Annotation:Ballyoran Polka (1)
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BALLYORAN POLKA [1]. AKA and see "Gallope (An)," "Gallop Hey," "Kerry Polka (5)," "Paddy Spillane's (2)," "Port Dálaig (5)" and "Port Dálaig (6)." Irish, Polka. Ireland, West Kerry. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. An "Gallop Hey" is an English title for this tune which may or may not have an Irish provenance. Musician and researcher Conor Ward finds the melody in the Patrick O'Farrell manuscript (c. 1870, Aughadowry, Ballinamuck, Co. Longford) as "A Gallop", and, still earlier, in the John Moore manuscript (1841, Tyneside) as "Gustavus Galloppe" (No. 119) and the Charles J. Fox manuscript (1829, East Yorkshire) as "Gallopade" (No. 151).
The polka/galop was incorporated into the ceili dance the "Walls of Limerick (3) (The) published by Frank Roche in 1927 (p. 42), where it is the third turn. See also Roche's "Off to Skelligs—5th Figure" for another version, as part of a quadrille set, and the first strain of Capt. Simon Fraser's reel "Rendezvous (The)" (1816).
Source for notated version: from the brothers Muris (1910–1990) and Tom (1907–1989) Ó Dálaigh (West Kerry) [Mac Amhlaoibh].
Printed sources:
Mac Amhlaoibh & Durham (An Pota Stóir: Ceol Seite Corca Duibne/The Set Dance Music of West Kerry), No. 43, p. 30.
Recorded sources: