The Galway Rambler

Reel (single reel), G, Traditional Irish

The Galway Rambler is a traditional Irish reel with a happy strut to it.

Recordings

• Video – The Tune Makers with Charlie Lennon: ‘The Galway Rambler’ and ‘The Bucks of Oranmore’ – The Tune Makers are Liz Carroll (fiddle), Máirtín O’Connor (button accordion), & Dave Flynn (guitar).
• Audio – Comhaltas: Devanney’s Goat / Galway Rambler / Last Night’s Fun – session recording. From Foinn Seisiún Book 3. (The Galway Rambler starts at time 1:17 in this recording.)
• Video – Tunes from Doolin: The Galway Rambler (Reel) – played on concertina

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.

Sets

Examples of sets that include this tune.

• Devanney’s Goat Reel Set: Devaney’s Goat (D) / Galway Rambler (G) / Swinging on a Gate (G)
• Devaney’s Goat (D) / Galway Rambler (G) / Last Night’s Fun
• Fermoy Lasses / Reconciliation / Galway Rambler
• The Galway Rambler / The Bucks of Oranmore

References and Resources

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

• More Recordings
  • Audio – Stephen Ducke: The Galway Rambler (Reel) – played on tin whistle. From the book Irish Music – 400 Traditional Tunes
  • Audio – Tony O’Rourke: Maud Miller/ Galway Rambler/ Morning Star – played on tenor banjo with piano backing. From the album The Maid at the Well. (The Galway Rambler starts at time 1:00 in this recording.)
  • Video – The Whistler: The Galway Rambler (Reel) – played on tin whistle
  • Video – Mossie Martin: The Galway Rambler / The London Lassies – two reels – played on fiddle at moderate temo.
• Books
  • Book – Comhaltas: Foinn Seisiún, Volume 3 — Published by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
  • Book & Audio – Stephen Ducke: Irish Music 400 Traditional Tunes
  • Book – Grey Larsen: 300 Gems of Irish Music for All Instruments
• Lessons
  • Lessons – Online Academy of Irish Music: The Galway Rambler – taught on tenor banjo and tin whistle. Play-along virtual session. (Requires subscription to OAIM.)
  • Lesson – Shannon Heaton: Learning Irish Flute – Tune of the Month with Shannon Heaton – Galway Rambler [Reel] – taught phrase-by-phrase on flute, with advice on posture and body position. Phrase-by-phrase instruction begins at time 7:22 in this recording.
  • Lesson – Luke Gannon: The Galway Rambler – taught phrase-by-phrase on button accordion
• Other Resources
  • Webpage: The Session: The Galway Rambler (Reel) – crowdsourced sheet music, comments, and other information.