SPIKE ISLAND LASSES [1] (Gearrchaile Oileán Píce). AKA – “Cloichíní Beaga na Farraige.” AKA and see "Reidy's Reel," “Small Stones of the Sea (The).” Irish, Reel (cut time). D Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). ABCD (Breathnach, Vallely): AA’BCD (Taylor). Spike Island, in Cork Harbour, is the site of a former military installation, and is presently used as an incarceration facility for adolescent offenders. “One of the great tunes in piping repertoire,” opines Leitrim uilleann piper Brian McNamara (2004), who believes the melody started out as a two part reel and developed into the four-part tune that is more common today. He points out that the two-part version is associated with concertina repertoire, particularly with the playing of Mrs. Crotty. Breathnach (1963) notes that O’Neill’s “Reidy's Reel” (in O’Neill’s Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody, 1922) is a version of this tune, although the second half-phrase of the ‘B’ part that he prints belongs with “Bank of Ireland (1) (The).” Sometimes this tune is played in a medley followed by “Dogs Among the Bushes (The).”
Additional notes Source for notated version : - piper Willie Clancy/Liam Mac Flannchadha (Miltown Malbay, County Clare, Ireland) [Breathnach]; set dance music recorded at Na Píobairí Uilleann, late 1980’s [Taylor].
Printed sources : - Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 143, p. 57. Taylor (Music for the Sets: Blue Book), 1995; p. 29. Vallely (Play 50 Reels with Armagh Pipers Club), 1982; No. 16, p. 10.
Recorded sources : - Columbia CAL504-1, Paddy O’Brien (195?). Compass 7 4424 2, Mike McGoldrick - "Wired" (2005). Folkways FW 8821, Paddy O'Brien - "Irish Dance Music" (1973). Green Linnet, The Irish Tradition – “The Corner House” (1978). Drumlin Records BMNCD2, Brian McNamara – “Fort of the Jewels” (2004). Hot Conya HCR03, Paddy Keenan & Tommy O’Sullivan – “The Long Grazing Acre.” Rounder 6005, James Keane – “Irish Traditional Instrumental Music, vol. 1: East Coast of America” (1987). RTE 225CD, Elizabeth Crotty – “Concertina Music from West Clare.” Shanachie 79035, Planxty – “Words and Music” (1982). Ronan Browne & Peter O’Loughlin – “The South West Wind” (1988). Micho Russell – “Ireland’s Roving Ambassador” (1993). Billy McComiskey (et al) – “The Big Squeeze.” Dan Ar Braz & L’Heritage Des Celtes – “Live.”
See also listing at : Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]
