What's New

*9/21/2001
Friday update…20 new hornpipes, as promised! Added these hornpipes:An Tseanbhean Bhocht, The Belfast Hornpipe (Sweep's Hornpipe), The Belharbour Hornpipe, Ben Hill, The Boys of Ballycastle, The Cuckoo's Nest #2, Byrne's Hornpipe, Buck from the Mountain (McElligott's Fancy), Dan O'Sullivan's Favorite, The Derry Hornpipe, Dunphy's Hornpipe, The Echo, The Elk's Festival, Father Dollard's Hornpipe, Fisherman's Lilt, The Flowing Tide, The High Level Hornpipe, The Japanese Hornpipe, The Kingstown Hornpipe, and Madame Vanoni.

*9/17/2001
Ok..now for something completely different: Hornpipes!
Submitted for your approval: Alexander's Hornpipe, The Blackbird, Callahan's Hornpipe, An Comhra Donn, The Fairies' Hornpipe, The Flowers of Edinburgh, The Home Ruler, Kitty's Wedding, The Plains of Boyle, The Poppy Leaf, and the Wicklow Hornpipe.
Next week: more hornpipes! They are very under-populated in my archives.

*9/12/2001
Like many of you, I was in a state of shock, sadness, and outrage yesterday. I read with growing depression messages from friends saying they could not bring themselves to play their instruments. Sadly, I shared that sentiment. I left work early yesterday, and spent much of my remaining evening watching television and holding my wife. I recieved email from a few friends of mine, telling me that they were not going to this week's local Irish session. I can say that the thought of going to session didn't exactly appeal to me as well.

However, today, I reflect back on yesterday's events. The aim of terrorism, I feel, is exactly what it's name implies: To paralyze a people with dread, fear, and terror until they capitulate. While President Bush's speech may have been hastily penned by professional speechwriters, there were fundamental truths contained within it. America is a strong country, a proud country, and while I have sometimes been ashamed of the actions my government, I have never been ashamed to be an American.

There's not much I can personally do to make amends for the many innocent lives lost yesterday. I must leave that task up to my government and it's allies. However, in my own way I can strike directly at their goals. I *will not* be paralyzed. I refuse to bow down to fear and despair. I do not wish to make less of the feelings of those who are grief-stricken, because we have been witness to a terrible tragedy, and have earned our grief. However, I stand straight and proclaim that no act of terror will bring me to a standstill. To that end, today I have added fifty tunes to my archive. These songs are all reels...jaunty, energetic tunes. And tonight, I will be going to session, even if I am the only one there. And when I play happy music there, I hope that it is understood that I do so not in callous disregard for the lives lost yesterday, but in defiance of the evil that took them.

Greg Mahan, The Wandering Whistler

Today's tunes are:The Bank of Ireland, Bridey Morley's Favorite, The Bucks of Oranmore, Castle Kelly, the Cup of Tea, The Fair Wind, Father Kelly's, Fermoy Lassies, The Floggin' Reel, George White's Fancy, The Glass of Beer, Granny Quinn's, The Green Fields of Rossbeigh, The Green Gowned Lass, The Halfpenny Reel, The Humours of Ballyconnell, The Humours of Tooma, The Hunter's Purse, Jenny's Chickens, Jenny's Wedding, The Jolly Clamdiggers, The Jolly Tinker, The Killarney Boys of Pleasure, The Laurel Tree, The Longford Collector, The Maids of Mitchelstown, The Maids of Mount Kisco, The Man of the House, Martin Wynne's Reel, Master Crowley, The Merry Blacksmith, Miller of Drohan, The Morning Star, Mountain Top, The Musical Priest (our 400th entry!), The New Rigged Shp, Old Bush, The Peeler's Jacket, The Poor Scholar, The Pure Drop, Rakish Paddy, The Road to Lisdoonvarna (I have another version to post next week), Shaskeen, The Silver Spear, Sporting Paddy, The Tailor's Thimble, The Sally Gardens, Virginia Reel, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, and The Woman of the House.

*9/8/2001
I'm about all jigged out! 14 more jigs for you to enjoy! The Bank of Turf, The Clare Jig (The Mug of Brown Ale), The Hag at the Churn, The Humours of Trim, I Never Shall Ween Her, O'Farrell's Welcome to Limerick, Paddy Fahey's Jig, Rambling Pitchfork, The Rolling Waves, Scully Casey's Jig, Spot the Wallop, Tatter Jack Walsh, Wallop the Spot, The Woods of Limerick. Have fun!