Here's a reel which was released into the wild by Francie "Dearg" Byrne who was a fiddle player from Kilcar, Co. Donegal. It is often just known as "Dinky's". I was reminded of it by its being mentioned on the C&F flute forum today. I didn't know it was a hard tune until I tried to play it here. I think it is easier on a bowed flute with strings but it is probably quicker to practice it a bit on the flute than to go off and learn the fiddle just for this one tune.

It's worth getting hold of RTÉ's CD "The Donegal Fiddle" to hear the late, great Mr. Byrne playing it.

Here's a single reel from Co. Clare.  I've always been well behaved when in Co. Clare so all I know of this courthouse is that it has a reel named after it.  I suspect it hasn't heard the clatter of a gavel for some time.

Here's a reel which was released into the wild by Francie "Dearg" Byrne who was a fiddle player from Kilcar, Co. Donegal. It is often just known as "Dinky's". I was reminded of it by its being mentioned on the C&F flute forum today. I didn't know it was a hard tune until I tried to play it here. I think it is easier on a bowed flute with strings but it is probably quicker to practice it a bit on the flute than to go off and learn the fiddle just for this one tune.

It's worth getting hold of RTÉ's CD "The Donegal Fiddle" to hear the late, great Mr. Byrne playing it.

I'm never quite sure the title of this tune refers to someone's name or is an instruction.

It is a very popular tune and is on a lot of recordings.  Packie Duignan recorded a particularly nice version of it.

This reel started out as a perfectly respectable 2 part creation but Michael Coleman threw a whole pile of other bits at it.  He must of been either having a very bad or a very good day.

Here's my attempt at remembering it.

This reel started out as a perfectly respectable 2 part creation but Michael Coleman threw a whole pile of other bits at it.  He must of been either having a very bad or a very good day.

Here's my attempt at remembering it.

I don't think I've recorded this one already.  If I have then the previous attempt is buried in the oblivion which befits its qualities.  This tune is probably usually played in something approaching A minor.  It also seems to quite like being played a key up the ways so I've 'B' ten as well.  I think that's as far along the alphabet as I'll venture today.

Here's a slide which gives its name to a great record of Juiia Clifford and Denis Murphy from Sliabh Luachra.  The name may have other connotations too but I don't understand them, whatever they may be.

Here's a tune I was asked to play.  I haven't chanced it for a long time as the clouds in the sky above here seem to have forgotten how to move so this tune never seem to come to mind.  It was composed, I think, by Neillidh Boyle who was a remarkable fiddle player from near Dunglow in Donegal.  His birdsong impressions are equally as memorable as his tunes about his cumulus companions.

I hope the tune survived my memory lapses and general inability to play at the moment.

I don't know much about this one apart from how it goes (sort of).