The bridal jig

Séamus Ennis was always made to feel welcome by Colm Ó Caodháin and his family. In his diary 26.6.43 he noted ‘of all the people I have ever met, Colm Ó Caodháin is the person I most enjoy working with’. Described by Ennis as ‘a very kind man and always inclined to laugh’ (26.5.43), Colm Ó Caodháin provided a rich store of songs and tunes for Ennis and he collected extensively from him during his time as collector of music and song with the Irish Folklore Commission. This jig, transcribed from Colm, is a variant of ‘The Bridal Jig’ which was published in O’Neill’s Dance Music of Ireland (No. 310) and in the 1883 publication Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (p. 112). It can be found in Johnny O’Leary of Sliabh Luachra (No. 311) and was also included in Allan’s Irish Fiddler.