Music manuscript collections of Luke Donnellan and Patrick McGahon  which were published in facsimile in the appendices of A Hidden Ulster (pp. 435-507. 2003), have become a key source for Oriel musicians to replenish repertoire of older versions of tunes.

As well as ORIEL ARTS musicians, Darren Mag Aoidh, Dónal O’Connor and Gerry O’Connor, the tunes are also sourced by flute player, Dermot Rafferty, fiddle players Séamus Sands, Paul Bradley and piper Tiarnan Ó Duinnchinn, with tunes played by accordionist Martin Quinn, piper Finnian O’Connor, accordionist Gráinne Smith and flute player Nuala Kennedy. It is a key source for the Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music Music at DkIT, Music Generation Louth, harpist, Deirdre Ní Bhuachalla and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Ceoltóirí Éireann Dún Dealgan.

A Source for Oriel Musicians Contents

    Seamus Sands — fiddle

    Seamus Sands, who was brought up in County Down and now lives in County Cork, plays six tunes on his CD Across Bridges, sourced from the Patrick McGahon and Luke Donnellan manuscripts published in A Hidden Ulster. The tracks below are taken from his CD released in 2015, and also his own recordings made for Oriel Arts.  There is more here about Seamus Sands on his website.

    1. The McGahon Hornpipe

    Here he plays an untitled hornpipe from the Patrick McGahon Collection which he calls The McGahon hornpipe (No 74 A Hidden Ulster p. 456) with is also recorded on his CD. Séamus remarks in his notes that it doesn’t fit with the more common rhythms of a hornpipe played nowadays. (Audio: Trad. Arr. © Seamus Sands, Across Bridges)

    Irish fiddle player Seamus Sands
    McGahon Hornpipe manuscript
    No. 74 Hornpipe Patrick McGahon Mss A Hidden Ulster p. 456) c. Oriel Arts
    Play Video

    2. Scotch Groves, Toss the Feathers and Dictates of love

    Séamus Sands plays another set of three reels with Scottish influences, from the Luke Donnellan Collection. Scotch Groves, Toss the Feathers and Dictates of love. The first is found in the main Donnellan collection in the National Folklore Collection in UCD; the second tune is Toss the Feathers (No. 71 p. A Hidden Ulster), again a well known tune but Donnellan’s version interests him and it has strong piping influences.  The manuscripts of these tunes from Donnellan are printed here below under the audio. (Audio: Trad arr © Seamus Sands The Green Bunch of Joy CD (Dermot Rafferty))

    Donnellan Ms No 71
    Donnellan Ms No 71. Toss the Feathers. Ms, A Hidden Ulster © Oriel Arts
    The Dictates of Love - Donnellan Collection No 89
    The Dictates of Love Donnellan Collection No 89
    The Dictates of Love. Donnellan Collection No 89. A Hidden Ulster p. 504-5

    3. The Little Boy in the Boat and The Boy in the Gap

    Séamus Sands plays a set of two reels. The first The Little Boy in the Boat and the second The Boy in the Gap from the Donnellan Collection. They are taken from his 2015 CD Across Bridges, by kind permission. In the sleeve notes he writes that he plays the first tune with a sense of dialogue, as the phrases of music appear like a musical conversation between two people in a room, playing or singing alternate phrases or echoing each other. He plays a two part version of the Boy in the Gap rather than the common three part. He plays them slower than reels are normally played in order to convey the simplicity of the melody and phrasing. (Audio: Trad.Arr. © Seamus Sands  Track 3 Across Bridges CD)

    The Little Boy in the Boat No 103 Donnellan Collection
    No. 103 The Little Boy in the Boat, Donnellan Collection in A Hidden Ulster © Oriel Arts
    No 94 The Boy in the Gap Donnellan
    No 94 The Boy in the Gap Donnellan Ms A Hidden Ulster © Oriel Arts

    Dermot Rafferty — flute

    Dermot Rafferty from County Armagh has been living in Manchester for many years.  He plays at least 11 tunes in total sourced from the Patrick McGahon and Luke Donnellanmanuscripts published in A Hidden Ulster.

    The tracks below are taken from his CD The Green Bunch of Joy  with guest fiddle player, Séamus Sands. It was released in 2013, and on it are tunes that he has sourced from A Hidden Ulster. (Audio: Trad. Arr. © Dermot Rafferty The Green Bunch of Joy CD)

    4. Paddy Carey’s and If Ever I Marry

    Dermot Rafferty plays 2 jigs from the Patrick McGahon Collectionincluding Paddy Carey’s (No. 85 p. 460 A Hidden Ulster) and If Ever I Marry (no 70. p. 455 A Hidden Ulster).

    Oriel flute player Dermot Rafferty
    No 85 Paddy Carey from McGahon Collection No 85
    No 85 Paddy Carey from McGahon Collection No 85 p.460 A Hidden Ulster. © Oriel Arts
    No 70 If Ever I Marry I’m the Son of a Whore. Patrick McGahon Collection
    No 70 If Ever I Marry I’m the Son of a Whore. Patrick McGahon Collection – p. 455 A Hidden Ulster. © Oriel Arts

    5. The Downfall and The Cottage in the Groves

    Flute player, Dermot Rafferty has also recorded a selection of tunes from the Luke Donnellan Collectionfrom A Hidden Ulster including reels The Downfall (No. 37 A Hidden Ulster p.496) and The Cottage in the Groves (No. 31 A Hidden Ulster p. 495). (Audio: Trad. Arr.© Dermot Rafferty. The Green Bunch of Joy CD)