The Humours of Tullycrine

Hornpipe, A Dorian, Traditional Irish
Also known as Bobby Casey’s (Hornpipe); Humours of Tullycreen
Tune of the Week: August 7, 2022; March 16, 2025

The Humours of Tullycrine is a popular Irish hornpipe from County Clare, Ireland. Tullycrine is a rural area (townland) in West Clare, about 10 km from the town of Kilrush and the Shannon Estuary. The tune is associated with West Clare, and with the playing of Junior Crehan, Garrett Barry, Bobby Casey, and John Kelly.

If you are a bit hazy on the Dorian mode, see the article “Dorian, Mixolydian, Oh My: Modes in a Nutshell” for a brief and friendly explanation.

Recordings

• Video – Sean Keane: The Humours Of Tullycrine – solo fiddle. From the album Gusty’s Frolicks
• Video – Kevin Burke: Caisleán na nÓr/Bobby Casey’s Hornpipe – from the album If the Cap Fits. (The Humours of Tullycrine, called Bobby Casey’s Hornpipe here, begins at time 1:47 in this recording.)
• Video – Tunes From Doolin: The Humours of Tullycrine (hornpipe) | Irish Music Tunes – played on concertina

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. As a hornpipe, this tune should be played with swing, and it should be ornamented with triplets and trebles.

Sets

Examples of sets that include this tune.

• Tullycrine-Cronin’s Hornpipe Set: The Humours of Tullycrine (A Dorian) / Cronin’s Hornpipe (G)
• The Golden Castle / Humours of Tullycrine
• Humours of Tullycrine / Kitty’s Wedding
• Humours of Tullycrine / Mickey Callaghan’s Fancy
• Humours of Tullycrine / Queen of the Fairies

References and Resources

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

• More Recordings
  • Audio – Bua: The Humors of Tullycrine / The Queen of the Fairies – from the album om Live At Martyrs’
  • Video – Tony Sullivan: Humours of Tullycrine/Scully Casey’s – played on tenor banjo. From the album Sully’s Fancy.

• Books
  • Book & audio – Irish Music – 400 Traditional Tunes by Stephen Ducke – with audio.
  • Book & audio – Grey Larsen: 150 Gems of Irish Music for Tin Whistle – with audio tracks of the tunes played on tin whistle.
  • Book- Kinsgton Irish Slow Session Tune Book – PDF format book available for free download from The Harp of Tara Branch (Ontario, Canada) of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE).
• Lessons
  • Lesson – Marla Fibish: The Irish Mandolin – The Humours of Tullycrine – This lesson is part of the course Irish Mandolin with Marla Fibish, on Peghead Nation.
• Other Resources
  • Webpage – Tunes from Doolin: Humours Of Tullycrine – sheet music, ABC notation, video demo of the tune played on concertina, and other information
  • Webpage – John Kelly Capel Street (website): The Humours of Tullycrine – page has audio recording, sheet music, and other information related to John Kelly’s playing of the tune.
  • Webpage – TheSession: The Humours of Tullycrine (Hornpipe)
  • Article: Dorian, Mixolydian, Oh My: Modes in a Nutshell, by Jonathan Lay, TrailJams