Annotation:Mullingar Races (1) (The)
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MULLINGAR RACES [1], THE ("Coimleanga Muilleann No Garad" or "Rásaí an Mhuilinn Chearr"). Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (O'Neill/1850): AABB (Brody, O'Brien, O'Neill/Krassen). Mullingar, a market town in County Westmeath, is some 50 miles from Dublin in an agricultural area. The name Mullingar is derived from the Gaelic An Muilleann Cearr and refers to the wry mill or the left-hand wise moving mill, a prominent feature in a legend from the 7th century involving St. Colman of Lynn. The reel was popularized by fiddlers Paddy Sweeney and Paddy Killoran, playing as a duet, who recorded the tune in New York in 1931. See also the related "Reel of Darragh."
Source for notated version: Kathleen Collins [Brody]; fiddler Paddy Killoran (Ireland) [Breathnach]. Francis O'Neill credited Chicago fiddler biography:John McFadden as the source of the tune.
Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ III), 1985; No. 107, p. 54. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 199. O'Brien (Jerry O'Brien's Accordion Instructor), Boston, 1949. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 157 (appears as "Mullinger Races"). O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 750, p. 131. O'Neill (Music of Ireland), 1903; No. 1534, p. 283.
Recorded sources: Mick Conneely - "Selkie" (2001). Great Meadow GMM 2018, Frank Ferrel & Joe Derrane - "Fiddledance" (2004). Green Linnet 1020, Brenden Mulvihill- "The Flax in Bloom." Green Linnet 1122, Kevin Burke - "Open House" (1992). Nimbus NI 5320, Proinsias O Maonaigh, Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh, Paula Doohan, Liz Doherty - "Fiddle Sticks: Irish Traditional Music from Donegal" (1991). Outlet 3002, Paddy Cronin- "Kerry's Own Paddy Cronin" (1977). Shanachie 29002, "Kathleen Collins." Shanachie 33003, Paddy Killoran - "Paddy Killoran's Back in Town" (1977). Shaskeen - "Atlantic Breeze" & "Shaskeen Live." Tara 2002, Christy Moore - "The Iron Behind the Velvet" (1978. Learned from Irish-American fiddler Larry Redigan, who died playing on stage on Long Island, New York). John Nolan - "Rake of Reels." Topic Records TSCD605, Paddy Killoran & Paddy Sweeney - "Past Masters of Irish Music" (2000).
See also listings at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [2]
Hear Killoran & Sweeney's 1931 recording at the Comhaltas Archive [3] [4] (1st tune, paired with "Boys on the Hilltop (The)").
Hear Fred Finn & Peter Horan (fiddle/flute) play the tune at the Comhaltas Archive [5]
Hear Bobby Gardiner (accordion) play the tune at the Comhaltas Archive [6]
See transcription from Cape Breton sources by Paul Cranford [7]
Hear the Belhavel trio's recording at Juneberry 78's [8] (2nd tune, following "Sporting Paddy" and preceding "Hunter's Purse (The)").