The Maids of Mitchelstown

Reel (single), D Dorian, Traditional Irish
Also known as The Chicken on the Saucepan; The Maids of Mitchellstown; The Maid of Mitchelstown

The Maids of Mitchelstown. Traditional Irish Reel. TrailJams Tune of the Week. Play it together February 12, 2023. Illustration copyright 2023 Jonathan Lay. trailjams.org

The Maids of Mitchelstown is traditional Irish single reel that sounds great played slowly or at dance tempo. It is named for the town of Mitchelstown in County Cork, Ireland. At the foot of the Galtee Mountains, Mitchelstown is near the cities of Cork and Limerick, and the towns of Fermoy and Mallow.

Recordings

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.

Sheet music and chords for The Maids of Mitchelstown, traditional Irish reel in D Dorian. Arrangement by Jonathan Lay. trailjams.org
Play from the Dots
Slow tempo 65bpm
Moderate tempo 85bpm

Sets

Examples of sets that include this tune.

  • The Porthole of the Kelp / The Maids of Mitchelstown
  • Tuttle’s Reel / The Bunch of Green Rushes / The Maids of Mitchelstown

References and Resources

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