Key signature: Eminor
Submitted on April 22nd 2002 by Will Harmon.
This tune has been added to 110 tunebooks.
Also known as Charlie O'Neill's Highland Fling, Donegal, Donegal Highland, Glasha Highland.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Charlie O'Neill's
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Emin
A|BEBE cBcA|BEBE cAFA|BEBE cBcB|Addc BGGA|
BEBE cBcA|BEBE cAFA|BEBE cBcB|Addc BGBd||
|(3gag fg (3BBB BA|G2 ag fdef|(3gag fg (3BBB BA|GBdc BGBd|
(3gag fg (3BBB BA|G2 ag fdcA|GBdB cdef|gbaf g3 A||
Charlie O'Neill's
Altan calls this "Donegal Highland" on Island Angel and The First Ten Years, but in the liner notes they attribute it to the playing of Charlie O'Neill, "a fiddler from Ardara, County Donegal, now living in the Moy, County Tyrone." Most printed sources I've seen don't quite match Altan's setting, but give the tune as Charlie O' Neill's.
Altan's set starts with the Fermanagh Highland and then drops into Charlie O'Neill's. Lots of string crossings make this highland even more work for the bow than the first. Take it slow and deliberate, emphasizing the downbeats (but also letting this tune's swing come through a bit more than the Fermanagh, especially in the A Part).
# Posted on April 22nd 2002 by Will Harmon
Per Jeremy's comments on labeling tunes as reels, highlands, flings, strathspeys (and barndances too), I'll just clarify here that Altan lists this as a highland, which to me, in the Donegal style, means something of a cross between a strathspey and a reel. A highland goes much slower than a reel, with the sort of "deliberate" cadence and beat as a strathspey, but without the "scottish snap." The best way to "explain" this is to quit throwing words at the screen and let you find Altan's Island Angel or The First Ten Years and listen to this track.
# Posted on April 22nd 2002 by Will Harmon
Boys of the Lough recording
I'm looking for the version done on "To Welcome Paddy Home" which is substantially different than this version. Is that one known by another name?
Wolf
# Posted on January 3rd 2011 by wolfhul
Boys of the Lough recording
It's called Donegal Highland in their recording.
# Posted on January 3rd 2011 by wolfhul
Charlie O'Neill
http://www.jimmaginn.com/diddileedee/
I copied this link from a recent discussion - there's a photo of Charlie himself in Jim Maginn's collection of photos of traditional musicians.
"Wolfhul" - Charlie O'Neill has several tunes named after him, as he's been a source of tunes for traditional musicians for many years. I don't recall "The Boys Of The Lough" ever recording this particular tune. I think I may still have "Welcoming Paddy Home" somewhere - I'll have a listen if I can find it, and get back to you.
# Posted on January 3rd 2011 by Kenny
Charlie O'Neill/ Donegal Highland
Kenny
Thanks for posting the link. What a great site. (I have to say, though, my favorite is the Rhinos!)
In the "Boys" recording it's the second tune after "When sick, is it tea you want?".
Wolf
# Posted on January 4th 2011 by wolfhul
Boys of the Lough Version
X:43
T:Donegal Highland
T: Boys of the Lough (To Welcome Paddy Home)
M:4/4
L:1/8
R:Highland
K:Dmaj
|B3d A3B|defd ed (3Bcd|B3d A3f|1af e2 d3A:|2af e2 d3e||
|fgaf g2 bg|afdf edBA|fgaf g2 bg|af e2 d3de|
|fgaf g2 bg|afdf edBA|B3d A3f|af e2 d3A||
# Posted on May 7th 2011 by arpadoro
Finally BOTL version
Thank you very much arpadoro! I recently digitized the To Welcome Paddy Home album and was delighted to hear this highland swinging in its' extreme glory once more. And now I don't have to rely solely on my crappy musical ear to attempt playing it! Thank you!
# Posted on August 20th 2011 by carney84