Return From Fingal

hornpipe

Key signature: Edorian

Submitted on July 21st 2002 by slainte.

This tune has been added to 113 tunebooks.

Also known as The Fingal March, Fingal's March, The Return From Fingal, Return To Fingal, Return To Fingall.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• 2 by Pierre Bensusan
• Augusta: 20 Years Of Irish Music Recorded Live At The Augusta Heritage Center by Various Artists
• Black Black Black by Cran
• Celtic Crossing by William Coulter
• Fluters Of Old Erin: Flute, Piccolo And Whistle Recordings Of The 1920's And 30's by Various Artists
• Home by The Corrs
• That's The Spirit by James Keane
• The Best Of Irish Piping by Seamus Ennis
• The Celtic Ray by Marcille Wallis
• The Merry Sisters Of Fate by Lunasa
• The Return From Fingal by Séamus Ennis
• Traditions by Maggie Sansone

X: 1
T: Return From Fingal
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: hornpipe
K: Edor
|:B2GF EFGA|B2GF E4|AGFA d2A2|B2A2 Bcd2|
B2GF EFGA|B2GF E4|AGFA d2AG|F2E2 E4:|
|:f2e2 e2dc|B2A2 d2A2|B2A2 d2A2|B2A2 Bcde|
f2e2 e2dc|B2A2 d2A2|AGFA d2AG|F2E2 E4:|

Return from Fingal: A Pipe March

Please note this is not a hornpipe but a march.
I fell in love with this tune, listening to the Lunasa's recording.
I'm always wondering why a great tune is sometimes so simple.
Does anyone know the origin of the tune?

# Posted on July 21st 2002 by slainte

According to the mandolincafe tab notes, this tune is supposed to have been played by Brian Boru's troops on their return from the
battle of Clontarf (see http://www.mandolincafe.com/tab/fingal.txt)

After believing they had driven back the Viking Brodir of Man, Brian's forces retreated and settled in. Unfortunately, it was a trick, Brodir had merely retreated his ships out of sight, to attack again on Good Friday, April 23, 1014. Brian's forces won the ensuing battle but at heavy cost, and it was to be his last victory and the end of his campaign to unite Ireland: Irish losses were least 1,600, and perhaps as high as 4,000 ... including king Brian.

http://www.doyle.com.au/battleclontarf.htm

# Posted on April 27th 2004 by garym

*cough* The Corrs do a lovely version.

# Posted on October 26th 2005 by kaytee83

The Lunasa version is very nice but I recently heard a Seamus Ennis version and also a fabulous Pierre Bensusan finger picked guitar version , both of which illustrate that the tune is a march for sure! The Lunasa sounds very tame in comparison.

# Posted on September 22nd 2006 by humph

According to clannamore.com, this tune was written about 1014 as a final tribute to the greatest king-Brian Boru--Ireland ever knew. He is credited with defeating the Vikings by organizing the princes of several kingdoms.

# Posted on March 13th 2007 by Newsom

"Return From Fingal" ~ rescued duplication

Key signature: e minor
Submitted on March 23rd 2008 by D.J.F..
~ /tunes/display/8375

X: 2
T: Return From Fingal
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: march
K: Emin
|: {ABc}BAGF EFGA | {c}BAGF E4 | AGFA d2 A2 | {Bc}B2 A2 B^c d2 |
{Bc}BAGF EFGA | {Bc}BAGF E4 | AGFA d2{ed} A2 | F2 E2 {F}E4 :|
f2{gf} e2 e2 d^c | B2{^cB} A2 d3 A | B2{^cB} A2 d2 A2 | B2{^cB} A2 B^cde |
f2{gf} e2 e2 d^c | B2{^cB} A2 d3 B | AGFA d2{ed} A2 |[1 F2{GF} E2 E2 g2 :|[2 F2{GF} E2 E4 |]

Found this in "The Fiddler's Fakebook" as "Battle Or Aughrim"... I sorta play it as a slowish march almost...but each to their own a guess! I hope it isn't a duplicate! every tune i've searched on this database called Battle Of Aughrim is different to this!

# Posted on March 23rd 2008 by D.J.F.

Duplicated ~ This is not "The Battle of Aughrim" but "Return from Fingal"...

# Posted on March 23rd 2008 by slainte

# Posted on March 23rd 2008 by ceolachan