The Curragh races, reel

Séamus Ennis was a great admirer of Néillidh Boyle’s fiddle playing noting in his diary (8.3.44) “he is an excellent fiddle player and has an ability that no more than three other fiddle players have, as far as I know”. This reel, transcribed by Séamus Ennis from Néillidh’s playing, is a version of a tune found in many parts of Ireland. It was published in O’Neill’s Music of Ireland as ‘The Curragh Races’ (No. 1276).  According to the collector, Breandán Breathnach,  ‘The Maid in the Cherry Tree’ published in Ceol Rince na hÉireann 1 (No. 103) is a variant of ‘The Curragh Races’. The reel is also related to ‘The Humours of Knockaney’ included by the county Limerick collector Francis Roche in his Collection of Irish Airs, Marches and Dance Tunes Vol. 3 (No 83).