Annotation:Condon's Frolics
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CONDON'S FROLICS (Mireog Conduin). AKA and see "Castletown Conners (1)," "Digging for Gold," "Paddy Carty's Jig," "Thatcher (The)," "Walsh's Jig (2)." Irish, Jig. A Dorian (O'Neill/Krassen & 1001): A Mixolydian (O'Neill/1850). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Frequently found in uilleann pipe and button accordion repertoire. James Keane calls the tune "Walsh's." The tune is sometimes rendered in the key of B Minor (e.g. Dervish).
Source for notated version: "Cronin" [O'Neill]. Probably referring to Chicago fiddler Edward Cronin, born in Limerick Junction, County Tipperary, in 1838, where he learned to play. Cronin was a weaver by trade who emigrated to Troy, New York. He could not find employment as a weaver in that city, and took a variety of jobs, finally settling in Chicago. O'Neill valued him for his large repertoire, and his skill as a dance fiddler. He transcribed tunes from Cronin each week for over two years, until Cronin ended the relationship over some perceived slight. O'Neill lamented that Cronin was so suspicious and held grudges so long, that he inevitably alienated those who tried to befriend him.
Printed sources: O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 31. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 838, p. 156. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 100, p. 32.
Recorded sources: Cló Iar-Chonnachta CICD 173, Brian Conway - "Consider the Source" (2008).
See also listings at:
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index [1]
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [3]
Hear the tune played by Father O'Keefe and Tommy Maguire at the Comhaltas Archive [4]