Tobin’s Favorite

Jig, D, Traditional Irish
TrailJams Tune of the Week for October 24, 2021; May 28, 2023

Tobin's Favorite. Traditional Irish Jig. TrailJams Tune of the Week. Play it together May 28, 2023. Illustration copyright 2021, 2023 Jonathan Lay. trailjams.org

This triumphant Irish jig was among those collected by Francis O’Neil and published in his O’Neill’s Music of Ireland in 1850. We don’t know who Tobin was, but this tune is still a favorite among tune players, listeners, and dancers.

Recordings

Audio – Comhaltas: Tobin’s Favourite – from the album Foinn Seisiún 1: Traditional Irish Session Tunes
Video – Dulahan Ireland: Tobin’s Favourite Jig – played on fiddle, with rhythm guitar
Audio – An Dochas: Tobin’s Favorite/Garrett Barry’s – from the album Dragonfly Redux (Spokane, Washington, USA)

Dots (Music Notation)

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 Tobin's Favorite. Traditional Irish jig in D major. Arrangement by Jonathan Lay. trailjams.org

Play from the Dots

Slow tempo 70bpm

Moderate tempo 90bpm

Sets

Examples of sets that include this tune.

TrailJams Waves on the Ocean Jig Set: The Rolling Waves; Out on the Ocean; Tobin's Favorite. Illustration copyright 2023 Jonathan Lay. trailjams.org — Waves on the Ocean Jig Set

Waves on the Ocean Jig Set: The Rolling Waves (D) / Out on the Ocean (G) / Tobin’s Favorite (D)
Tobin’s Favorite/Garrett Barry’s/Kitty Lie Over

References and Resources

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

More Recordings
- Video – Shane Farrell: Tobin’s Favourite Jig – played on tenor banjo
- Audio – John Whelan: Tobin’s Favorite / Trip to the Cottage – played on button accordion. From John Whelan’s 2021 “Taking Time” Session Recordings Archive, Taking Time #4. (Vashon Island, Washington, USA)
Books
- Book – Foinn Seisiún, Volume 1 — Published by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
- Book & Audio – Learn to Play Irish Fiddle, by Tom Morley
- Book & Audio – Irish Music 400 Traditional Tunes, by Stephen Ducke
- Book & Audio – Matt & Shannon Heaton: In Harmony
Lessons
- Lesson – Stephen Ducke (tradschool): Tobin’s Favourite (Jig) – 1 of 2 – Tin Whistle Lesson – video demonstration of the tune played on D tin whistle. The lesson continues in Part 2.
Additional Resources
- Webpage – The Irish Traditional Music Tune Index: Tobin’s Favorite – curated resources about the tune
- Webpage – The Session: Tobin’s Favourite Jig – crowdsourced sheet music, comments, and other information about the tune