Learn some tunes! N to S

Please note that for some inexplicable reason, following my last update to this page all previous links from the index to individual tunes have been rendered invalid. Please bear with me for the next few weeks while I rebuild the index.

Last updated : 27 February 2023. For a timeline of additions and revisions to the tunes in this page, see https://theirishmandolin.com/index-by-date/ Currently re-recording some of the earliest sound files, whose quality was below par or which were played through only once. From 10 June 2022 onwards I’ll no longer be routinely including links to the relevant tune at http://thesession.org (sorry, Jeremy!). Finding and copying the relevant link takes time which I can ill-afford.

In the fullness of time, the tunes in this collection are replicated on my YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVvlBAsMSlHMfjET8I2fQJg/

The Irish Mandolin Tunebook Volume 6 (December 2022) is now available to buy in e-book format by clicking this link. Volume 1 (March 2021), Volume 2 (May 2021), Volumes 3 &4 (January 2022) and Volume 5 (April 2022) also available. Every sale helps with the costs of maintaining this site.

Jigs
Nancy Hynes (Dmix/DMaj)
The Neale (A)
Neary's (D)
Ned Coleman's (G)
Nell Flaherty's Drake (G)
The Newmarried Couple (G)
A Night At The Fair (G)
The Nightcap (D)
The Nightingale (ADor)
No Surrender (D)
Nolan's (D)
Nora Criona (G)
Norrie Leary (G)
O'Brien's (DMix)
O'Connell's Welcome To Parliament (G)
The Ocean Parkway Jig (D)
Off She Goes (D)
Oh My Guinness (EMin)
The Old Favourite (G)
The Old Flail (G)
Old Hag, You Have Killed Me (DMix)
Old Joe's (D)
Old John's (A Dorian)
The Old Lark In The Morning (D)
Old Lurgan Town - by Marinie Toman (D)
Old Man Dillon (ADor)
The One Horned Cow (G)
One Hundred Pipers (A)
The One That Was Lost (EDor)
The Orphan (EMin)
Out On The Ocean (G)
Out On The Road (D)
Paddy Breen's (G)
Paddy Clancy's (D)
Paddy From Cork (D)
Paddy From Portlaw (D)
Paddy Keenan's (EDor)
Paddy McMahon's (G)
Paddy O'Rafferty (D)
Paddy O'Sullivan's (A)
Paddy Taylor's (D)
Paddy Whack (G)
Paddy's Whiskers (D)
Padraic Mac Giollarnath (DMix)
Padraig O'Keeffe's (D)
Parnell And Ireland (G)
Pat Ward's (D)
Pay The Reckoning (G)
Peggy's (G)
The Pet Of The Pipers (A)
The Pipe On The Hob (DMix)
The Pipe On The Hob (ADor)
The Piper's Chair (G)
The Piper's Picnic (ADor)
Piper's Punch (EMin)
Port Dalai (D)
The Portarlington Jig (G)
Pretty Jane (A)
The Price Of A Pig (ADor)
The Pride Of Erin (EDor)
The Priest And His Boots (D)
Pull The Knife And Stick It Again (EDor)
Puss In Boots (D)
The Queen Of The Fair (D)
The Queen Of The Rushes (Dmix)
The Rakes Of Clonmel (ADor)
The Rakes Of Kildare (G)
The Rakes Of Kildare (ADor)
The Rambler (A)
The Rambling Pitchfork (D)
The Ranting Rake (G)
Regan's (G)
Richard Brennan's (D)
The Road To Ballinakill (G)
The Road To Durham (DMix)
The Road To Lurgan (G)
The Rolling Wave (D)
The Rose In The Heather (D)
Rosin The Bow (G)
The Rover's Return (ADor)
Saddle The Pony (G)
Sara's Porch (D)
Scatter The Mud (ADor)
The Scotsman Over The Border (D)
Scurlogue Champ (G)
Seamus Ennis' (G)
Seán Buí (D)
Sean Ryan's (ADor)
Sean Tiobrad Arann (G)
Seanamhac Tube Station (GDor)
The Setting Sun (D)
Shandon Bells (D)
The Shannon Jig (A)
The Sheep In The Boat (EDor)
The Ships In Full Sail (G)
The Shoemaker's Fancy (G)
Siegfried Mulcahy (ADor)
The Silver Vale (D)
The Sister (AMin)
Sixpenny Money (D)
Sliabh Russell (ADor)
The Slievemore Jig (D)
Smash The Windows (D)
Snug In The Blanket (DMix)
Sonny Brogan's (ADor)
Sport (D)
The Sporting Pitchfork (DMix)
The Spotted Dog (A)
Stan Chapman's (A)
The Star Of Munster (ADor)
Statia Donnelly's (Dmix)
The Swallowtail (ADor and EDor)
Sweet Biddy Daly (A)

Slip Jigs
Na Ceannabhain Bhana (G)
The Night Before Larry Was Stretched (EMin)
O'Farrell's Welcome To Limerick (G)
The Piping Plover (C)
Portrush (A)
Reaping The Rye (EMin)
The Rocky Road To Dublin (ADor)
The Rogue (D)
Sally Hegarty's (G and D)
The Shamrock (A)
Sir Phillip McHugh (G)
The Snowy Path (D)
Soggy's (A)
The Stage Stop (BMin)
Stoneybatter (EMin)

Hornpipes
The Navvie On The Line (G)
Ned Naughton's (D)
Nelson's (G)
The New Moon (G)
O'Gallagher's (G)
Off To California (G)
The Old Schoolhouse (G)
The Old Torn Petticoat (ADor)
Paddy Mack (G)
The Peacock (EMin)
The Peacock's Feather (D)
The Peacock's Feather (DDor)
The Pennyburn Hornpipe (D)
The Pivot (D)
The Plains Of Boyle (D)
The Plane Of The Plank (G)
The Pleasures Of Hope (D)
Poll Halfpenny (AMix)
The Poppy Leaf (G)
The Pride Of Petravore (Em)
The Prodigal Son (G)
Proudlock's (G)
Queen's (G)
The Rake (G)
The Rights Of Man (Em)
The Sheffield (D)
The Showman's Fancy (D)
The Smoky Chimney (D)
The Soldering Iron (G)
Soldier's Joy (D)
Sonny Murray's (D)
Spellan's Fiddle (G - Part 1; D Part 2)
The Stack Of Barley (G)
The Stack Of Rye (ADor)
The Stage (G)
The Staten Island (D)
The Stranger (DMix)
Sunday In Flatbush (A)
The Sunshine (G)
Sweeney's (G)

Polkas
Neili's (D)
Nell Fee's (D)
The New Roundabout (D)
The Newmarket (D)
The Other Clog (G)
Pa Paddy O'Sullivans (D)
Paddy's (EDor)
Pat Horgan's No 1 (D)
Pat Horgan's No 2 (EDor)
Patrick O'Connor's (ADor)
Pauline's Polka (G)
Peggy Lettermore (G)
Peggy Ryan's Fancy (G)
Port Muiris Ó Dálaigh (G)
The Quare Wild Night (D)
The Rakes Of Mallow (G)
The Rambling Sailor (A)
The Rattling Bog (D)
Reg Hall's (EDor)
Riding On A Load Of Hay (EDor)
The Rocky Road To Mount Collins (A)
The Rose Tree (D)
Saint Mary's (ADor)
Sean McGovern's (D)
Sheehan's (AMix)
The Siege Of Ennis (G)
Sord Cholmcille (D)
The Spanish Lady (D)
The Sparrow (G)
The Sunset Clouds (D)
Sweeney's (A)

Reels
The Navvy On The Shore (G)
Nellie Donovan (G)
The New Copperplate (G)
The New Found Out (D)
The New-Mown Meadow (EDor)
The New Policeman (D)
The New Ships A-Sailing (G)
The New Wedding Reel (G)
The Noisy Curlew (D)
O'Brien's (D)
O'Connell's (ADor)
O'Connell's Trip To Parliament (Dmix)
Off In The Morning (G)
The Old Bush (DMix)
The Old Butter Road (D)
The Old Copperplate (ADor)
The Old Dudeen (Bm)
The Old French Reel (D/AMix)
The Old Grey Gander (ADor)
The Old Head Of Kinsale (D)
The Old Maid (D)
The Old Maid Of Galway (Bm)
Old Micky McKiernan's (D)
The Old Monaghan Twig (AMix)
Old Mother Flanagan (A)
The Old Pensioner (D)
The Old Wheels Of The World (DMix)
On The River Bank (DMix)
The One-Horned Buck (D)
O'Rourke's (AMix)
The Otter's Holt (Bm)
Over The Bridge To Peggy (DMix)
Over The Hill (D)
Over The Moor To Maggie (G)
Over The Moor To Peggy (G)
P Joe Hayes' (A)
Paddy Fahey's Number 1 (DDor)
Paddy Fahey's Number 14 (G)
Paddy Kelly's (G)
Paddy Mills' Fancy (G)
Paddy On The Turnpike (ADor)
Paddy Ryan's Dream (AMin)
Paddy Taylor's (D)
Paddy's Surprise (G)
Paddy's Trip To Scotland (D)
Palmer's Gate (EMin)
Patsy Tuohey's (EDor)
The Peeler's Jacket (G)
The Pigeon On The Gate (EDor)
The Pigtown Fling (G)
The Pining Maid (DDor)
The Piper On Horseback (D)
Poor But Happy At 53 (Em)
The Porthole Of The Kelp (DDor)
The Pouca (D)
The Pretty Girls Of Mayo (G)
The Pride Of Cloontia (G)
The Primrose Lass (G)
Private Ass And Cart (D)
The Providence (D)
The Queen Of The May (EDor)
The Queen's Shilling (G)
Quille's (D)
The Raheen (ADor)
Rakish Paddy (ADor)
Rathlin Island (ADor)
The Raymore Reel (G)
The Reconciliation (A)
The Red Haired Lass (A)
The Reel De Montreal (G/D)
The Reel Of Bogie (EDor)
The Reel Of Rio (G)
The Repeal Of The Union (DMix)
The Return To Camden Town (CMaj)
Rip The Calico (D) (DMix?)
The Rising Sun (D)
The Road To Lisdoonvarna (DMix)
The Road To Monalea (DDor)
Roaring Mary (D)
Roll Her In The Rushes (DMix)
Roll Her On The Mountain (D)
Rolling In The Ryegrass (D)
The Roscommon (EDor)
The Roving Bachelor (G)
The Sailor On The Rock (D)
The Sailor's Bonnet (D)
Saint Anne's (D)
Saint Joseph's (D)
Saint Ruth's Bush (ADor)
The Salamanca (D)
The Sally Gardens (G)
The Salmon's Tail (D)
Sarah Hobbs (DMix)
The Scholar (D)
Scotch Mary (ADor)
Sean Reid's (G)
Seán Sa Cheo (AMix)
The Shaskeen (G)
Sheila Coyle's (D)
The Shetland Fiddler (D)
The Ships Are Sailing (EDor)
The Silver Spear (D)
The Silver Spire (D)
The Silver Tip (DMix)
The Skibbereen Lasses (AMix)
The Skylark (D)
The Sligo Maid (ADor)
The Small Hills Of Offaly (D)
Solus Lillis' (2 versions - C and G)
The Sore Foot (ADor?)
Speed The Plough (D)
The Spirits Of Wine (A)
The Sporting Boys Of Scotstown (A)
The Sporting Days Of Easter (Dmix)
Sporting Molly (DMix)
Sporting Paddy (ADor)
The Star Of Munster (ADor)
The Steampacket (G)
Stenson's No. 1 (BMin)
Stenson's No. 2 (A)
The Sunny Banks (D)
The Swallow's Tail (ADor)
Sweeney's Buttermilk (BMin)
Sweet Biddy Of Ballyvourney (G)
Swinging On A Gate (G)

Slides
Nelly Mahony's (D)
Nora Crionna (G)
O'Keeffe's (ADor)
Palm Sunday (D)
Patsy Geary's (D)
Paudy Scully's (G)
The Peeler And The Goat (EDor)
The Priest (G)
The Road To Lisdoonvarna (EDor)
Rosie Finn's Favourite (G)
The Scattery Island (D)
Scully Casey's (DMix)
The Star Above The Garter (DMix)

Marches
O'Donnell Abu (D)
O'Neill's March (ADor)
O'Sullivan's March (G)
The Pride Of Petravore (Em)
The Return From Fingal (EDor)
The Rose In The Gap (EDor)
The Showman's Fancy (in 4/4 march rhythm) (D)
Song Of The Chanter (DMix)

Barndances
The New Broom (G)
The Nova Scotia Polka (A)
An Old Blackguard (D)
Paddy Taylor's (D)
Pearl O'Shaughnessy's No 1 (G)
Pearl O'Shaughnessy's No 2 (G)
The Pride Of Petravore (Em)
The Road To Glountane (D)
The Road To The Isles (2 settings, G and D)
Sean Hayes' (D)

Song Airs
None on this page

Laments
None on this page

Mazurkas
The Roof Thatcher's Daughter (A)
Shoe The Donkey (G) - 2 versions
Shuffle The Pack (G)
Sonny's (D)
The St John's Mazurka (D)

Flings
Rosie Rogers' (A)

Planxties/Carolan Tunes
Planxty Charles O'Connor (D)
Planxty George Brabazon (G)
Planxty Irwin (G)
Planxty Fanny Powers (G)
Planxty Hewlett (D)
Sí Beag, Sí Mór (D)

Waltzes/Other 3/4 Tunes (not mazurkas)
The South Wind (G)

Set Dances
The Piper In The Meadow Straying (G)
Rodney's Glory (ADor)
Saint Patrick's Day (G)

Na Ceannabháin Bhána Slip Jig (9/8), G Major. The title roughly translates as “The Fair-Haired Young Canavans”. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Na Ceannabháin Bhána on my G&O #34 mandolin. 7 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Na Ceannabháin Bhána on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Nancy Hynes Jig (6/8), D Mixolydian (part 1) and D Major (part 2). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Nancy Hynes on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Navvie On The Line Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Navvie On The Line on my G&O #34 mandolin. 7 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Navvie On The Line on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Navvy On The Shore Reel (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Navvy On The Shore on my G&O #34 mandolin. 7 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Navvy On The Shore on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Neale Jig (6/8), A Major. A quirky jig composed by Ed Reavy. The Neale is an area of County Mayo close to the beautiful town of Cong. Not yet listed at thesession.org. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Neale on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Neary’s Jig (6/8), D Major. Also known just as commonly as By Golly. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Neary’s (aka By Golly) on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Ned Coleman’s Jig (6/8), G Major. Named after the Kylebrack flute player, Ned Coleman. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Ned Coleman’s on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. 7 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Ned Coleman’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Ned Naughton’s Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Ned Naughton’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Neili’s Polka (2/4), D Major. (Pronounced “Nelly’s”.) Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Neil’s on my G&O #34 mandolin. 7 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Neili’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Nell Fee’s Polka (2/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Nell Fee’s on my Eastman MD304 mandolin. 18 March 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Nell Fee’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Nell Flaherty’s Drake Jig (6/8), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Nell Flaherty’s Drake on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Nellie Donovan Reel (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Nellie Donovan on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Nelly Mahony’s Slide (12/8), D Major. Henrik Norbeck, who is one of the Irish musical world’s foremost collectors of tunes has this as an A major tune. Almost everyone else describes it as in D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Nelly Mahony’s on my G&O #34 mandolin. 7 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Nelly Mahony’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Nelson’s Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Nelson’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The New Broom Barndance (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The New Broom on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The New Copperplate Reel (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The New Copperplate on my Eastman MD304 mandolin. 8 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The New Copperplate on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The New Found Out Reel (4/4), D Major. I first came across this quirky reel on a recording by The Mulcahy Family and was immediately drawn to learn it. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The New Found Out on my G&O #34 mandolin. 1 December 2021. Additional sound file. I recorded this again after attending a session at Howl At The Moon in Hoxton, East London in the company of Brendan O’Leary – a fine mandolinist and an excellent companion for an afternoon’s drinking and chat! At one stage the assembled musicians played a rousing version of this reel and I was reminded just how highly I rate this as a tune! Listen to me playing The New Found Out on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. 8 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The New Found Out on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The New Moon Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The New Moon on my Falder mandolin. 8 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The New Moon on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The New-Mown Meadow Reel (4/4), E Dorian (i.e. 2 sharps). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 26 October 2021 Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The New-Mown Meadow on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file with background noise minimised). Listen to me playing The New-Mown Meadow on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin. 8 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The New-Mown Meadow on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The New Policeman Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The New Policeman on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The New Roundabout Polka (2/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The New Roundabout on my Eastman MD304 mandolin. 13 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The New Roundabout on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The New Ships A-Sailing Reel (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The New Ships A-Sailing on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The New Wedding Reel Reel (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The New Wedding Reel on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Newmarket Polka (2/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Newmarket Polka on my Epiphone Mandobird VIII electric mandolin.

The Newmarried Couple Jig (6/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Newmarried Couple on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

A Night At The Fair Jig (6/8), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing A Night At The Fair on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Night Before Larry Was Stretched Slip Jig (9/8), E Minor. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Night Before Larry Was Stretched on my G&O #34 mandolin. 13 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Night Before Larry Was Stretched on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Nightcap Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Nightcap on my G&O #34 mandolin. 13 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Nightcap on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Nightingale Jig (6/8), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). One of Sean Ryan’s (Nenagh) compositions, you can also here Michael O’Meara playing his version of the tune here. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 20 July 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Nightingale on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Nightingale on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 25 February 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing The Nightingale on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

No Surrender Jig (6/8), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing No Surrender on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Noisy Curlew Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Noisy Surlew on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Nolan’s Jig (6/8), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Nolan’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Nora Criona Jig (6/8), G Major. I’m indebted to Lawrence Molloy, a mandolinist from Belfast, for bringing this jig to my attention. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Nora Criona on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Nora Crionna Slide (12/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 17 September 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Nora Crionna on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file with background noise removed). Listen to me playing Nora Crionna on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing Nora Crionna on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 13 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Nora Crionna on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Norrie Leary Jig (6/8), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Norrie Leary on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Nova Scotia Polka Barndance (4/4), A Major. Like “The Bluebell Polka”, this tune bears the word polka in the title but it’s actually a barndance (and a quintessential one at that!). A little tricky, so take your time… Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Nova Scotia Polka on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

O’Brien’s Jig (6/8), D Mixolydian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing O’Brien’s (jig) on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

O’Brien’s Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing O’Brien’s (reel) on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

O’Connell’s Reel (4/4), A Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing O’Connell’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

O’Connell’s Trip To Parliament Reel (4/4), D Mixolydian. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing O’Connell’s Trip To Parliament on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing O’Connell’s Trip To Parliament on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 14 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing O’Connell’s Trip To Parliament on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

O’Connell’s Welcome To Parliament Jig (6/8), G Major. Not listed at thesession.org. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing O’Connell’s Welcome To Parliament on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

O’Donnell Abu March (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing O’Donnell Abu on my Kentucky KM1000 mandolin. 14 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing O’Donnell Abu on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

O’Farrell’s Welcome To Limerick Slip jig (9/8), G Major. One of the big piping tunes, closely associated with Willie Clancy. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing O’Farrell’s Welcome To Limerick on my Eastman MD304 mandolin. 14 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing O’Farrell’s Welcome To Limerick on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

O’Gallagher’s Hornpipe Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. No reference at thesession.org. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing O’Gallagher’s Hornpipe on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Ocean Parkway Jig Jig (6/8), D Major. Composed by Eddie Dooley. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Ocean Parkway Jig on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Off In The Morning Reel (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Off In The Morning on my Kentucky KM1000 mandolin. 11 June 2022.  I was leafing through an online tune book the other day and I came across a version of this tune under the name “Croghan Hill”. It was slightly different to the version which I originally published here, but not so much so that it warranted a separate entry. Mandolin tab for the “Croghan Hill” version here. Listen to me playing Croghan Hill (Off In The Morning) on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Off She Goes Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Off She Goes on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin. 22 March 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Off She Goes on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Off To California Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Off To California on my G&O #34 mandolin. 27 March 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Off To California on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Oh My Guinness Jig (6/8), E Minor. One of the pleasures of running this website is that occasionally I make the acquaintance of fellow musicians who are keen to share tunes which they or their friends have written. A few days ago in October 2022, Joe Ross got in touch to send me a number of tunes which he and his friends have composed. This is the first from that series of tunes to make it to my website. Composed by Joe’s dear friend, the late Jack Shively. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Oh My Guinness on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

O’Keeffe’s Slide (12/8), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 4 June 2021 – improved sound file added. Listen to me playing O’Keeffe’s Slide on my G&O #34 mandolin. 14 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing O’Keeffe’s Slide on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

O’Neill’s March March (4/4), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). This is a march version of the polka, Tralee Gaol. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing O’Neill’s March on my Eastman MD304 mandolin. 14 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing O’Neill’s March on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

An Old Blackguard Barndance (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing An Old Blackguard on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old Bush Reel (4/4), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen. 26 October 2021 Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Old Bush on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Old Bush on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 19 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Old Bush on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old Butter Road Reel (4/4), D Major. Composed by Connie O’Connell. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Old Butter Road on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old Copperplate Reel (4/4), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Old Copperplate on my G&O #34 mandolin. 19 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Old Copperplate on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old Dudeen Reel (4/4), B Minor. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Old Dudeen on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin. 19 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Old Dudeen on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old Favourite Jig (6/8) – although some would say a slide (12/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 27 October 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Old Favourite on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin. Listen to me playing The Old Favourite on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file with background noise minimised). 19 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Old Favourite on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old Flail Jig (6/8), G Major. Composed by Vincent Broderick. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Old Flail on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old French Reel Reel (4/4); Part 1 in D Major, part 2 in A Mixolydian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Old French Reel on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Old Grey Gander Reel (4/4), A Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Old Grey Gander on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Old Hag, You Have Killed Me Jig (6/8), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Old Hag, You Have Killed Me on my Eastman MD304 mandolin. 27 March 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Old Hag, You Have Killed Me on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Old Head Of Kinsale Reel (4/4), D Major. No info at thesession.org. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Old Head Of Kinsale on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Old Joe’s Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 25 July 2021. Improved sound file added. Listen to me playing Old Joe’s on my Kentucky KM1000 mandolin. 25 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Old Joe’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Old John’s Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 25 July 2021. Improved sound file added. Listen to me playing Old John’s on my Kentucky KM1000 mandolin. 25 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Old John’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old Lark In The Morning Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Old Lark In The Morning on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Old Lurgan Town Jig (6/8), D Major. This jig was written by Marinie Toman from the eponymous Lurgan in County Armagh. It was written while he was living in Donegal and feeling homesick for his old stomping ground, to which he’s now returned. Marinie has been someone whose name I’ve known for many years – although our paths haven’t crossed often as far as I can remember. He used to play in a band with my sister, way back in the mists of time. And he was a close friend and musical sparring partner of my uncle, Patsy Crossey. I was delighted when, a few days ago, he subscribed to my YouTube channel and I found that he, too, has a YouTube channel (see https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvF4pWfPAzVjYmUH6ABejHA )which features a number of videos of his fine banjo playing. One tune in particular caught my eye and ear – this jig, Old Lurgan Town. So I got in touch to ask if he had any information about the jig because tunes referencing Lurgan – the town nearest to Derrymacash where I grew up – always intrigue me. Hence I discovered that this is one of Marinie’s own compositions. I asked Marinie for permission to record it. He very kindly gave me free rein! I found some of Marinie’s notation a little difficult to play and so I took the liberty of adapting it to suit my playing style (which is a tad more basic than Marinie’s). Hence I have included two versions of tablature and sheet music, as I play the tune in the recording which follows and as Marinie originally set the tune out. Many thanks, Marinie, for allowing me to pass this tune on to others. Much appreciated. Mandolin tab of the version as recorded by Aidan Crossey. Mandolin tab of Marinie’s version of the tune as set out in his video at his YouTube channel. Listen to me playing Old Lurgan Town on my G&O #34 mandolin, with bodhran metronome and uilleann pipe drone.

The Old Maid Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Old Maid on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Old Maid Of Galway Reel (4/4), B Minor. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Old Maid Of Galway on my G&O #34 mandolin. 27 March 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing The Old Maid Of Galway on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Old Man Dillon Jig (6/8), A Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Old Man Dillon on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Old Micky McKiernan’s Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Old Micky McKiernan’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old Monaghan Twig Reel (4/4), A Mixolydian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Old Monaghan Twig on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Old Mother Flanagan Reel (4/4), A Major. An American old-time reel rather than a strictly Irish tune. But clearly – from the title and indeed from the tune itself – the tune was derived from an Irish melody. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Old Mother Flanagan on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old Pensioner Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Old Pensioner on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old Schoolhouse Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Composed by Joe Liddy. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Old Schoolhouse on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Old Torn Petticoat Hornpipe (4/4), A Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Old Torn Petticoat on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Old Wheels Of The World Reel (4/4), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 30 October 2021 Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Old Wheels Of The World on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin. Listen to me playing The Old Wheels Of The World on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. Listen to me playing The Old Wheels Of The World on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file, edited to minimise background noise). 25 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Old Wheels Of The World on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

On The River Bank Reel (4/4), D Mixolydian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing On The River Bank on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The One-Horned Buck Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The One-Horned Buck on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The One Horned Cow Jig (6/8), G Major. To the best of my knowledge this jig’s name’s refers to a nickname for poitín still… Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me play the tune on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 27 March 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing The One Horned Cow on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

One Hundred Pipers Jig (6/8), A Major. Also played as a slide. And it also goes under an alias, linked to a nonsense song which is set to the same air, “The Hair Fell Off My Coconut”. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing One Hundred Pipers on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The One That Was Lost Jig (6/8), E Dorian. A beautiful, beautiful jig. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The One That Was Lost on my G&O #34 mandolin. 25 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The One That Was Lost on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

O’Rourke’s Reel (4/4), A Mixolydian (i.e. two sharps). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 20 July 2021. Improved sound file added. Listen to me playing O’Rourke’s on my G&O #34 mandolin. 14 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing O’Rourke’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Orphan Jig (6/8), E Minor. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Orphan on my G&O #34 mandolin. 27 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Orphan on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

O’Sullivan’s March Clan March (6/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing O’Sullivan’s March on my G&O #34 mandolin. 14 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing O’Sullivan’s March on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Other Clog Polka (2/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Other Clog on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Other Clog on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 27 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Other Clog on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Otter’s Holt Reel (4/4), B Minor. Composed by the legendary and much-missed Clare fiddler, Junior Crehan. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Otter’s Holt on my G&O #34 mandolin. 29 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Otter’s Holt on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Out On The Ocean Jig (6/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 16 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Out On The Ocean on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing Out On The Ocean on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file, optimised using Audacity). 29 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Out On The Ocean on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Out On The Road Jig (6/8), D Major. Composed by Liz Carroll. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Out On The Road on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Over The Bridge To Peggy Reel (4/4), D Mixolydian. This reel was posted to thesession.org by John E Roche. John is compiling a collection of tunes from his county of Wexford which he hopes to publish in book form shortly. Out of admiration for the vision and a sense of curiosity I’ve been playing through a number of the tunes which he has shared so far and there are some absolute gems.  Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Over The Bridge To Peggy on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Over The Hill Reel (4/4), D Major. I haven’t been able to locate this tune on thesession.org Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Over The Hill on my Kentucky KM1000 mandolin. 27 March 2022. Additional sound files. Listen to me playing Over The Hill on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing Over The Hill on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Over The Moor To Maggie Reel (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Over The Moor To Maggie on my Eastman MD304 mandolin. 29 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Over The Moor To Maggie on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Over The Moor To Peggy Reel (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Over The Moor To Peggy on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

P Joe Hayes’ Reel (4/4), A Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing P Joe Hayes’ on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Pa Paddy O’Sullivan’s Polka (2/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Pa Paddy O’Sullivan’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy Breen’s Jig (6/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy Breen’s on my G&O #34 mandolin. 29 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Paddy Breen’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Paddy Clancy’s Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy Clancy’s on my G&O #34 mandolin. 29 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Paddy Clancy’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Paddy Fahey’s Number 1 Reel (4/4), D Dorian. Paddy Fahey, a fiddler from East Galway who recently passed away (May 2019) at the grand old age of 103, is widely regarded (alongside luminaries such as Ed Reavy, Sean Ryan, Vincent Broderick) as one of the finest composers of tunes in the range of Irish traditional music formats. In addition to his industry, Fahey is renowned for never having given a name to any of his tunes and hence they are referred to by number (or simply as “one of Paddy Fahey’s”). Josephine Keegan includes a number of Fahey’s tunes in her book “A Drop In The Ocean” and – controversially! – she assigns titles to them (e.g. The London Fahey, Fahey’s Flight). A confession of sorts. I have struggled with Paddy Fahey’s tunes. Many are in keys which I find it hard to get my head around… A contact got in touch recently and virtually ordered me to get over myself and learn a few Fahey tunes. OK – as they say in The Sound Of Music, let’s start at the very beginning! Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy Fahey’s Number 1 on my G&O #34 mandolin.

Paddy Fahey’s Number 14 Reel (4/4), G Major. Continuing my excursion into Fahey’s tunes, I found this reel to be particularly attractive. A slight technical note. Somehow when playing the 4th bar of the second part, I find it easiest to come out of first position and play the “f” on the 9th fret of the A string… Your mileage may vary and so you may choose to stick with the standard first position fingering shown in the tab. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy Fahey’s Number 14 on my G&O #34 mandolin.

Paddy From Cork Jig (6/8), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Paddy From Cork on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy From Portlaw Jig (6/8), D Major. Some tunes were drawn to simply because of the quality of the tune itself. The rhythm, the melody, the emotions it stirs. Others because the name creates a connection. It was because of the latter that I hunted down Paddy From Portlaw. My partner’s late grandfather originally came from Portlaw (although he wasn’t called Paddy) and this tune connects us over time and space… Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy From Portlaw on my G&O #34 mandolin. 29 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Paddy From Portlaw on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Paddy Keenan’s Jig (6/8), E Dorian. Composed by the renowned piper, Paddy Keenan. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Paddy Keenan’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy Kelly’s Reel (4/4), G Major. A reel which I first heard on an album by The Mulcahy Family and which then became a regular at a session I used to show up at. Over the years my playing of the tune has changed and the tablature represents the way I now approach the tune (March 2022). I’m sure I’ll change my approach to it further over time… Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy Kelly’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy Mack Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Paddy Mack on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy McMahon’s Jig (6/8), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Paddy McMahon’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin. 29 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Paddy McMahon’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Paddy Mills’ Fancy Reel (4/4), G Major. I added this lovely reel to my list of tunes to learn after hearing the very talented Jill McAuley play it on her Girouard mandolin. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Paddy Mills’ Fancy on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Paddy O’Rafferty Jig (6/8), D Major. There are a raft of tunes called Paddy O’Rafferty, in a variety of keys. This is possibly the best-known and most widely-played. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy O’Rafferty on my Kentucky KM1000 mandolin. 30 March 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Paddy O’Rafferty on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy O’Sullivan’s Jig (6/8), A Major. No reference at thesession.org. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy O’Sullivan’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy On The Turnpike Reel (4/4), A Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Paddy On The Turnpike on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy Ryan’s Dream Reel (4/4), A Minor. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Paddy Ryan’s Dream on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy’s Polka (2/4), E Dorian. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy’s Surprise Reel (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Paddy’s Surprise on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy’s Trip To Scotland Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy’s Trip To Scotland on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy Taylor’s Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy Taylor’s on my G&O #34 mandolin. 29 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Paddy Taylor’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Paddy Taylor’s Barndance Barndance (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy Taylor’s Barndance on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy Taylor’s Jig Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Paddy Taylor’s Jig on my G&O #34 mandolin. 30 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Paddy Taylor’s Jig on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Paddy Whack Jig (6/8), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Paddy Whack on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Padraic Mac Giollarnath Jig (6/8), D Mixolydian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Padraic Mac Giollarnath on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Padraig O’Keeffe’s Jig (6/8), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Padraig O’Keeffe’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Paddy’s Whiskers Jig (6/8), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Paddy’s Whiskers on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Palm Sunday Slide (12/8), D Major. A slide which is also frequently played in 6/8 as a jig. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Palm Sunday on my G&O #34 mandolin.

Palmer’s Gate Reel (4/4), E Minor. Written by Joe Liddy, whose most famous composition is the evergreen Congress Reel. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Palmer’s Gate on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Parnell And Ireland Jig (6/8), G Major. A tune which has cropped up for me several times in the course of the last few days. The setting I play is, like many I’ve tabbed out, an amalgam of several slightly different settings and intended to “sit well” on the mandolin. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Parnell And Ireland on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. 30 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Parnell And Ireland on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Pat Horgan’s Number 1 Polka (2/4), D Major (in fact, I think the second part is in E Dorian, but it’s a little academic since both keys have two sharps). Many thanks to Mark Nangle, originally from Lurgan and now resident in Australia, for introducing me many years ago to this tune and its companion Number 2 which also features in this website. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 21 June 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Pat Horgan’s Number 1 on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing Pat Horgan’s Number 1 on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 30 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Pat Horgan’s Number 1 on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Pat Horgan’s Number 2 Polka (2/4), E Dorian (i.e. two sharps). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 21 June 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Pat Horgan’s Number 2 on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing Pat Horgan’s Number 2 on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 30 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Pat Horgan’s Number 2 on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Pat Ward’s Single Jig (12/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Pat Wards on my G&O #34 mandolin. 30 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Pat Ward’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Patrick O’Connor’s Polka (2/4), A Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Patrick O’Connor’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Patsy Geary’s Slide (12/8), D Major. Because of a melodic similarity, this slide is sometimes irreverently nicknamed “The Yellow Rose Of Texas” in some circles. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 30 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Patsy Geary’s on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing Patsy Geary’s on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. Listen to me playing Patsy Geary’s on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file, sound quality optimised in November 2021 using Audacity software). 30 January 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Patsy Geary’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Patsy Tuohey’s Reel (4/4), E Dorian. Patsy Tuohey (1865-1923) is regarded by many as *the* uilleann piper of all time. (A friend of mine has a long history of analysing Tuohey’s technique in some depth and attempting to incorporate some of his stylistic touches into his own playing…) This is a fine reel which is as much fun to play as it is to listen to… Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Patsy Tuohey’s on my Kentucky KM1000 mandolin. 3 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Patsy Tuohey’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Paudy Scully’s Slide (12/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab by Michael Gregory here. Listen to Michael Gregory playing the tune… 3 February 2022. The tune is also known (among other names) as Dan Patsy’s. Additional sound file and tablature under the Dan Patsy’s name. Mandolin tab by Aidan Crossey here. Listen to me playing Dan Patsy’s on my G&O #34 mandolin.

Pauline’s Polka Polka (2/4), G Major. Composed by the piper Tomás Ó Canainn from Pennyburn in Derry. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Pauline’s Polka on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Pay The Reckoning Jig (6/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Pay The Reckoning on my G&O #34 mandolin. 3 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Pay The Reckoning on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Peacock Hornpipe (4/4), E Minor. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Peacock on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Peacock’s Feather (D Dorian) Hornpipe (4/4), D Dorian. Unrelated to the D Major hornpipe called The Peacock’s Feather below. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Peacock’s Feather (D Dorian) on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Peacock’s Feather (D Dorian) on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 3 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Peacock’s Feather (D Dorian) on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Peacock’s Feather Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. There is another, unrelated hornpipe in common circulation in D Dorian also called The Peacock’s Feather (see above). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Peacock’s Feather (D Major) on my G&O #34 mandolin. 3 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Peacock’s Feather (D Major) on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Pearl O’Shaughnessy’s Number 1 Barndance (4/4), G Major (look for the second setting in the further info link). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 16 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Pearl O’Shaughnessy’s Number 1 on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing Pearl O’Shaughnessy’s Number 1 on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file optimised using Audacity). 3 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Pearl O’Shaughnessy’s Number 1 on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Pearl O’Shaughnessy’s Number 2 Barndance (4/4), G Major (look for the third setting in the further info link). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 16 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Pearl O’Shaughnessy’s Number 2 on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing Pearl O’Shaughnessy’s Number 2 on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file, optimised using Audacity). 3 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Pearl O’Shaughnessy’s Number 2 on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Peggy Lettermore Polka/Song Air (2/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Peggy Lettermore on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Peggy Ryan’s Fancy Polka (2/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 17 June 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Peggy Ryan’s Fancy on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing Peggy Ryan’s Fancy on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 3 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Peggy Ryan’s Fancy on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Peggy’s Jig (6/8), G Major. Another Cape Breton tune (see, for example, Charlie Hunter’s) which has found its way into Irish trad sessions. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Peggy’s Jig on my Eastman MD304 mandolin. 30 March 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Peggy’s Jig on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin. 14 April 2022. Another additional sound file. Listen to me playing Peggy’s Jig on my Epiphone Mandobird VIII electric mandolin.

The Peeler And The Goat Slide (12/8), E Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Peeler And The Goat on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Peeler’s Jacket Reel (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Pennyburn Hornpipe Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. Composed by Tomás Ó Canainn. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Pennyburn Hornpipe on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Pet Of The Pipers Jig (6/8), A Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Pet Of The Pipers on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Pigeon On The Gate Reel (4/4), E Dorian (i.e. two sharps). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Pigtown Fling Reel (4/4), Reel (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 6 June 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Pigtown Fling on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Pigtown Fling on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 3 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Wigtown Fling on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Pining Maid Reel (4/4), D Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Pining Maid on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin (clean amp settings). Listen to me playing The Pining Maid on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin (version with added effects).

The Pipe On The Hob Jig (6/8), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 23 June 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Pipe On The Hob on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Pipe On The Hob on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 5 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Pipe On The Hob (D Mixolydian) on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Pipe On The Hob Jig (6/8), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). A completely different jig to the one above with the same name. That’s Irish music for you! Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Pipe On The Hob (A Dorian) on my G&O #34 mandolin. 30 March 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing The Pipe On The Hob (A Dorian) on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Piper In The Meadow Straying Set Dance (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Piper In The Meadow Straying on my G&O #34 mandolin NB – no repeat and I forgot to “double” the second part. 30 March 2022. Additional sound files. Listen to me playing The Piper In The Meadow Straying on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. Listen to me playing The Piper In The Meadow Straying on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar; same take as above but with Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin – heavily distorted amp settings – overdubbed as a second track.

The Piper On Horseback Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Piper On Horseback on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Piper’s Chair Jig (6/8), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Piper’s Chair on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Piper’s Picnic Jig (6/8), A Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Piper’s Picnic on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Piper’s Punch Jig (6/8), G Major. No reference at thesession.org Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Piper’s Punch on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Piping Plover Slip Jig (9/8), C Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Piping Plover on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Pivot Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Pivot on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Plains Of Boyle Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Plains Of Boyle on my G&O #34 mandolin. 5 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Plains Of Boyle on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Plane Of The Plank Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Plane Of The Plank on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Planxty Charles O’Connor Planxty (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Planxty Charles O’Connor on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Planxty Fanny Powers Planxty (6/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Planxty Fanny Powers on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing Planxty Fanny Powers on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar.

Planxty George Brabazon Planxty (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 18 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Planxty George Brabazon on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing Planxty George Brabazon on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. Listen to me playing Planxty George Brabazon on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file, optimised using Audacity software). 5 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Planxty George Brabzon on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Planxty Hewlett Planxty (3/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen… 5 October 2021   Additional sound file.  Listen to me playing Planxty Hewlett on my Falder mandolin (recorded for The Mandolin Cafe’s Song-A-Week Social Group). 5 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Planxty Hewlett on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Planxty Irwin Planxty (6/8), G Major. By Turlough O’Carolan. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Planxty Irwin on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Pleasures Of Hope Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Pleasures Of Hope on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Poll Halfpenny Hornpipe (4/4), A Mixolydian (i.e. two sharps). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Poor But Happy At 53 Reel (4/4), E Minor. I came across this reel only very recently. It was posted to thesession.org by Zina Lee, a fine fiddler, who I got to know during the time a few years back when she lived in London. This reel has totally captivated me. My setting is a little different to the way in which Zina originally set it out. But that’s often the way with traditional tunes. As we become familiar with them, we personalise them… According to ceolachan at the session, the tune was composed by Paddy Bawn O’Brien and he had in mind that the tune would be played quite slowly (which is how I tend to take it). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing the tune on my G&O #34 mandolin here. Listen to me playing the tune on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar here. 5 September 2021. A curiosity. Listen to me playing Poor But Happy At 53 on my 1950s Ukrainian 4-string domra. 25 September 2021. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Poor But Happy At 53 on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin. 25 February 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Poor But Happy At 53 on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin. 12 April 2022. Additional sound file. (Getting the idea as to just how much I love this tune? 🙂 ) Listen to me playing Poor But Happy At 53 on my Epiphone Mandobird VIII electric mandolin.

The Poppy Leaf Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Included at the request of a follower on YouTube. (Hi, Fraser.) Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Poppy Leaf (no repeat) on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Port Dálaí Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Sheet music here. Mandolin tab by Michael Gregory here. Listen to Michael Gregory playing the tune on accordion here. (Second tune in a set of two.) 30 March 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Port Dálaí on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Port Muiris Ó Dálaigh Polka (2/4), G Major. In Irish, “port” is generally used to refer specifically to jigs but the word can also have a broader meaning of “tune”. Hence this translates as “Muiris Ó Dálaigh’s Tune”. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Port Muiris Ó Dálaigh on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Portarlington Jig Jig (6/8), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Portarlington Jig on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Porthole Of The Kelp Reel (4/4), D Dorian. Composed by the renowned fiddler, Bobby Casey. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Porthole Of The Kelp on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Portrush Slip Jig (9/8), A Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Portrush on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Pouca Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Pouca on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Pretty Girls Of Mayo Reel (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Pretty Girls Of Mayo on my G&O #34 mandolin. 12 April 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing The Pretty Girls Of Mayo on my Epiphone Mandobird VIII electric mandolin.

Pretty Jane Jig (6/8), A Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Pretty Jane on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Price Of A Pig Jig (6/8), A Dorian. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Price Of A Pig on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Pride Of Cloontia Reel (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Pride Of Cloontia on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Pride Of Erin Jig (6/8), E Dorian. Composed by Jimmy McHugh, a member of the Pride Erin Ceili Band and an influential musician in his own right, witness the annual Jimmy McHugh Irish traditional music festival in Glasgow. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Pride Of Erin on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Pride Of Petravore Hornpipe / Barndance / March (4/4), E Minor. I’ve heard this tune (the air to Percy French’s “Eileen Og”) played in sets as a hornpipe, a barndance or march. I tend to play it with a march-like rhythm. The song was a great favourite of my late friend, Joe Crilly. Version 1 is a “bare bones” version as set out by Jeremy Keith on thesession.org (see further info link below; the first – X:1 – version of the tune). Version 2 is a version as I like to play it, which owes more than a passing nod to the strange (and wonderful) arrangement by Lankum. Further info here. Mandolin tab for the bare bones version 1 here. Mandolin tab for version 2 (Aidan Crossey’s version) here. 2 June 2021 – new sound files added. Listen to version 1 played on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to version 2 played on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to version 2 played on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 5 February 2023.  New versions.  Listen to me playing The Pride Of Petravore (Version 1) on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin. Listen to me playing The Pride Of Petravore (Version 2) on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Priest Slide (12/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Priest on my G&O #34 mandolin. 5 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Priest on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Priest And His Boots Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Priest And His Boots on my G&O 34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Priest And His Boots on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. Listen to me playing The Priest And His Boots on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar and G&O 34 mandolin. 5 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Priest And His Boots on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Primrose Lass Reel (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 14 September 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Primrose Lass on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original sound file with background noise cleaned up). Listen to me playing The Primrose Lass on my G&O #34 mandolin (recorded September 2021). 5 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Primrose Lass on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Private Ass And Cart Reel (4/4), D Major. Similar phrases to Cal Callaghan’s. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Private Ass And Cart on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Prodigal Son Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Prodigal Son on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Proudlock’s Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Proudlock’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Providence Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 14 September 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Providence on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original sound file with background noise cleaned up). Listen to me playing The Providence on my G&O #34 mandolin (recorded September 2021). 5 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Providence on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Pull The Knife And Stick It Again Jig (6/8), E Dorian (i.e. two sharps). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 8 June 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Pull The Knife And Stick It Again on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing Pull The Knife And Stick It Again on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 30 May 2022.  New version.  Listen to me playing Pull The Knife And Stick It Again on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Puss In Boots Jig (6/8), D Major. Composed by Des Conroy. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Puss In Boots on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Quare Wild Night Polka (2/4), D Major. Composed by Mary Meyler. This polka was posted to thesession.org by John E Roche. John is compiling a collection of tunes from his county of Wexford which he hopes to publish in book form shortly. Out of admiration for the vision and a sense of curiosity I’ve been playing through a number of the tunes which he has shared so far and there are some absolute gems.  Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Quare Wild Night on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Queen Of The Fair Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 15 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Queen Of The Fair on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing The Queen Of The Fair on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file with background noise minimised). 5 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Queen Of The Fair on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Queen Of The May Reel (4/4), E Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Queen Of The May on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Queen Of The Rushes Jig (6/8), D Mixolydian. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Queen Of The Rushes on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Queen Of The Rushes on my Falder mandolin.

Queen’s Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. I added this to my list of tunes to learn after hearing the actor Brendan Gleeson play it on mandolin on an RTE TV programme. NB – the hornpipe is named after a musician called Joe Queen. Hence “Queen’s Hornpipe” and not “The Queen’s Hornpipe”. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Queen’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Queen’s Shilling Reel (4/4), G Major. “Taking the queen’s shilling” was a shame-loaded term used in Ireland to refer to joining – either willingly or under duress – the British Army. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Queen’s Shilling on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Quille’s Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Quille’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Raheen Reel Reel (4/4), A Dorian. Composed by Phil Murphy. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Raheen Reel on my G&O 34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Raheen Reel on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 11 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Raheen Reel on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rake Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Rake on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rakes Of Clonmel Jig (6/8), A Dorian. Also played as a 3-part jig but I prefer the 2-part version as I don’t feel the 3rd part adds much to the overall shape of the tune. But each to his or her own. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Rakes Of Clonmel on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Rakes Of Kildare (Version 1 – Major Key) Jig (6/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen… 3 October 2021 Additional sound file. Listen to me playing The Rakes Of Kildare – G Major version – on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin. Specially recorded for the Mandolin Cafe’s Song-A-Week Social Group. 11 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Rakes Of Kildare – G Major version – on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rakes Of Kildare (Version 2 – Minor Key) Jig (6/8), A Dorian. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen… 3 October 2021 Additional sound file. Listen to me playing The Rakes Of Kildare – A Dorian version – on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin. Specially recorded for the Mandolin Cafe’s Song-A-Week Social Group. 11 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Rakes Of Kildare – A Dorian version – on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rakes Of Mallow Polka (2/4), G Major. A tune which turns up in many musical traditions. I tabbed this and recorded sound files following a request from one of the acquaintances I have made through running this website and its associated YouTube channel. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Rakes Of Mallow on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin. Listen to me playing The Rakes Of Mallow on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 11 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Rakes Of Mallow on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Rakish Paddy Reel (4/4), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Rakish Paddy on my G&O #34 mandolin. 14 April 2022. Additional sound file here. Trigger Warning – heavy on the distortion. Listen to me playing a raucous, rocking, all-guns-blazing version of Rakish Paddy on my Epiphone Mandobird VII electric mandolin.

The Rambler Jig (6/8), A Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Rambler on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Rambling Pitchfork Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Rambling Pitchfork on my G&O #34 mandolin. 11 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Rambling Pitchfork on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rambling Sailor Polka (2/4), A Major. I was told that this was composed by the accordion maestro, Jackie Daly (hence the composer credit in the sheet music and tablature). However it would appear that it is, in fact, a traditional tune. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Rambling Sailor on my G&O #34 mandolin. 11 February 2023.  New version.  I recently came across a slightly different setting of this polka and so I decided to post tab for that version alongside a new sound file. New tab here. Listen to me playing The Rambling Sailor on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Ranting Rake Jig (6/8), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Ranting Rake on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Rathlin Island Reel (4/4), A Dorian. Composed by Peter Browne, who played pipes with The Bothy Band prior to Paddy Keenan’s arrival. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Rathlin Island on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rattling Bog Polka/Song Air (4/4), D Major. The air to a popular pub song – the Irish equivalent of “The Old Woman Who Swallowed A Fly”! The basic tune is also occasionally heard played as a polka. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Rattling Bog on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Raymore Reel Reel (4/4), G Major. Composed by Joe Liddy, whose best-known composition is the evergreen reel, The Congress. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Raymore Reel on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Reaping The Rye Slip Jig (9/8), E Minor. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Reaping The Rye on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Reconciliation Reel (4/4), A Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Reconciliation on my G&O #34 mandolin. 14 April 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing The Reconciliation on my Epiphone Mandobird VIII electric mandolin.

The Red Haired Lass Reel (4/4), A Major. (Also commonly played in G Major.) Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Red Haired Lass – sticking fairly closely to the tab “script” – on my G&O #34 mandolin here. Listen to me playing The Red Haired Lass with a greater degree of individual interpretation on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar here. 11 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Red Haired Lass on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Reel De Montreal Reel (4/4), first part G Major, second part D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 23 July 2021. Improved sound file added. Listen to me playing The Reel De Montreal on my G&O #34 mandolin. 13 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Reel De Montreal on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Reel Of Bogie Reel (4/4), E Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Reel Of Bogie on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Reel Of Rio Reel (4/4), G Major. Written by Seán Ryan. Incidentally the “Rio” in the reel’s title is not pronounced as in Rio de Janeiro. Rather it’s pronounced like “r-eye-o” – a reference to Seán’s nickname. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Reel Of Rio on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Reg Hall’s Polka (2/4), E Dorian. Composed by Charlie Lennon in honour of Reg Hall, a stalwart for many years on London’s Irish music scene. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Reg Hall’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Regan’s Jig Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Regan’s Jig on my G&O #34 mandolin. 12 April 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Regan’s Jig on my Epiphone Mandobird VIII electric mandolin.

The Repeal Of The Union Reel (4/4), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Repeal Of The Union on my G&O #34 mandolin. 13 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Repeal Of The Union on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Return From Fingal March (4/4), E Dorian. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Return From Fingal on my Falder mandolin. 13 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Return From Fingal on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Return To Camden Town Reel (4/4), C Major. This reel has a personal significance for me in that I lived in Camden Town for many years before moving south of the river. This is quite a difficult tune to play (in my experience, anyway – you might find it easier to navigate!). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Return To Camden Town on my Kentucky KM1000 mandolin.

Richard Brennan’s Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Richard Brennan’s on my Eastman MD304 mandolin. 13 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Richard Brennan’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Riding On A Load Of Hay Polka (2/4), E Dorian Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Riding On A Load Of Hay on my G&O #34 mandolin. 21 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Riding On A Load Of Hay on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rights Of Man Hornpipe (4/4), E Minor. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Rights Of Man on my Falder mandolin (originally recorded for the Mandolin Cafe’s Song-A-Week Social Group). 21 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Rights Of Man on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Rip The Calico Reel (4/4), D Major (although there’s some debate about whether this should be played with c naturals, therefore D Mixolydian; I prefer the setting with c sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Rip The Calico on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (no repeat). 16 April 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Rip The Calico on my Epiphone Mandobird VIII electric mandolin. 16 March 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Rip The Calico on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rising Sun Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Rising Sun on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Road To Ballinakill Jig (6/8), G Major. Composed by banjo player, Owen Hacket. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Road To Ballinakill on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Road To Durham Jig (6/8), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Composed by Armin Barnet and David Molk. The Durham in the title refers to East Durham in New York State; not Durham in North East England. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 27 October 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Road To Durham on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Road To Durham on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. Listen to me playing The Road To Durham on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file with background noise minimised). 21 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Road To Durham on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Road To Glountane Barndance (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Road To Glountane on my G&O #34 mandolin. 12 April 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing The Road To Glountane on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Road To Lisdoonvarna Reel (4/4), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 2 July 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Road To Lisdoonvarna on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Road To Lisdoonvarna on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 21 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Road To Lisdoonvarna (Reel) on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Road To Lisdoonvarna Slide (12/8), E Dorian (i.e. two sharps). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Road To Lisdoonvarna (Slide) on my Eastman MD304 mandolin.. 29 September 2021. A new version recorded 28 September 2021 on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin for The Mandolin Cafe’s Song-A-Week Social Group. 21 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Road To Lisdoonvarna on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Road To Lurgan Jig (6/8), G Major. Lurgan is my hometown in County Armagh, therefore I just had to include this jig. It’s essentially the first two parts of The Maid At The Spinning Wheel (aka The Hag At The Spinning Wheel) which is played with 3 or occasionally with 4 parts. (However the 4th part is a bit challenging for the majority of players… myself included!) Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Road To Lurgan on my G&O #34 mandolin. 12 April 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing The Road To Lurgan on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Road To Monalea Reel (4/4), D Dorian. Composed by Colm O’Donnell. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Road To Monalea on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Road To The Isles Barndance (4/4), G Major (setting 1) and D Major (setting 2). I first became aware of this tune as the air to a Scottish song but have subsequently come across it played without “snaps” as a barndance – bordering on a march – by various players from the Irish tradition and it has made its way by stealth into my repertoire. It’s often played in either G Major or D Major and so I have set out notation and tablature for each of these. Further info here. Mandolin tab for the G Major setting here. Mandolin tab for the D Major setting here. Listen to me playing The Road To The Isles (G Major setting) on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing The Road To The Isles (D Major setting) on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. 21 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Road To The Isles (D Major setting) on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Roaring Mary Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Roaring Mary on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin. 26 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Roaring Mary on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rocky Road To Dublin Slip Jig (6/8), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen… 3 October 2021 Additional sound files. Listen to me playing The Rocky Road To Dublin on my Falder mandolin. Listen to me playing The Rocky Road To Dublin on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. Both recorded specially for the Mandolin Cafe’s Song-A-Week Social Group. 26 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Rocky Road To Dublin on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rocky Road To Mount Collins Polka (2/4), A Major. Composed by Dan Murphy. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Rocky Road To Mount Collins on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Rodney’s Glory Set Dance (4/4), A Dorian. In the song “The Galway Shawl”, the protagonist meets a beautiful girl on his travels and she takes him into her house to meet her father. He plays some tunes to impress the father. “I played The Blackbird and The Stack Of Barley/Rodney’s Glory and The Foggy Dew…” Rodney’s Glory is the only one these four which hadn’t yet appeared here. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Rodney’s Glory on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rogue Slip Jig (9/8), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Rogue on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Roll Her In The Rushes Reel (4/4), D Mixolydian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Roll Her In The Rushes on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Roll Her On The Mountain Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Roll Her On The Mountain on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Rolling In The Ryegrass Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 23 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Rolling In The Ryegrass on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing Rolling In The Ryegrass on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. Listen to me playing Rolling In The Ryegrass on my G&O #34 mandolin (original website sound file, “cleaned up” in November 2021 using Audacity software). 26 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Rolling In The Ryegrass on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rolling Wave Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Rolling Wave on my Kentucky KM1000 mandolin. 31 May 2022.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Rolling Wave on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Roof Thatcher’s Daughter Mazurka (3/4), A Major. Composed by Will Harmon. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Roof Thatcher’s Daughter on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Roscommon Reel Reel (4/4), E Dorian (i.e. two sharps). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 27 July 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Roscommon Reel on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Roscommon Reel on my Kentucky KM1000 mandolin. 26 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Roscommon Reel on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rose In The Gap March (4/4), E Dorian (i.e. two sharps). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Rose In The Gap on my G&O #34 mandolin. 27 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Rose In The Gap on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rose In The Heather Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 21 June 2021. Improved sound file added. Listen to me playing The Rose In The Heather on my G&O #34 mandolin. 27 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Rose In The Heather on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rose Tree Polka (2/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Rose Tree on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Rosie Finn’s Favourite Slide (12/8), D Major. Also played in G (notably by Matt Molloy in his Bothy Band days). However I find the setting in D much more comfortable to play… Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Rosie Finn’s Favourite on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. 16 March 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Rosie Finn’s Favourite on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Rosie Rogers’ Fling (4/4), A Major. Composed by Bill Black, in honour of his late mother-in-law, the late Rosie Rogers, originally from The Liberties in Dublin. Bill Black is very well-known in Irish music circles for – among other things! – his advocacy of Irish music, his tireless work in collecting tunes, converting them to ABC format and making them available to players world wide via his incredible website, http://capeirish.com  Bill is also no mean talent as a tunesmith and he’s given me permission to share some of his tunes with you.  I’m always delighted to come across musicians who have yearning – and a facility! – for conjuring up tunes in traditional Irish idioms out of the ether. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Rosie Rogers’ on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Rosin The Bow Jig (6/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Rosin The Bow on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (no repeat). 16 April 2022. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing Rosin The Bow on my Epiphone Mandobird VIII electric mandolin. 27 February 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Rosin The Bow on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Rover’s Return Jig (6/8), A Dorian. Mandolin tab here.   Listen to me playing The Rover’s Return on my Epiphone Mandobird VIII electric mandolin. 16 March 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Rover’s Return on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Roving Bachelor Reel (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Roving Bachelor on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Saddle The Pony Jig (6/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 16 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Saddle The Pony on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing Saddle The Pony on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file optimised using Audacity). 16 March 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing Saddle The Pony on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Sailor On The Rock Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 8 June 2021. Improved sound file added. Listen to me playing The Sailor On The Rock on my G&O #34 mandolin. 16 March 2023.  New version.  Listen to me playing The Sailor On The Rock on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Sailor’s Bonnet Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Saint Anne’s Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Saint Joseph’s Reel (4/4), D Major. A reel which has a great deal in common with with Saint Anne’s above. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Saint Joseph’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Saint Mary’s Polka Polka (2/4), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Saint Patrick’s Day Set Dance (6/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Saint Patrick’s Day on my Falder mandolin (originally recorded for The Mandolin Cafe’s Song-A-Week Social Group).

Saint Ruth’s Bush Reel (4/4), A Dorian. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to the tune played at session speed (more or less) on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to the tune played slightly more slowly on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar.

The Salamanca Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Sally Gardens Reel (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Sally Gardens on my G&O #34 mandolin.

Sally Hegarty’s Slip Jig (9/8), Part 1 in G Major; Part 2 in D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Sally Hegarty’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Salmon’s Tail Reel (4/4), D Major. This reel was posted to thesession.org by John E Roche. John is compiling a collection of tunes from his county of Wexford which he hopes to publish in book form shortly. Out of admiration for the vision and a sense of curiosity I’ve been playing through a number of the tunes which he has shared so far and there are some absolute gems.  Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Salmon’s Tail on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Sarah Hobbs Reel (4/4), D mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. (As a bit of fun, I have also set this tune out as a jig. Mandolin tab for the jig version here. Listen…) 24 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Sarah Hobbs on my G&O #34 mandolin (original website sound file, optimised using Audacity software). Listen to me playing Sarah Hobbs on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin.

Sara’s Porch Jig (6/8), D Major. Composed by Bill Black and dedicated his friend, Sara Piazza. Bill Black is very well-known in Irish music circles for – among other things! – his advocacy of Irish music, his tireless work in collecting tunes, converting them to ABC format and making them available to players world wide via his incredible website, http://capeirish.com  Bill is also no mean talent as a tunesmith and he’s given me permission to share some of his tunes with you.  I’m always delighted to come across musicians who have yearning – and a facility! – for conjuring up tunes in traditional Irish idioms out of the ether. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Sara’s Porch on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Scatter The Mud Jig (6/8), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Scattery Island Slide Slide (12/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Scattery Island Slide on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin.

The Scholar Reel (4/4), D Major. A reel which almost demands to be played very straight (I tend to play with quite a bit of swing normally – but this tune doesn’t really allow for that). I associate it with box, flute and whistle player Danny Mackay – it’s a great favourite of his. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Scotch Mary Reel (4/4), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 28 October 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Scotch Mary on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin. Listen to me playing Scotch Mary on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file with background noise minimised).

The Scotsman Over The Border Jig (6/8), D Major. Very similar to The Carraroe Jig – also included on this page. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Scotsman Over The Border on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Scully Casey’s Slide (12/8), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 20 July 2021. Improved sound file added. Listen to me playing Scully Casey’s Slide on my G&O #34 mandolin.

Scurlogue Champ Jig (6/8), G Major. Composed by Kevin Whitty. This jig was posted to thesession.org by John E Roche, who thinks the title refers to a locally-famous greyhound. John is compiling a collection of tunes from his county of Wexford which he hopes to publish in book form shortly. Out of admiration for the vision and a sense of curiosity I’ve been playing through a number of the tunes which he has shared so far and there are some absolute gems.  Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Scurlogue Champ on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Seamus Ennis’ Jig (6/8), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Seamus Ennis’ on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Seán Buí Jig (6/8), D Major. The title literally translates as “Yellow John” and indeed this jig is sometimes referred to exactly as that anglicised term. A better translation would be “Fair-Haired John”; it’s unlikely that the eponymous Seán was permanently jaundiced. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Seán Buí on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Sean Hayes’ Barndance Barndance (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Sean Hayes’ Barndance on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin.

Sean McGovern’s Polka (2/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Sean Mc Govern’s Polka on my G&O #34 mandolin.

Sean Reid’s Reel (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Sean Reid’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Sean Ryan’s Jig (6/8), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Also known as The Castle. Many of Sen Ryan’s tunes, like this one, are characterised by having a wide range – wide, that is, by Irish tune standards… Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Seán Sa Cheo Reel (4/4), A Mixolydian. The literal translation into English is John In The Fog. A better translation would be “Drunken John” (or langered, hammered, stocious, gassed, pissed John – delete as appropriate or substitute your own preferred euphemism for inebriated). Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Seán Sa Cheo on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Sean Tiobrad Arann Jig (6/8), G Major. The title translates as “Old Tipperary”. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Sean Tiobrad Arann on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Seanamhac Tube Station Jig (6/8), G Dorian. Composed by John Carty. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Seanamhac Tube Station on my Falder mandolin. Listen to me playing Seanamhac Tube Station on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar.

The Setting Sun Jig (6/8), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Setting Sun on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Shamrock Barndance (4/4), D Major. A barndance which I first heard played by Belfast flute player Michael Clarkson and which immediately appealed to me. Michael’s website is a great source of inspiration. (See https://irishflute.podbean.com) Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Shamrock on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Shamrock Slip Jig (9/8), A Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Shamrock on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin.

Shandon Bells Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 11 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing Shandon Bells on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing Shandon Bells on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. Listen to me playing Shandon Bells on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file with background noise minimised).

The Shannon Jig Jig (6/8), A Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Shannon Jig on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Shaskeen Reel (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 26 June 2021. Improved sound file added. Listen to me playing The Shaskeen on my G&O #34 mandolin.

Sheehan’s Polka (2/4), A Mixolydian. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Sheehan’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Sheep In The Boat Jig (6/8), E Dorian. Composed by Junior Crehan. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Sheep In The Boat on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Sheffield Hornpipe Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Sheila Coyle’s Reel (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Sheila Coyle’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Shetland Fiddler Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Ships Are Sailing Reel (4/4), E Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Ships Are Sailing on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Ships In Full Sail Jig (6/8), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 18 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Ships In Full Sail on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing The Ships In Full Sail on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file, optimised using Audacity software).

Shoe The Donkey Mazurka (3/4), G Major. Two versions of the tune here. Version 1 is a “bare bones” version. Version 2 has some syncopations in part 1 of the tune. Further info here. Mandolin tab for version 1 here. Mandolin tab for version 2 here. Listen to version 1. Listen to version 2.

The Shoemaker’s Fancy Jig (6/8), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Shoemaker’s Fancy on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Showman’s Fancy Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen… Listen to The Showman’s Fancy played in 4/4 march rhythm Listen to version of tune played as a “virtual duet” – i.e. we recorded our individual inputs at a considerable distance of time and space(!) – by Jill McAuley (banjo) and Aidan Crossey (mandolin) 13 December 2021. Additional sound files. Listen to me playing The Showman’s Fancy on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. Listen to me playing The Showman’s Fancy on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar and Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin (virtual duet).

Shuffle The Pack Mazurka (3/4), G Major. Composed by Kevin Whitty. This mazurka was posted to thesession.org by John E Roche. John is compiling a collection of tunes from his county of Wexford which he hopes to publish in book form shortly. Out of admiration for the vision and a sense of curiosity I’ve been playing through a number of the tunes which he has shared so far and there are some absolute gems.  Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Shuffle The Pack on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Sí Beag, Sí Mór Air (3/4), D Major. Attributed to the legendary harper, Turlough O’Carolan, and generally regarded as one of his compositions . However there is some debate about the tunes authorship and it is suggested that O’Carolan may have simply “repurposed” an earlier traditional tune. Whatever. It was all a very long time ago. The tune remains one of the most popular airs in the Irish tradition, much loved by newcomers to the music and “old hands” alike. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Sí Beag, Sí Mór on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Siege Of Ennis Polka (2/4), G Major. I think this might be better described as a set dance in 2/4 time rather than a polka as I seem to remember there is a dance which is commonly associated with the tune. Sometimes played with a third part which doesn’t occur at sessions which I’ve attended and where I picked up the tune, so I’ve stuck with the 2 part version with which I am most familiar. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Siegfried Mulcahy Jig (6/8), A Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Siegfried Mulcahy on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Silver Spear Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Silver Spire Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 26 June 2021. Improved sound file added. Listen to me playing The Silver Spire on my G&O #34 mandolin.

The Silver Tip Reel (4/4), D Mixolydian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Silver Tip on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Silver Vale Jig (6/8), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Silver Vale on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Sir Phillip McHugh Slip Jig (9/8), G Maj. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Sir Phillip McHugh on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin.

The Sister Jig (6/8), A Minor. Composed by Joe Liddy, whose most famous composition is the very widely-played reel “The Congress”. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Sister on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Sixpenny Money Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Skibbereen Lasses Reel (4/4), A Mixolydian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Skibbereen Lasses on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Skylark Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Sliabh Russell Jig (6/8), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Slievemore Jig Jig (6/8), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Slievemore Jig on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Sligo Maid Reel (4/4), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen… Postscript 2 January 2021. I came across an early recording of Seamus Ennis playing The Sligo Maid alongside The Bucks Of Oranmore. He called the tune “The Sligo Maid’s Lament” and it got me to thinking about how these modal minor tunes can sound plaintive if played at a speed much slower than the usual session speed. So I made a recording of the tune played slowly to demonstrate. You can listen to the slower version here.

The Small Hills Of Offaly Reel (4/4), D Major. Composed by Paddy O’Brien. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Small Hills Of Offaly on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Smash The Windows Jig (6/8), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to original version played on my Eastman MD304… Listen to an alternative version (January 2021) played on my G&O #34

The Smoky Chimney Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Smoky Chimney on my Epiphone Mandobird VIII electric mandolin.

The Snowy Path Slip Jig (9/8), D Major. Written by Mark Kelly, guitarist with the group Altan. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Snowy Path on my G&O #34 mandolin. 11 December 2021. Additional sound files added. Listen to me playing The Snowy Path on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to Mark Nangle and I play The Snowy Path as a virtual duet. Mark Nangle (octave mandola/guitar) recorded in Australia, 2003/2004, Aidan Crossey (Paris Swing Mavaferri mandolin) recorded in London, UK 11 December 2021.

Snug In The Blanket Jig (6/8), D Mixolydian. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Snug In The Blanket on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Soggy’s Slip Jig (9/8), A Major. This slip jig appears courtesy of an email exchange with Mike Buesseler – a fervent mandolinist and long-time contributor to The Mandolin Cafe. Mike recently made a recording of Soggy’s – a slip jig written by Sean Óg Graham, accordion player with Beoga – and in an email conversation suggested that I might like to record the tune and make it available to followers of this site in tablature format. Although I have been pursuing a policy for some time now of playing each of the tunes at this site twice-through at a minimum, I play this tune through just once. For the simple reason that I find it really quite difficult to play and it was as much as I could manage to get a clean take with no repeat. Your mileage may vary and you may find it easier than I do (and I hope you do because it’s a grand tune!). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Soggy’s on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin.

The Soldering Iron Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Soldering Iron on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Soldier’s Joy Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Soldier’s Joy on my G&O #34 mandolin.

Solus Lillis’ Reel (4/4), 2 settings – G Major and C Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab for the G Major version here. Mandolin tab for the C Major version here. Listen to me playing Solus Lillis’ (G Major setting) on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing Solus Lillis’ (G Major setting) on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin. Listen to me playing Solus Lillis’ (C Major setting) on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Song Of The Chanter March (4/4), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 17 September 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Song Of The Chanter on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website recording with background noise removed). Listen to me playing The Song Of The Chanter on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar.

Sonny Brogan’s Jig (6/8), A Dorian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Sonny Brogan’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Sonny Murray’s Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Sonny’s Mazurka (3/4), D Major. One of the small handful of mazurkas which have become established as standards in the Irish session repertoire. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Sonny’s on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing Sonny’s on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar.

Sord Cholmcille Polka (2/4), D Major. Further info here Sord Cholmcille (polka) on The Session Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Sore Foot Reel (4/4), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The South Wind Air (3/4), G Major. This tune is a great favourite of a whistle-playing friend. I tend to sit this one out when he plays it in a session. Two reasons. Firstly I prefer to hear people play airs solo and it can be quite the car-crash when people attempt to pile in. Secondly it’s better-suited to a legato instrument like whistle than a staccato instrument such as the mandolin – or banjo, which I also tend to play in sessions. I’ve used lots of reverb and echo in this recording which goes some way towards “filling in the gaps” without having to resort to that horrible effect of (shudder!) tremolo which ought to be reserved for Italian music for which it was developed. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The South Wind on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Spanish Lady Polka/Song Air (2/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Spanish Lady on my Paris Swing “Macaferri” mandolin.

The Sparrow Polka (2/4), G Major. No reference at thesession.org (there is a reference to a polka called The Sparrow – but it’s a different tune, in D Major, composed by Brendan O’Regan). Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Sparrow on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Speed The Plough Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Spellan’s Fiddle Hornpipe (4/4), G Major, Part 1 and D Major, Part 2. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Spellan’s Fiddle on my G&O #34 mandolin.

The Spirits Of Wine Reel (4/4), A Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to a duet version played on my G&O #34 and my Eastman MD304 here.

Sport Jig (6/8), D Major. A beautiful 3-part jig, written by Peadar O’Riada, son of the esteemed Sean O’Riada. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Sporting Boys Of Scotstown Reel (4/4), A Major. I tripped across this reel in an old notebook a little while back and felt compelled to play it on account of the fact that Scotstown is in County Monaghan which borders my home county of Armagh. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Sporting Boys Of Scotstown on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Sporting Days Of Easter Reel (4/4), D Mixolydian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Sporting Days Of Easter on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Sporting Molly Reel (4/4), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 2 June 2021. New sound files added. Listen to me playing Sporting Molly on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing Sporting Molly on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar.

Sporting Paddy Reel (4/4), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Sporting Pitchfork Jig (6/8), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Spotted Dog Jig (6/8), A Major. A tune written by fiddle-player John McEvoy and named after a session pub in Digbeth, Birmingham where he lived for a time. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Spotted Dog on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing The Spotted Dog on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar.

The St. John’s Mazurka Mazurka (3/4), D Major. I first came across this lovely mazurka from Newfoundland on an album by Any Old Time. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The St. John’s Mazurka on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin.

Stan Chapman’s Jig (6/8), A Major. Composed by Jerry Holland – a renowned Cape Breton fiddler and one of the handful of tunes from that part of the world which has been “adopted” by Irish musicians. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Stan Chapman’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Stack Of Barley Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 22 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Stack Of Barley on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing The Stack Of Barley on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file, optimised in November 2021 using Audacity software).

The Stack Of Rye Hornpipe (4/4), A Dorian. Composed by Junior Crehan (and often known simply as “Junior Crehan’s”). Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Stack Of Rye on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Stage Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Without a doubt the tune I have found most difficult to learn. It took me a very long while to “internalise” the second part – it simply didn’t seem to make musical sense. And then one day, the penny dropped and the notes became a tune. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Stage on my G&O #34 mandolin. Listen to me playing The Stage on my Kentucky KM1000 mandolin.

The Stage Stop Slip Jig (9/8), B Minor. This slip jig was written by Colin Farrell as part of his “tune a day” project. I’m not usually a fan of syncopation – probably because my musicality isn’t always good enough to syncopate tunes well enough that they don’t jar! However in this case, I was happy to stick with it as this is such a lovely tune and such good fun to play… Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Stage Stop on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Star Above The Garter Slide (12/8), D Mixolydian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Alternative tab by Michael Gregory here. 22 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Star Above The Garter on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing The Star Above The Garter on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar. Listen to me playing The Star Above The Garter on my Eastman MD304 mandolin (original website sound file, optimised in November 2021 using Audacity software). (You can also hear Michael Gregory play this tune – the third in a set of three – here.)

The Star Of Kilkenny Reel (4/4), E Minor. Composed by Martin Mulhaire. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Star Of Kilkenny on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Star Of Munster Jig (6/8), A Dorian. Although most commonly played as a reel, The Star Of Munster is also played from time to time in jig format. (And it makes a fine jig, indeed…) Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Star Of Munster (jig) on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Star Of Munster Reel (4/4), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

The Staten Island Hornpipe Hornpipe (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing The Staten Island Hornpipe on my Paris Swing “Macaferri’ mandolin (recorded for The Mandolin Cafe’s Song-A-Week Social Group).

Statia Donnelly’s Jig (6/8), D Mixolydian. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Statia Donnelly’s on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Steampacket Reel (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Steampacket on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Stenson’s No. 1 Reel (4/4), B Minor. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Stenson’s No. 1 on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

Stenson’s No. 2 Reel (4/4), A Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Stoneybatter Slip Jig (9/8), EMin. I was first drawn to this tune which is noted in Breandan Breathnach’s Ceol Rince na h-Eireann Volume 1 by the name (my partner has family connections with Stoneybatter, an area of Dublin just north of the river and to the west of the city centre). And then the tune itself grabbed me. However, I found it very confusing to learn for quite some time. It’s been alleged that Tommy Potts based his slip jig, The Butterfly on Stoneybatter and the family resemblance remains strong to the extent that when I was learning Stomeybatter my fingers gravitated towards the patterns in The Butterfly. It took a great deal of practice to drill the new melody into my head and into my fingers! No reference at thesession.org Mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Stoneybatter on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing Stoneybatter on my Ashbury AT-40 tenor guitar.

The Stranger Hornpipe (4/4), D Mixolydian. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Stranger on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Sunday In Flatbush Hornpipe (4/4), A Major. Composed by Eddie Dooley. A very lovely hornpipe. I struggle a little bit with the tune as it was originally composed and so I have tabbed out a slightly more mandolin-friendly version of the tune as I play it. However if you’re more dextrous than me, you might want to learn the original. The original version of the tune is tabbed out here. My simplified version of the mandolin tab here. Listen to me playing Sunday in Flatbush on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Sunny Banks Reel (4/4), D Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 20 November 2021. Improved sound files added. Listen to me playing The Sunny Banks on my Paris Swing Macaferri mandolin. Listen to me playing The Sunny Banks on my G&O #34 mandolin (original website sound file, optimised in November 2021 using Audacity software).

The Sunset Clouds Polka (2/4), D Major. Bill Black – http://capeirish.com – has published a collection of manuscript tune files found in Eddie Dooley’s house after his death. This is one of the tunes in that collection, which Bill attributes to Paddy Curry. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Sunset Clouds on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

The Sunshine Hornpipe Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. More often played in A Major. A flute-playing friend of mine plays this tune in G and suggested that I learn it in G to be able to play along with him. It was good tip. I struggle to play this is in A – it’s a lot easier to play in G! Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing The Sunshine Hornpipe on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Swallow’s Tail Reel (4/4), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp). Further info here. Mandolin tab here. 2 June 2021. Improved sound file added. Listen to me playing The Swallow’s Tail on my G&O #34 mandolin. 29 September 2022.  I was in a session two nights ago and one of my session colleagues started this tune. It had been such a long time since I played that I was completely lost. So I resolved to re-learn it and – while I was at it – to re-record the tune for this collection. New version.  Listen to me playing The Swallow’s Tail on my Revelation Jaguar electric mandolin.

The Swallowtail Jig (6/8), A Dorian (i.e. one sharp) and also in E Dorian (i.e. two sharps). Further info here. Mandolin tab for the A Dorian version here. Listen to the A Dorian version… Mandolin tab for the E Dorian version here. Listen to the E Dorian version… 2 October 2021. Additional sound file. Listen to me playing The Swallowtail Jig in E Dorian on my Falder mandolin (recorded for the Mandolin Cafe’s Song-A-Week Social Group).

Sweeney’s Hornpipe (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Sweeney’s on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Sweeney’s Buttermilk Reel (4/4), B Minor. A few weeks ago one of the regular visitors to this site, and an occasional email correspondent, asked if I could tab out this reel, written by Brendan McGlinchey and maybe make a sound file to help his practice. One of his friends plays the reel and he was smitten by it. His friend had typed out the tune in abc – which he attached to the email; he doesn’t read abc (or sheet music), just tab. I had to confess at the time that although I knew of the tune, it wasn’t in my repertoire and that if memory served me right I had “given it a go” on several occasions but couldn’t quite get to grips with it. (It’s quite the difficult tune, in my opinion.) After several “pretty please” email rallies, I decided to give it another lash. I sent him the tab, based pretty much on the abc typed out by his mate, and the sound file by email. A few weeks later came the email with the good news that after solid practice to the exclusion of all other playing, he’d cracked it. And he looks forward to surprising his friend when next they get together by joining him in the tune. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Sweeney’s Polka Polka (2/4), A Major. I came across some scribbled ABC for this tune ion an old notebook. I haven’t been able to track down a polka on “thesession” called Sweeney’s with this setting and have no memory of where the ABC came from. It happens some times! Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Sweet Biddy Daly Jig (6/8), A Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…

Sweet Biddy Of Ballyvourney Reel (4/4), G Major. Mandolin tab here.  Listen to me playing Sweet Biddy Of Ballyvourney on my Belmuse EM-190 electric mandolin.

Swinging On A Gate Reel (4/4/), G Major. Further info here. Mandolin tab here. Listen…