The Spike Island Lasses

reel

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on June 5th 2002 by gian marco.

This tune has been added to 161 tunebooks.

Also known as Cloichíní Beaga Na Farraige, Gearrchaile Oileán Píce, Gearrchaillí Oileán Píce, The Small Stones Of The Sea, Spike Island Lasses, Spike Island Lassies, The Spike Island Lassies.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• Across The Waters - Irish Traditional Music From England by Various Artists
• Concertina Music From West Clare by Elizabeth Crotty
• Cuts From The Turf by Hooley
• Donncha O'Briain by Donncha O'Briain
• Draw The Bow by Malachy Bourke
• Ebony And Brass by Marc Pollier
• Fairwater (Fionnuisce) by Declan Masterson
• Fiddle And Concertina Player by John Kelly
• First Through The Gate by Brian Conway
• Flower Of The Red Mill by Sarah Blair
• Fort Of The Jewels by Brian McNamara
• From A Distant Shore: Irish And Cape Breton Traditional Music by Various Artists
• Galway's Own by Joe Burke
• Heartstring Sessions by Arty McGlynn, Chris Newman, Nollaig Casey & Máire Ní Chathasaigh
• Hungry Grass by Hungry Grass
• In Praise Of Lissycasey by Various Artists
• Irish Dance Music - Folkways LP by Various Artists
• Irish Traditional Concertina Styles by Various Artists
• Isn't Anyone Going To Stop Them? by The Magic Square
• Jody's Heaven by Jody's Heaven
• Masters Of The Celtic Accordion: The Big Squeeze by Various Artists
• Memories From The Holla by Peter Carberry, Angelina Carberry And John Blake
• Memories Of Clare by Bobby Gardiner
• Music For The Sets - Volume 6: Face The Hob by Various Artists
• Music Of Dreams by Tony Mac Mahon, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Noel Hill
• Music Of Dreams by Noel Hill And Tony MacMahon With Iarla O Lionaird
• Pride Of Erin by Under-18 All-Ireland Champions
• Reed Only by Tim Collins/Brian McNamara
• The Banks Of The Shannon by Paddy O'Brien, Seamus Connolly And Charlie Lennon
• The Corner House by The Irish Tradition
• The Dusty Bridge by Fergal Scahill
• The Good Ear by Dougal Adams And Ormonde Waters
• The Long Grazing Acre by Paddy Keenan And Tommy O'Sullivan
• The Man Behind The Box by Joe Derrane
• The Morning Mist by Joe Burke
• The Nervous Man by Mícheál O' Raghallaigh
• The Piper Calls The Tune by Joe Finn
• The South West Wind by Ronan Browne And Peter O'Loughlin
• Traditional Irish Music From County Clare by Martin Vaughan
• Traditional Irish Music In America: The East Coast by Various Artists
• Until The Cows Come Home by 2duos
• Up In The Air by Danu
• Waiting For A Call by Tommy Peoples
• Waltz After Circus by Pularí
• Wired by Michael McGoldrick
• Words And Music by Planxty

X: 1
T: Spike Island Lasses, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
|=cAGE AD (3DDD|ED (3DDD (3EFG Ad|=cAGE AG (3EFG|Adde fded|
=cAGE AD (3DDD|ED (3DDD (3EFG Ad|=cAGE AG (3EFG|Addc d3 e|
f2df efge|dfed cAAe|fedf ed{ed}cd|Addc d2{ed}cd|
eaag efge|dfed cAGG|Addc d4|Adde fded|
=cAGc ~A3d|~B3G~A3B|=cAGB AG(3EFG|Adde fded|
=cAGc ~A3 c|BGGF ~G3 B|=cAGB AG(3EFG|Addc d3e|
f2 ad faad|faaf geeg|fdAd faad|fage dcAc|
defg ~a3 b|agfa ~g2 ae|fedf edcA|d3e fded|

It's about time this mighty tune showed up. Learn this tune!!! Now!!

# Posted on June 6th 2002 by LongNote

Spike

Is it just me or does this tune have a most unusual structure.
This is not meant as a criticism - I love the unexpectedness of the tune. I wish it got played in sessions more.
Cheers
Donough

# Posted on June 6th 2002 by Donough

Hello
This version of the tune is from the CD "the south west wind" of Ronan Browne and Peter O'Loughlin.
I have in a book another version more "normal", but this one is more interesting. More i play it , more I like it.

# Posted on June 7th 2002 by gian marco

Spike Island Lasses

In reply to Odono's comments I find the second part almost identical to the B part of Bank of Ireland which can lead to some confusion although with enough practice I'm sure it will work out OK eventually.

# Posted on June 7th 2002 by Bannerman

Does the Spike Island refer to the on in Cork harbour.?????

# Posted on June 9th 2002 by Northcregg

Spike

That's the only Spike Island I know of.

I take it that this tune dates back to a time when there once lasses on Spike as opposed to just interned joyriders from Dublin*. It's known as "The Spike Island School Of Motoring" in Cobh.

*explanation for anyone who doesn't get it: Spike Island is now a prison. It's like a mild-mannered Alcatraz in the middle of Cork harbour.
There was a "prison break" a few years back when some workmen left a ladder near a wall and there happened to be a raft lying around on the beach.

# Posted on June 10th 2002 by Jeremy

Prison

Isn't Spike Island famous for a prison?

# Posted on June 10th 2002 by Brad Maloney

Oops, didn't read down far enough on that comment. Sorry Jeremy

# Posted on June 10th 2002 by Brad Maloney

I can see Spike Island out my front room window, but I never saw any lassies out there. Dont get me wrong, I am not looking at Spike from the inside by the way. Maybe we should change the name to "The Spike Island inmates" or" The Holy Ground Hotel".

# Posted on June 10th 2002 by Northcregg

Jaysus, you weren't kidding about the B part, Bannerman -- I'm going to have watch that once I learn this tune.

Zina

# Posted on June 10th 2002 by Zina Lee

Thanks for putting this tune up, Gian - I've been trying to learn this at a session in a Zen-like manner; (by desiring to know it and going into a meditative trance whenever it is played.) I've come to the conclusion it can't be done. At least not by me. The dots are a big help!

# Posted on April 11th 2004 by Kerri Brown

Dumb question

Is this tune supposed to have repeats or is there a "second ending" for each part?

# Posted on July 1st 2005 by wormdiet

No, I've only heard it played as posted, with no repeats, just straight through as is.

# Posted on July 1st 2005 by Dow

Have a listen to the way Angelina and Peter Carberry play the 3rd part on their "Memories from the Holla" album-nice setting! Also, it sounds great down in G, starting on F natural, (sorry pipers and flute players) sounds magic!
Love this tune, could never get sick of it!

# Posted on August 13th 2005 by an_insoluble_pancake

Weird setting

This is very different from thge session setting played around north Clare. Is this a common setting in other parts of the world? Or just the ideosyncratic playing of Ronan Browne and Peter O'Loughlin, God bless them both?
Perhaps one more reason not to learn from the dots.

# Posted on June 20th 2006 by cocus

There are loads of reasons not to "learn from the dots," and I highly suggest you find a session or recording or whatever before learning this tune. If you want to play it the way Ronan Browne and Peter O'Loughlin do, then these dots might help. Even though my version follows the same scheme basically, it's still different enough. But a tune like this has so many recorded examples you can surely find one version that suits your instrument. Or maybe borrow from a couple of them. If you have any good players in your area you might want to get their version of it.

# Posted on June 20th 2006 by Phantom Button

Spike Island Lassies

Carmel O'Dea does a great job on this tune!

# Posted on October 12th 2009 by baylady

Spike Island Lassies

Could do a great deal worse than learn it from this clip. Paddy Keenan, from just before 1.50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R8zMsgIPA8

# Posted on October 12th 2009 by conscientious objector