Seán sa cheo, reel

This tune was transcribed from the playing of Néillidh Boyle (Niallaí Ó Baoill) of Cró na Sealg, An Clochán Liath. Séamus Ennis was good friends with Néillidh and collected a considerable body of music from him on his collecting trips. He noted in his diary (8.3.44) that one of the things he found most interesting about Néillidh Boyle’s material was the fact that he ‘got it all from the lilting of his mother’, Neansa Nic Suibhne, who was originally from Cruit. This was also noted on the transcription of ‘Seán sa Cheo’ which was the second of two tunes he wrote down from Néillidh Boyle’s playing in early March 1944. A popular tune among Donegal fiddle players, it is particularly suited to octave playing which remains an important element of Donegal fiddle music.