Annotation:Paddy Ryan's Dream (1)

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PADDY RYAN'S DREAM [1] (Aisling Paidin Ui Riain). AKA and see "Miss Lyall (2)," "Mooney's Favourite," “Mooney’s Reel (2),” “Tullagh Reel.” Irish, Reel. A Minor (Cranitch, Miller & Perron/1977): A Dorian (Miller & Perron/2006, O'Neill): A Mixolydian/Dorian (Feldman & O’Doherty). Standard tuning. AB (Miller & Perron/1977): AA'B (O'Neill/1850 & 1001): AABB (Cranitch, Miller & Perron/2006): AA'BB' (Feldman & O’Doherty, O’Malley, O'Neill/Krassen). The tune was popularized by County Sligo fiddler Michael Coleman (1891-1945), the first to record the reel, in New York in 1921. “Paddy Ryan’s Dream” is a derivation of the Scots strathspey and reel “Miss Lyall (1)/Miss Lyall (2),” composed by Captain Simon Fraser, also known as “Mrs. Grant of Laggan’s Strathspey” (the title under which it was later printed by the Gows). The “Mooney’s Reel (2)” title was employed by County Donegal fiddler John Doherty (1895-1980). A version of the tune set as a Highland is known in County Donegal as “Cat that Kittled in Jamie's Wig (The)." See also the variant “Humors of Ennistymon (2),” in Kerr's collection.

There is a story that goes with this tune (from Ted Furey): Paddy Ryan was the son of a widow who lived in the Midlands. He had a dream that he went to Dublin, and that he walked to and fro on the bridge without stopping, and that he found his fortune there. He told this strange dream to his mother, who sold her only cow, and said: "Padraig, go to Dublin and see about your dream." So Paddy went on the train to Dublin, and there he marched up and down on O'Connell Bridge. He hardly had any money left, but after a while he met a neighbour from home, who said: "What are you doing here, Paddy? Have you come to Dublin?" "Well," said Paddy, "I had this funny dream three nights in a row that I should find my fortune here on O'Connell Bridge in Dublin." "Well," said the neighbour, "that's strange. I also had a dream three nights in a row that there was a crock of gold buried at the back of your garden, under a gooseberry bush." "Oh, I don't believe that", said Paddy. But that night he took the train back to where his mother lived in County Offaly, and he said: "Mother, find me a spade", and started digging under the gooseberry bushes in the garden, and it was true; under the last one, which was all dry and nearly dead, he found three crocks full of gold. So Paddy and his mother could buy a lot of cows and build a new house, so wasn't it true that he found his fortune marching up and down O'Connell Bridge in Dublin?

Sources for notated versions: Seán McGuire (1927-2005, Belfast, Ireland) [Miller & Perron/1977]; Kerry fiddler Paddy Cronin (b. 1925) [Miller & Perron/2006]; Donegal fiddler John Doherty [Feldman & O’Doherty]; students of New York fiddler John McGrath (1900-1955, originally from County Mayo) [O’Malley].

Printed sources: Cranitch (The Irish Fiddle Book), 1996; No. 68, p. 151. Feldman & O’Doherty (The Northern Fiddler), 1979; p. 77 (appears as “Untitled Reel,” the middle of three on the page). Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music, vol. 1), 1977; No. 35. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; p. 95. O’Malley (Luke O’Malley’s Collection of Irish Music, vol. 1), 1976; No. 40, p. 20. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 92. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1181, p. 223. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 461, p. 89.

Recorded sources: Bellbridge Records, Bobby Casey – “Casey in the Cowhouse” (1992. Originally recorded 1959). Green Linnet SIF 3041, Matt Molloy - “Stony Steps.” Shanachie SH 29009, "Jean Carignan Plays the Music of Coleman, Morrison & Skinner." Shanachie 79095, Arcady - “Many Happy Returns.” Shaskeen Records OS-360, Andy McGann, Felix Dolan & Joe Burke - "A Tribute to Michael Coleman" (c. 1965). Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40481, Brian Conway – “First Through the Gate” (2002. Learned from New York fiddler Andy McGann, who based his version on that of the late accordion player Paddy O’Brien). Talcon Records KG240, Paddy Cronin – “The House in the Glen” (197?). Paul McGrattan & Paul O'Shaughnessy - “Within a Mile of Dublin.” Sean McGuire & Joe Burke.

See also listings at:Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info [2]