The Blarney Pilgrim

jig

Key signature: Dmixolydian

Submitted on May 15th 2001 by Jeremy.

This tune has been added to 698 tunebooks.

Also known as Uillean Pipe Set, Blarney Pilgrim, Dean Lloyd's Jig #1, Killoughery Jig No. 1.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• 40th Anniversary 1946 - 1986 by The Tulla Ceili Band
• A Musical Trip To Coleman Country by Various Artists
• Aly Bain And Young Champions by Aly Bain And Young Champions
• Andy Irvine/Paul Brady by Andy Irvine And Paul Brady
• Bach To Ireland by Vivian Minden And Julia Shaw
• Blowing Through The Reeds by Steve Shaw And Martin Cole
• Captain Hopper's Mutiny by Bowi
• Cuisle by Angela Deane
• Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 5 by Matt Cunningham
• East Of The Tracks by Brigetown
• Flowers Of The Burren by Barefield Ceili Band
• Foinn Seisiun 1 by Ceoltóirí Cultúrlainne
• Gaelic Storm Special Reserve by Gaelic Storm
• Gillian Frame And Back Of The Moon by Back Of The Moon
• Handprints by Donna Long
• Herding Cats by Gaelic Storm
• High Strung by Darcy Nair
• Legacy by Tommy O Sullivan
• Lochaber No More by Boys Of The Lough
• Mapless Journey by Kathy Buys
• Osna by Osna
• Shake Your Shamrocks by Various Artists
• Slowplay Jigs, Reels And Hornpipes by Jeffrey Hillgrove
• Southwind by Glenn Morgan
• Spirit Of The Isles: A Concert For Beltane by Various Artists
• Standing Room Only by Eliot Grasso
• Starkindler by Michael Card
• The Branch Line by Jack And Charlie Coen
• The Greystone Ramblers by Greystone Ramblers
• The Leg Of The Duck by Joe Burke, Michael Cooney And Noreen Donoghue
• The Liberty Tapes by Paul Brady
• The Long Grazing Acre by Paddy Keenan And Tommy O'Sullivan
• The Mason's Apron by Sully
• Traditional Music From The Glens Of Antrim by Leo Brown And PJ Hill
• Turas Ceoil by Marcas O'Murchu
• Waiting For A Call by Tommy Peoples
• Where I Am by Brendan Callahan

X: 1
T: Blarney Pilgrim, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmix
|:DED DEG| A2A ABc| BAG AGE| GEA GED|
DED DEG|A2A ABc|BAG AGE| GED D3:|
ded dBG|AGA BGE| ded dBG|AGA GAB|
g2e dBG|AGA BGE|B2G AGE| GAG G3:|
A2D B2D| A2D ABc|BAG AGE|GEA GED|
ADD BDD|ADD ABc|BAG AGE|GED D3:|

I've shown some ideas for varying the lively third part. Sometimes it works well with short, snappy notes and sometimes it's better to squeeze in as many droning D notes as possible.

A great version of this tune being played at a nice, steady pace can be found on the classic Andy Irvine/Paul Brady collaboration album.

# Posted on May 26th 2001 by Jeremy

This is apparently a really well-known tune. I've found it at many free sheet music sites. I first saw it in a pennywhistle book.

# Posted on June 17th 2002 by The Whistler

This tune is nicely paired before The Walls of Liscarrol.

# Posted on March 19th 2004 by Paddy

The Blarney Pilgrim

I have heard this tune played by Gaelic Storm. Seven Nations also does this with Uillean Pipes. I believe it is on the Road Kill CD.

# Posted on January 16th 2005 by Piperlad

Tommy peoples

Tommy Peoples puts a few lovely spins and stutters on this tune on his cd Waiting For A Call.

# Posted on September 22nd 2005 by drone

Titanic confusion

Oddly, in the orchestra arrangement of Gaelic Storm's Titanic version, the second piece (a reel) is labelled as Blarney Pilgrim, while the first one (a jig, and this tune) is left unlabeled...

Now, I need to figure out what the proper name of the second half is.

# Posted on May 8th 2006 by Vil-hatarn

Small correction

I have since found the second tune; it's a polka called Ryan's.

# Posted on May 24th 2006 by Vil-hatarn

Structure...???

this is one of those tunes where I think of the last part as a variation on the first and of the second part as a kind of chorus or refrain.. So i tend to play it ABCB..
Also there's a lovely light version by John Renbourn & Robin Williamson on a track called South Wind & Blarney Pilgrim but I don't know the album name...

# Posted on March 19th 2007 by paulflute

Nice playful version by Paddy Keenan on The Long Grazing Acre.

# Posted on March 20th 2007 by ballyfingers

Key of G - not D mixolydian

I don't see how this tune could be centered on D as tonic - even if mixolydian.

I really do like the tune though - and on mandolin I like playing a couple open D notes along with the melody on that B part - and sometimes an open G note on the A part.

# Posted on May 1st 2007 by Matt_Haverly

Go here for a detailed discussion of the key of this tune http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/14277

# Posted on July 1st 2007 by Dow