John Egan's

hornpipe

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on January 28th 2004 by Peter Piper.

This tune has been added to 18 tunebooks.

Also known as Mary McNamaras.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• An Phíb by Dicky Deegan
• Baker's Well by Baker's Well
• Bakerswell by Bakerswell
• Barr Na Cuille by Neil Mulligan
• Bruach An TSuláin by The Abbey Céilí Band
• Cairde Cairdín by Diarmuid O'Brien
• Call The Tune: Music For The Sets Volume 4 by Various Artists
• Castle Ceili Band by Castle Ceili Band
• Foinn Seisiun 2 by Ceoltóirí Cultúrlainne
• Give Us A Penny And Let Us Be Gone by Teada
• Keelwest by Paul McGrattan
• Lucky In Love by Charlie Lennon And Mick O'Connor
• Midnight On The Water by The Kings River Band
• Notes From The Heart by Mick, Louise And Michelle Mulcahy
• Pride Of The West by John Wynne And John McEvoy
• Sweeter As The Years Roll By by James Keane
• The Moneymusk by Hammy Hamilton
• The Ships Are Sailing by Comhaltas Concert Tour Group 1978
• Toss The Feathers by Mountain Dew

X: 1
T: John Egan's
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: hornpipe
K: Gmaj
|:d>c|((3BAG) A>F G>ED2|B>GB>d g>dB>d|c>dA>d c>dA>g|f>de>f g>ed>c|
((3BAG)A>F G>ED2|B>GB>d g>dB>d|c>dA>d g>ed>c|((3BcB) G>FG2:|
|:B>c|((3ded) ^c>e d>BG>D|G>GG>B d>gf>g|e>fg>e d>BG>B|c>AB>GA>GE>D|
g2g>e d>GB>d|g>gg>e d>gf>g|e>fg>e d>cB>A|((3GAG) F>AG2:|

Fred Finn Branch C.C.E. - Ballintogher Co. Sligo

http://homepage.tinet.ie/~fredfinn/festival.htm

John Egan

Flute player (1903 – 1989)

John Egan was born in 1903 in Ardleybeg, Ballintogher, Co. Sligo. John had 4 brothers and 3 sisters. His mother was Ann Callaghan from Coolbock, Riverstown, Co. Sligo.

He started playing the flute at home at a young age. John and his brothers were involved in the local Fife and Drum Band in nearby Sooey. Young people and musicians would congregate in neighbour’s houses a few nights each week, where music would be played, songs would be sung , sets, schottisches, barn dances and the occasional waltz, would be danced.

John spent much of his young days in Callaghans, Coolbock. He learned his first tunes from Andy and James Doyle (Father and Son), flute players from Lackagh, Drumfin, Co. Sligo. At that time he also met and played with flute players Brian Luby and John Joe Gardiner, Corhubber Ballymote. This was where John acquired his initial store of music. He also learned to play the fiddle.

He left Sligo in his early 20’s, to work on the railway in Donegal and London. He married Mary Reynolds from Donegal. They had 7 children, 5 girls and 2 boys. He returned to Dublin in 1937 where he worked in Murphy’s pub. He joined The Pipers Club in Dublin and there he met and played with Kathleen Harrington, Pat O’Brien, John Brennan, Bill Davis and John Stenson from Sligo. Also Tom and Joe Liddy, Tim and John Mulligan from Leitrim. He was a member of the Kincora Band. This group produced an LP with rare recordings in the Sligo – Leitrim style of music. On this LP, there is a mix of the Kincora Ceili Band, the Gardiner Trio and the Belhavil Trio. In 1952 John and other musical friends established the St. Mary’s Traditional Music Club, Church St. The Club moved to various venues in Dublin over the years. Up to 100 musicians singers and dancers attended. The sessions continued up until the time of John’s death on the 10th January, 1989.

# Posted on June 9th 2005 by ceolachan

Moneymusk

For the record, this is the John Egan's that appears on Hammy Hamilton's "Moneymusk" album. Him and Paul McGrattan play the heck out of the thing. Definitely one of my favorite hornpipes, if not favorite tunes at the moment.

# Posted on April 8th 2006 by Jason G

According to the notes of Paul McGrattan's recordings, John Egan was his neighbour and had regularly played with Pearl McBride, who happened to be Paul O'Shaughnessy's mother.

# Posted on April 9th 2006 by slainte

This tune on McGrattan's KEELWEST

I've only heard this tune on Paul McGrattan's album, Keelwest. He preceeds it with Fisher's hornpipe. He plays Fisher's hornpipe in a different key, and John Egan's is definitely not in the same key indicated here. I think it's the same tune, from a cursory listen. Can anyone confirm? Is the tune actually in G major? It sounds great on his album, but pretty dark for a hornpipe. Can anyone's ear pick up what key he's moved it to (a pretty easy job usually for flute/whistle players; just play it on an instrument that is in a different key)?

# Posted on October 2nd 2007 by tedsoulos

"Tedsoulos," that's a different tune in a different key. The hornpipe titled "John Egan's" on McGrattan's Keelwest album is actually one of several variants of the Blackbird. I've actually posted it on this site: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/4101

# Posted on October 2nd 2007 by slainte

Confusion

The Dublin band "Bakerswell" recorded the "John Egan's" "G" hornpipe and followed it with the "Blackbird". It's a good bet that McGrattan got the 2 titles mixed up.

# Posted on October 2nd 2007 by Kenny