‘Tóg do chionn’, air

This is a version of a tune known as ‘Maggie Pickins’ which has been variously described as a strathspey, barndance, highland or hornpipe. In Ceol Rince na hÉireann 2 (No. 63) a version was notated in 12/8 time with the title ‘An Chearc ar Fad is an tAnraith’ [The whole hen and the soup]. It was collected by Breandán Breathnach from Sliabh Luachra fiddle player Denis Murphy who called it ‘Charming Lovely Nancy’. It was also published in Allan’s Irish Fiddler as a hornpipe with the title ‘Maggie Pickens’.  A dance to this tune with the name ‘Maggie Pickins’ has long been popular in Donegal. The full title given by Ennis is ‘Tóg do chionn ’sná bíodh ort brón, ’S iomaí cor san óige’ [Raise your head and don’t be sad, Youth takes many a turn].  In his notes to the transcription of Peadar Ó Beirn’s lilting, Séamus Ennis suggests that it was played in polka time.  Ennis also marked with an asterisk, in the final bar of the first and second parts, ‘another version from Peadar’.