This is a selected list of Irish and Celtic tunes we have played together at TrailJams sessions. If you are coming to a TrailJams Irish session, this will give you some idea of tunes the group is likely to know. If you are building your own Irish tune repertoire, or starting a new session, consider this as a suggestion list of tunes to start with.
“Tune of the Week” tunes are in bold — these are tunes that the TrailJams music community has given special attention to learning and playing. Click the link on a tune name to go to a page with recordings, sheet music, and other resources for learning the tune. Tunes marked with a star (⭐) are favorites, meaning we’ve played them many times. For some tunes there are links to resources, like The Portland Collection or The Session, with versions similar to the way we played them. (You’ll find these and other useful resources on the TrailJams Resources page.) If you are uncertain about modes, the article “Dorian, Mixolydian, Oh My: Modes in a Nutshell” has a brief and painless explanation.
Reels
- ⭐Banshee, The (G)
- ⭐Castle Kelly (Am)
- Congress Reel, The (A Dorian)
- ⭐Cooley’s (Em or E Dorian)
- Cup of Tea, The (D)
- Da Slockit Light (D)
- Devanney’s Goat (D, attributed to Tommy Whelan)
- ⭐Drowsy Maggie (E Dorian)
- Earl’s Chair, The (D)
- Far from Home (G)
- Father Kelly’s Reel (G, aka The Rossmore Jetty)
- Galway Rambler, The (G)
- Humours of Tulla, The (D, a.k.a., The Tulla Reel)
- ⭐Julia Delaney’s Reel (D Dorian)
- ⭐Maid Behind the Bar, The (D)
- Maids of Mitchelstown (D Dorian)
- Man of the House, The (E Dorian)
- ⭐Merry Blacksmith, The (D)
- Miss McLeod’s Reel (Hop High Ladies, G)
- Morning Star (G)
- Mountain Road, The (D)
- Musical Priest, The (Bm)
- New Copperplate, The (G)
- Old Copperplate, The (A Dorian)
- Old Grey Cat (E Dorian) – See: The Portland Collection, Vol. 1
- Oot Be Est Da Vong (Shetland reel, D)
- Porthole of the Kelp (D Dorian, by Bobby Casey)
- Reconciliation, The (A)
- Rolling in the Ryegrass (D, aka The Shannon Breeze)
- Saint Anne’s Reel (D)
- Sally Gardens, The (G)
- Sheehan’s Reel (G)
- ⭐Silver Spear, The (D)
- Sleep Soond Ida Mornin’ (Am)
- ⭐Spootiskerry (Shetland reel, G, by Samuel Ian Rothmar Burns)
- Star of Munster, The (A Dorian)
- Swinging on a Gate (G)
- ⭐Tam Lin (Dm, by Davey Arthur, circa 1974)
- ⭐Willafjord (Shetland reel, D)
- Wind that Shakes the Barley, The (D)
- Wise Maid, The (D)
Jigs
- Apples in Winter (E Dorian)
- ⭐Banish Misfortune (D Mixolydian)
- ⭐Behind the Haystack (D, a.k.a. Munster Buttermilk)
- ⭐Black Rogue, The (D)
- Blackthorn Stick, The (G)
- ⭐Blarney Pilgrim, The (D Mixolydian)
- ⭐Cliffs of Moher (A Dorian)
- Connaughtman’s Rambles, The (D)
- Cordal Jig, The (D, a.k.a. Julia Clifford’s; Julia Clifford’s Favourite; Morgan Rattler)
- Gallagher’s Frolics (E Dorian, Em)
- Gander in the Pratie Hole (D Mixolydian)
- Garrett Barry’s Jig (D Mixolydian)
- Geese in the Bog, The (D Mixolydian)
- ⭐Hag at the Churn (D Mixolydian)
- Haste to the Wedding (D)
- Have a Drink with Me (G)
- Humours of Trim (D, a.k.a. The Rolling Waves)
- ⭐I Buried my Wife and Danced on Her Grave (D Mixolydian)
- ⭐Jerry’s Beaver Hat (D)
- ⭐Jimmy Ward’s (Jig, G)
- Kerfeunteun Jig (G, D; by Hammy Hamilton; a.k.a. Kerfunten Jig; Kerfunken Jig.)
- ⭐Kesh Jig (G)
- ⭐Kitty Lie Over (The Frost is All Over, D)
- Larry O’Gaff’s (G)
- ⭐Lilting Banshee (A Dorian)
- Lilting Fisherman (G&D)
- Maison de Glace (D, by Rejean Brunet, 1997) – See: The Portland Collection, Vol. 2; TheSession #4
- Mist-Covered Mountain
- ⭐Moon and Seven Stars (D, English traditional)
- ⭐Morrison’s Jig (E Dorian)
- ⭐Mug of Brown Ale (A Dorian)
- ⭐Munster Buttermilk (G, a.k.a. Christmas Day in the Morning)
- ⭐My Darling Asleep (D)
- ⭐Old Favorite, The (G)
- ⭐Out on the Ocean (G)
- Pipe on the Hob (3-Part), The (A Dorian)
- Rambling Pitchfork (D)
- ⭐Scatter the Mud (A Dorian)
- Sporting Pitchfork (key?)
- Tobin’s Favorite (D)
- ⭐Swallowtail Jig (E Dorian)
Hornpipes
- ⭐Boys of Bluehill, The (D)
- Brown Casket, The (D)
- Chief O’Neill’s Favorite (D)
- ⭐Cronin’s Hornpipe (G)
- Cuckoo’s Nest, The (D)
- Dunphy’s (G)
- ⭐Harvest Home (D)
- Humours of Tullycrine, The (A Dorian, a.k.a. Bobby Casey’s)
- Jacky Tar (Em or E Dorian)
- Kitty’s Wedding (D)
- ⭐Off to California (G)
- ⭐Peacock’s Feather #1, The (D Dorian)
- ⭐Peacock’s Feather #2, The (D Major)
- Plains of Boyle, The (D)
- Poll Ha’Penny (A Mixolydian)
- ⭐Pride of Petravore (Em, a.k.a. Eileen Og)
- ⭐Rights of Man, The (Em)
- Staten Island (D)
- Tuamgraney Castle (A Dorian, a.k.a. Loch Leven Castle; Tuamgraine Castle)
Polkas
- ⭐Ballydesmond Polka #1 (A Dorian)
- ⭐Ballydesmond Polka #2 (A Dorian)
- ⭐Ballydesmond Polka #3 (A Dorian)
- Bill Sullivan’s Polka (A)
- ⭐Britches full of Stitches (G, A) – See: The Session #4 (key of G); The Session #2 (key of A)
- ⭐Captain Bing (G) – See: The Session #3
- Ger the Rigger (a.k.a. Jer the Rigger, A)
- Girl I left Behind Me, The (G) – See: The Session #13
- John Ryan’s Polka (D)
- Little Diamond Polka (D)
- Maids of Ardagh, The (D)
- ⭐Mairi’s Wedding (G)
- Murroe Polka (D)
- Rakes of Mallow, The (G)
Marches
- After the Battle of Aughrim (A Dorian, March) – See: The Fiddler’s Fakebook
- Brian Boru’s March (6/8 Em)
- Coleman’s March (D, March)
- Garryowen (6/8 G, a.k.a. Garry Owen) VD1 VD2 – See: Video1; Video2
- Wren, The (Bm, March / Andro)
Slip Jigs, 9/8
- ⭐Butterfly, The (Em)
- ⭐Boys of Ballisodare (G)
- Drops of Brandy (G)
- ⭐Fig for a Kiss, A (E Dorian)
- Foxhunters (D)
- Hardiman the Fiddler (D Mixolydian)
- Humours of Derrycrossane, The (G)
- Humours of Whiskey, The (Bm)
- ⭐Kid on the Mountain, The (Em)
- ⭐Snowy Path, The (D)
Slides, 12/8
- ⭐Brosna Slide (G)
- ⭐Denis Murphy’s Slide (D)
- ⭐O’Keefe’s Slide (A Dorian)
- Dingle Regatta (G? D?)
- Merrily Kissed the Quaker (G)
- ⭐Road to Lisdoonvarna, The (E Dorian)
- Star Above the Garter, The (G)
- Teir Abhaile (Am, pronounced “Tare A-wall-ya”)
Waltzes, 3/4
- Arran Boat Song (Em)
- ⭐Ashokan Farewell, The (D, Jay Ungar) See: The Session #4
- ⭐Crested Hens, The (E Dorian, bouree) The Session #1
- Far Away (Bm)
- Hector the Hero (D, air, lament, by James Scott Skinner (1843-1927))
- ⭐Inisheer Waltz (G, air, by Thomas Wash circa 1980)
- ⭐Josefine’s Waltz (G)
- Lord Inchiquin (D)
- Si Bheag Si Mhor (D)
- Skye Boat Song (G)
- ⭐South Wind (G)
Mazurkas
- ⭐John Doherty’s Mazurka (D)
- ⭐ Mazurka Limousin (Em, French traditional)
- ⭐Sonny’s Mazurka (D)
Barn Dances
- ⭐Billy Malley’s (G)
- ⭐Gypsy Princess (G, A)
- ⭐Lucy Farr’s
Other Tunes
- Flowers of Edinburgh, The (G)
- George Brabazon, Planxty (G)
- ⭐King of the Fairies, The (E Dorian)