Annotation:Glasslough Reel (The)

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GLASSLOUGH REEL, THE (Ríl an Ghlaslocha). Irish, Reel. A Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The tune was published as an untitled reel from a manuscript in the possession of Mr. James Whitesides (Bray, Co. Wicklow), by Arthur Darley & Patrick McCall in their Feis Ceóil Collection of Irish Airs (1914).

Source for notated version: the mid-20th century collection of schoolteacher and fiddler Michael "Master" McDermott (Carrickmore, southern County Tyrone), who got his tunes from local musicians [Breathnach]; schoolmaster James Whiteside MS. (Bray, Co. Wicklow) [Darley & McCall]. Francis O'Neill obtained his "Molly of Lough Erne Shore" from the Whiteside ms. and and this to say: "James Whiteside, the 'Bard of Bray', County Wicklow, was a genius-scholar, poet, musician, composer. Born in County Monaghan in 1844, he retired after 40 years service as a schoolteacher at Bray. His playing of the violin won two first honors at two Feiseanna. An interesting sketch of his life appears on pages 384-7, [O'Neill's] Irish Minstrels and Musicians." See note for "Annotation:My Charmer from Clare" for more on Whiteside.

Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ IV), 1996; No. 160, p. 76. Darley & McCall (Feis Ceóil Collection of Irish Airs), 1914; No. 51 (appears as untitled reel)

Recorded sources: