The Boys of Malin

Reel (3-part), A, Traditional Irish
TrailJams Tune of the Week: June 29, 2025

This traditional Irish reel is named for the lads of Malin, a village at the northernmost point of the island of Ireland. Set as it is in the key of A Major, The Boys of Malin is a tune that rises up and rings out.

The village of Malin, in County Donegal, is 8 miles (13 km) from Malin Head. It is at the northern end of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. On a clear day, the hills and islands of Scotland are visible from Malin Head, including Islay and the Mull of Kintyre.

Recordings

• Video – Comhaltas: The Boys of Malin – session recording from the album Foinn Seisiún 3
• Video – Patrick Street: The Boys of Malin / John Stenson’s Nos. 1 & 2 – from the album On the Fly
• Video – Sharon Shannon: The Boys of Malin – from the album The Winkles Tapes 1989 (Sharon Shannon, Gerry O’Beirne, Mary Shannon)

Sheet Music

As always for traditional tunes, the musical notation and chords do not indicate the “right” way to play the tune, but are a useful reference. The tune is usually played with triplets in its B part (second part), as in this version. Listen to the linked sample recordings and lessons for good examples of ornamentation and variation.

Sets

Examples of sets that include this tune.

• Fermoy Lasses Reel Set: The Galway Rambler (G) / The Fermoy Lasses (Em) / The Boys of Malin (A)
• George White’s Favourite / Boys of Malin / Gravel Walk
• Devanney’s Goat / The Killavil Fancy / The Boys of Malin
• The Congress / Flowers of Redhill / Boys of Malin

References and Resources

For those who want to dig deeper, here are some other resources.

• More Recordings
  • Audio – John Weed and Stuart Mason: The Boys of Malin – played slowly on fiddle with rhythm guitar. From the album Slow & Easy Volume 1.
  • Video –Shane Farrell: The Boys of Malin Reel – Irish Tenor Banjo Music – tenor banjo solo, tune with variations
  • Video – Chris Smith: The Union / The New-Mown Meadow / The Boys of Malin – from the album Coyotebanjo, Irish Traditional Music from America, Chris Smith with Roger Landes and Randal Bays. Played on tenor banjo and fiddle with bouzouki backing. (The Boys of Malin starts at time 2:10 in this recording.)
• Books
  • Book – Comhaltas: Foinn Seisiún, Volume 3 — Published by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
  • Book – John Weed and Stuart Mason: Slow & Easy Volumes 1 and 2
  • Book – Susan Songer with Clyde Curley: The Portland Collection, Contra Dance Music in the Pacific Northwest, Volume 3 – (This setting of the tune has a fourth part added, composed by Todd Silverstein, to make the tune suitable for contra dance. Without that added part the dancers would be in the wrong place at the end of the tune.)
• Lessons
  • Lesson – Hatao’s Irish tune of the day: The Boys of Malin (Single Reel, A Ionian) Learn an Irish Tune Everyday – played on solo flute with sheet music in video
  • Lesson – David Benedict: “The Boys of Malin” Mandolin Lesson – brief video lesson with sheet music, tablature, and chords displayed
  • Lesson – Michael Eskin (TradLessons.com): The Boys of Malin – tin whistle video demonstration
• Additional Resources
  • Web page – The Session: The Boys Of Malin (reel) – crowdsourced sheet music, comments and more
  • Article – Wikipedia: Malin, County Donegal – a brief article about the village of Malin