Annotation:Bridge of Athlone (1) (The)
X: 1 T: The Bridge of Athlone C: R:Jig Z:http://www.math.mun.ca/~bshawyer/jigs/BridgeOfAthlone.abc K:D M:6/8 L:1/16 A4A2 A2B2c2|d4A2 F2D2F2|A4G2 E2F2G2|B4A2 F2D2F2| A4A2 A2B2c2|d2f2d2 A4F2|G2B2A2 G2F2E2|D6 D4A2| f4d2 A2F2A2|f4d2 A2F2A2|g4e2 c2d2e2|d2c2B2 A4A2| f4d2 A2F2A2|f4d2 A4A2|A2e2f2 g2f2e2|d2f2e2 d2c2B2| A4A2 A4A2|A2B2A2 A2B2A2|A4d2 d2c2d2|e2d2B2 A2F2G2| A4A2 A4A2|A2B2A2 A2c2d2|e4e2 e2f2e2|d6 d4ef| g4g2 e2f2g2|f4f2 f2e2d2|e4d2 d2c2d2|e2c2A2 A2e2f2| g4g2 e2f2g2|f4f2 f2e2d2|e2c2A2 A2c2d2|e2f2e2 d2c2B2||
BRIDGE OF ATHLONE [1], THE (Droicead Ata Luain). AKA and see "Humors of Whiskey (2) (The)," "Dever the Dancer," "Peeler's Return (The)/Policeman's Return," "Deel of the Dance," "Dillon's Fancy (2)," "Crossroads Frolic (The)," "Humors of Derry." Irish, Long Dance (6/8 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). ABCD (Roche): ABCDD' (Mulvihill). The Bridge of Athlone, over the river Shannon, connects Connaught and Leinster. It was built in 1566, the ninth year of the reign of the English Queen Elizabeth. Originally built of wood, it was 360 feet long and 14 feet wide, had nine arches with pillars built on stones thrown into the river and held in position by wooden pilings. During the late 17th century the Bridge of Athlone was the site of a fierce struggle in 1691 between the Jacobite forces and the forces of William of Orange, led by the Dutch general Ginkel, who eventually succeeded in crossing the flow. A new bridge was constructed in 1884, featuring a swivel span to accommodate larger boats, and was itself replaced by a fixed span in the 1960's. The tune has long been used for a group (ceili) dance of the same name. The second strain differs from "The Humours of Whiskey" family of tunes.
The Bridge of Athlone is also the name of an old dance in Sliabh Luachra, County Cork/Kerry (see "Bridge of Athlone (3) (The)."
