Ballydesmond Polka (1)
<abc float="left">
X:1
T:Ballydesmond Polka [1]
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:D
A>B AG|EF GE|A>B AG|Ad d/e/d/c/|A>B AG|EF G2|AB cE|ED D2:|
Ad d>d|ed c>d|ed cd|ea a/b/a/g/|ed c>d|ed c2|A>B cd|ef g>f|
ed ^cd|eA B/^c/d|ed ^cd|ea a/b/a/g/|e/f/g d>B|ce dB|AB cE|ED D2||
</abc>
BALLYDESMOND POLKA [1]. AKA and see "Donncha Lynch's," "Johnny O'Leary's." Irish, Polka. Ireland, Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border. D Major/Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AAB (Miller & Perron, Moylan): AABB (Cowdery): AABB' (Mallinson). Ballydesmond, County Kerry, lies in the heart of the Sliabh Luachra region. It was formerly known as Kingwilliamstown, and was a 'planned village' established in the 1830's at the junction of two new roads. Until then there were few roads in that region of south Ireland. The "Ballydesmond Polkas", numbers 1-3, are usually played as a group and are known collectively as "The Ballydesmond Polkas." Cowdery (1990) finds this first melody is a form of the A and A' sections of the old ballad "The Boyne Water."
Sources for notated versions: accordion player Johnny O'Leary (Sliabh Luachra region), recorded in recital at Na Píobairí Uilleann, February, 1981 [Moylan]; Kerry fiddlers (and siblings) Julia Clifford (1914-1997) and Denis Murphy (1912-1974) [Miller & Perron].
Printed sources: Cowdery (Melodic Tradition of Ireland), 1990; Ex. 43, pg. 116. Mallinson (100 Irish Polkas), 1997; No. 41, pg. 16. McLullough (Complete Irish Tinwhistle Tutor), 1976; pg. 33. Miller & Perron (101 Polkas), 1978; No. 6. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; pg. 126. Moylan (Johnny O'Leary), 1994; No. 57. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 2 in polka section (appears as untitled polka). Perlman (Melodic Clawhammer Banjo), 1979; pg. 60. Vallely (Play the Tin Whistle with the Armagh Pipers Club), vol. 2; 20(a).
Recorded sources: Flying Fish FF-009, Red Clay Ramblers - "Stolen Love" (1975. Learned from Irish fiddler Denis Murphy). Claddagh CC5, Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford (both from Sliabh Luachra region) - "The Star Above the Garter" (1973). Topic 12T310, John, Julia and Billy Clifford - "The Star of Munster Trio."
See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info
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