MERRY HARRIERS [1], THE ("Na gadaraide sugaig," "Na gadair meadraca" or "Na fiairí feá"). AKA - "The Harrier's." AKA and see "Cup of Tea (2) (The)," "Cup of Tay (The)." Irish, Reel. A Dorian ('A' part) & G Major ('B' part). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Breathnach): AA'B (O'Neill/1850): AA'BB' (O'Neill/Krassen & 1001): AABB' (Carlin). 'Merry harriers' were sport hunters on horseback. Country inns were sometimes called "The Merry Harrier" -- a 19th century version of a sports bar. Breathnach (1976) identifies this as a County Mayo reel. See also O'Neill's second setting, "Merry Harriers (2) (The)." See also the related "Miltown Maid (1) (The)." John McFadden
Additional notes Source for notated version : - fiddler Paddy Ryan (Co. Roscommon and Birmingham, England) [Breathnach]; "McFadden" [O'Neill]. O'Neill's source, fiddler Biography:John McFadden, was originally from County Mayo, and was a primary contributor to O'Neill's 1903 collection.
Printed sources : - Breathnach (Ceol Rince na hÉireann vol. II), 1976; No. 249, p. 129. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 196, p. 117. Giblin (Collection of Traditional Irish Dance Music), 1928; 32. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 122. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1339, p. 250. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 594, p. 108.
Recorded sources : - Green Linnet SIF-1109, Altan - "The Red Crow" (1990). Shanachie 29009, "Andy McGann and Paul Brady" (learned from Michael Coleman). Topic TSCD 602, Belhavel Trio - "Irish Dance Music" (1995. A reissue of the 1938 original). Vocalion Vo 84059/Columbia 33556-F (78 RPM), Martin Beirne & His Irish Blackbirds (1936).
See also listing at : Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]
Hear the 1936 recording by Martin Beirne and His Irish Blackbirds Orchestra at the Comhaltas Archive [2]. The group consisted of Martin Beirne (pipes), John Mulvihill (fiddle), John Griffin or James Darcy (flute), and Billy McElligott (accordion)
