Annotation:Young James Plunkett

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YOUNG JAMES PLUNKET (Seamas Og Pluincead). Irish, Air (2/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. O'Sullivan (1983) believes perhaps the melody and almost certainly the words were the composition of the blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan [1] (1670-1738), although Edward Bunting (1773-1843) declined to attribute it to the bard. Various possibilities exist for the identity of 'young James Plunkett,' a member no doubt of a celebrated Roscommon family. Hardiman (1831) identifies him as James Plunkett of Bunenedin, County Sligo, while a MS version notes "The seat of Mr. Plunkett, near Mr. Brown's of Cloonfad in the parish of Aughrim, Co. Roscommon." Yet another MS gives "James Plunkett of Kilanadin near Elphin died at Patt. McGarry's in the greatest distress." A variant of this melody is the Connemara song "Moll Dubh a' Ghleanna," notes O'Sullivan (1983).

Source for notated version: the Irish collector Edward Bunting [2] noted this version of the tune from the harper Charles Byrne, probably at the end of the 18th century.

Printed sources: Bunting (Ancient Music of Ireland), 1840; No. 32, p. 26. O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 32, pp. 50-51.

Recorded sources: