on Denis Murphy's with Julia Clifford CD ( Star above the Garter)

Pat Higgins

# Posted on July 17th 2003 by Pat Higgins

More than one tune got the bank treatment when young Dennis Murphy passed Padraig O'Keefe while Padraig was out cutting the peat...

# Posted on December 7th 2005 by ceolachan

Stephen - this is called Tom Billy's on 'The Iron Man' by Tommy Peoples & Daithi Sproule. :)

# Posted on July 17th 2006 by tbag

Gan Ainm appearance

The Bank of Turf appears as Gan ainm on John Whelan's Celtic Roots (Spirit Of Dance) http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/949

# Posted on March 18th 2008 by chrizei

The Bank of Turf (jig)

Bannerman - seems to be more than a folk tale, but Alan Ward said that the story is "more normally linked with a three-part hornpipe" - in other words, the other "Bank of Turf," http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1128 :

"When no manuscript paper was available Padraig [O'Keeffe] would improvise by drawing the lines for the tablature using his bow as a ruler. On one famous occasion he met Denis Murphy who was cutting turf. Denis wanted to learn a particular tune and so Padraig drew lines on the turf and marked out the notes. Denis named the tune "The Bank of Turf" in consequence..."
(Music from Sliabh Luachra by Alan Ward, 1976)

# Posted on August 7th 2008 by nigelg

"The Bank of Turf" ( - Kirbo-charged" ?) ~ rescued duplication

Submitted on June 30th 2009 by talltorpedo.
~ /tunes/display/9716

X: 2
T: Bank Of Turf Kirbo-charged, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
dB |:\
ABA DFA | BAF DFA | dcd ede | fef def |
gfg efb |[1 afe def |efd edB | cdB AdB :|[2 afe dcB | AFA efe | dAF Dcd ||
|: eAA efg | fdd fga | gfe fed | edB ABd |
eAA efg | fdd fga | gfe dcB |[1 cdB Acd :|[2 cdB AdB |]

# Posted on July 1st 2009 by ceolachan

Tommy & Siobhan Peoples

Father and daughter playing The Bank of Turf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qAH2ravRrU#t=1m30s

# Posted on January 5th 2010 by ralpheym

Chieftains live version

This is the first in a set of slides included here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOJAhrPcHFU

Goes by pretty quick, though, blink and you'll miss it.

# Posted on November 25th 2010 by Jon Kiparsky

Randal Bays with Davey Mathias on YouTube

Here's a really nice clip of Randal Bays playing this tune with Davey Mathias accompanying him on guitar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IewhZEwNYAI

# Posted on March 22nd 2011 by The David Dude

Not a member yet? Sign up!

forgotten your password?

Frequently Asked Questions

Enter your email address to have your password sent to you.