Tune Book and Settings for the

Updated 2017
Tune book of the
2

Table of Contents
4/4 Marches
O’Neill’s War March ............................................................................................................................ 3
The Minstrel Boy .................................................................................................................................. 4
Wearing of the Green........................................................................................................................... 5
Sean South of Garryowen.................................................................................................................... 6
Twenty Men from Dublin Town........................................................................................................ 7
Boys from the County Cork ................................................................................................................ 8
Wrap the Green Flag Around Me ...................................................................................................... 9
Kelly the Boy from Killaine .............................................................................................................. 10
Let Erin Remember ............................................................................................................................ 11
Leaving Liverpool ............................................................................................................................... 12
The Mermaid ....................................................................................................................................... 13
The Boys of Wexford ......................................................................................................................... 14
God Save Ireland ................................................................................................................................ 15
Whiskey in the Jar ............................................................................................................................... 16
Star of the County Down .................................................................................................................. 17
A Nation Once Again ........................................................................................................................ 18
The Mountains of Pomeroy .............................................................................................................. 19
Military Set ........................................................................................................................................... 20
6/8 Marches
Garryowen............................................................................................................................................ 22
Back to Donegal .................................................................................................................................. 23
Brian Boru’s March............................................................................................................................. 24
The Men of the West ......................................................................................................................... 25
Killaloe .................................................................................................................................................. 26
Airs
Hyfrydol................................................................................................................................................ 27
Down by the Glenside ....................................................................................................................... 28
Those Endearing Young Charms ..................................................................................................... 29
Highland Cathedral ............................................................................................................................. 30
Skye Boat Song .................................................................................................................................... 31
The Parting Glass................................................................................................................................ 32
Polkas
Kerry Polka .......................................................................................................................................... 33
Oh the Britches Full O’ Stitches ...................................................................................................... 33
Sweeney’s.............................................................................................................................................. 34
Songs
The Wild Rover ................................................................................................................................... 35
The Gael ............................................................................................................................................... 36
Jigs
Setting Sail ............................................................................................................................................ 37
O’Keefe’s Slide .................................................................................................................................... 38
Hag at the Churn................................................................................................................................. 39
Reels
Itchy Fingers ........................................................................................................................................ 40
Wexford Hornpipe ............................................................................................................................. 41
 Tune book of the
3

O’Neill’s War March

War march (or fight song) of clan U’Neill. One of the dominant military and political clans in dark-age and medieval Ireland.
 Tune book of the
4

The Min – strel boy - to the war is gone in the ranks of dea-th you will find him.
His fa - ther’s sword he hath gird – ed on and his wild harp slu - - ng be - hind him.

“Land of song!” cried the war - rior bard. Tho’ all the word be - tray - - s thee! One
Min – strel boy - to the war is gone in the ranks of dea-th you will find him.

Sword at lea—st th - y right shall guard one - faith – ful har- - p shall praise thee!

The Minstrel Boy

homas Moore (1779-1852) wrote The Minstrel Boy as a poem and set it

T to the melody of The Moreen, and old Irish aire. It is believed by many
that Moore composed the song as a memorial to several of his
friends from his time as a student at Trinity College who participated in the
1798 rebellion of the United Irishmen. One died in prison, another was
wounded, and a third captured and hung. The song originally consisted of
two verses. Due to its popularity, the song was a favorite of the many
Irishmen who fought during the U.S. Civil War, primarily on the Union side.

“The Minstrel Boy” was popular among Irish

immigrants who fought in the US Civil War.
 Tune book of the
5

O - Paddy dear, and did you hear the news that's go-ing round The- Sham-rock is for-bid by laws to grow on Ir-ish ground!
No more St. Pat-rick's day we'll keep his co-lor last be seen; Fo-r there's a bloo-dy law a -gin the Wear-ing of the Green!

Oh! I met with Nap-per Tan-dy, and he took me by the hand, And- he says: How is Poor - I -re - land, and does she stand? She's the

Most dis- tressed Coun - try that e-ver I have seen: For, they’re hang-ing men and wo-men for the Wear-ing of the Green!

Wearing of the Green

et to the same melody as other well-known Irish Ballads such

S as Rising of the Moon and The Orange and the Green, the lyrics
present the story of a narrator who has fled Ireland after the
1798 rebellion, and is sharing the news of persecution of those who
wear green. Until the late 18th century, the National color of Ireland
was blue (as still seen on the Irish Harp quadrant of the British
Royal coat of arms). United Irish leaders adopted green as the
color-symbol of their revolution, and supporters would wear green
garments, shamrocks, or green cockades to show their support.
After the rebellion collapsed, the British government cracked down
on supporters who continued to wear the green.

Leader Theobald Wolfe Tone (center w. hat) and the Society of

the United Irishmen, 1798
 Tune book of the
6

Sean South of Garryowen

ean South (Irish: Seán Sabhat; 1928–1957) was a member of an

S IRA unit led by Sean Garland on a raid against a Royal Ulster

Constabulary barracks in Brookborough, County Fermanagh,
Northern Ireland. The raid occurred on New Year’s Day 1957,
during which South sustained fatal wounds. He was 29 years old.
The melody is from another republican tune called Roddy McCorely.
This tune’s popularity led to the misconception that South was from
Garryowen, a suburb of Limerick City. In fact, South was from 47
Henry St. in Limerick. He received military training as a lieutenant
of the Irish Army Reserve before volunteering as a fighter in the
Irish Republican Army.

Sean South (29, left) was killed along with Fergal O’Hanlon (20,
Right) during a raid of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in
Brookborough, N. Ireland on New Year’s Day 1957.
 Tune book of the
7

Twenty Men from Dublin Town

he song describes twenty men from Dublin who join rebel Michael Dwyer to fight the redcoats and avenge the death

T of Wolfe Tone after the rebellion of 1798. Michael Dwyer held out as a rebel for about five years before
surrendering to the British. The song was written by Arthur Griffith, who was the founder of Sinn Fein, the political
party that eventually led Ireland to (approximate) independence. After the foundation of the Irish Free State, he became the
first head of state, dying in that office in no small part because of the pressures of trying to head a state suffering a civil war.
 Tune book of the
8

Boys from the County Cork

his recent folk song describes the key players and units of the

T Irish War for Independence (1919-1921), especially the 3rd Cork

Brigade of the Irish Republican Army. This unit, which
operated in Co. Cork, was led by Tom Barry and defeated units of the
British Auxiliary Force and the British Black and Tans at major
engagements including the Kilmichael Ambush, where the “Boys from
the County Cork” killed 18 members of the British Auxiliary Division,
and the Crossbarry Ambush where the 3rd Cork Brigade escaped
encirclement by 1,200 British forces.

Members of the 3rd West Cork Brigade, IRA. 1919

 Tune book of the
9

Wrap the Green Flag Around Me

he Irish harp first appeared on a green flag in 1642 when

T Eoghan Rua O’Neill, leading the armies of Ulster, was

waging a rebellion against English rule. The Society of
United Irishmen proclaimed the harp as Ireland’s national symbol
through its use in the Rebellion of 1798. With the passage of time, the
green flag and golden harp became the symbol of the Irish nation.
Throughout the 1800s, the green harp flag was the main flag used by
Irish nationalists. After the Easter Rising in 1916, the Irish tricolor
became the main nationalist/republican flag when it was hoisted
during the Rising in Dublin.

The green harp flag was used as the flag for Irish Nationalist
movements since the 17th century. It was replaced by the modern
tricolor after that flag was hoisted during the Easter Rising, 1916.
 Tune book of the
10

What’s the - news? What’s the news oh my bold shel-ma - lier with your long bar-reled gun- from the sea?
Say what wind from the south brings a mess-en-ger here with a hymn of a da-wn for the free?

Good-ly news good-ly news do I bring, youth of forth, good-ly news shall you hear bar-gy men! For
the

Boys march at dawn from the south to the north, led by Kel - ly, the boy from Kill - Laine!

Kelly the Boy from Killaine

ohn Kelly (died c. 22 June 1798) was a United Irish leader who

J fought in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He was one of the

leaders of the rebel victory at the Battle of Three Rocks which
led to the capture of Wexford town, but he was later wounded
seriously while leading a rebel column at the Battle of New Ross.
During the rising, Kelly was under orders from the Wexford
commander Bagenal Harvey to attack the British outposts around
New Ross, but not to attack the town itself.
The rebels outnumbered the British forces, so Harvey sent a
messenger to give them an opportunity to surrender. The messenger
was shot while carrying a white flag, which angered the rebels who John Kelly was wounded in the Battle of New Ross. Detail from
began the attack without orders. Kelly’s column of 800 men attacked an illustration by George Cruikshank with the caption, “Battle of
and broke through New Ross’ “Three Bullet Gate” and proceeded Rofs.”
into the town itself. After initial success, they were eventually beaten
back by British troops, and Kelly was wounded in the leg. He was moved to Wexford to recuperate, but was drug from his
bed and hanged by British soldiers who decapitated his corpse and kicked his head through the streets shortly after the fall of
Wexford on 21 June, 1798.
 Tune book of the
11

Let Erin Remember

Tune with lyrics based on a poem by Thomas Moore(1779-1852).
LET Erin remember the days of old,
Ere her faithless sons betrayed her;
When Malachi wore the collar of gold,
Which he won from her proud invader;
When her kings, with standard of green unfurled,
Led the Red-Branch Knights to danger;—
Ere the emerald gem of the western world
Was set in the crown of a stranger.

On Lough Neagh’s bank as the fisherman strays,

When the clear, cold eve’s declining,
He sees the round towers of other days,
In the wave beneath him shining!
Thus shall memory often, in dreams sublime,
Catch a glimpse of the days that are over;
Thus, sighing, look through the waves of time
For the long-faded glories they cover!
 Tune book of the
12

(Verse 2) I have sailed a yan - kee - sail - ing ship Da-vy Croc - kett is - her - name, and

Bur –gess is the captain of her, and they say she is a float - ing shame.

(Chorus) So fare thee well, my own true love, and when I re - turn, u - nit-ed we will be, It’s not the

leaving of Liv – er pool that grieves me, But my darl - ing, when I think of thee.

Leaving Liverpool
eaving Liverpool is a folksong classified as a lyric lament, and it was also

L used as a sea shanty, especially at the capstan. It is very well known in

Britain, Ireland, and America. The song was collected by William Main
Doerflinger, an American folksong collector particularly associated with sea songs,
in New York from the American sailor Richard Maitland.
The song's narrator laments his long sailing trip to California and the thought of
leaving his loved ones (especially his "own true love"). He pledges to return to her
one day. Maitland said he learned "The Leaving of Liverpool" from a Liverpudlian
on board the General Knox around 1885. His version has the narrator leave The Davy Crockett, captained by John
Liverpool to be a professional sailor aboard a historical clipper ship, the David Burgess is the subject of the song.
Crockett, under a real-life captain, Captain Burgess. This would date his version to
between 1863, when John A. Burgess first sailed the David Crockett out of
Liverpool, and 1874, when Burgess died at sea.
 Tune book of the
13

The Mermaid
he ballad describes a ship that left port, its misadventure and eventual sinking. The moral

T of the song is that mermaids are a sign of an impending shipwreck. It is sung from the
point of view of a member of the ship's crew, although the ship sinks without any
survivors. Often the ship is said to be departing on a Friday morning, but there are other versions
of the lyrics including one that has it leaving on a Saturday night. On the way out to sea, the
captain sees a mermaid with a "comb and a glass in her hand.”
Three parallel stanzas most often follow describing how three of the crew members,
contemplating impending disaster, would rather be somewhere else than on the ocean floor; for
example, the cook would rather be with his pots and pans. In English versions crew members
often identify their home port and the people (parents, wives, children) who will mourn for
them. “The Mermaid” by John William
Waterhouse. 1901.
 Tune book of the
14

The Boys of Wexford

This Irish ballad commemorates the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and, more specifically, the Wexford Rebellion, which was one of
the only actions to see some success during the uprising.

Verse 1.
In comes the captain's daughter, the captain of the Yeos,
Saying, "Brave United man, we'll ne'er again be foes.
A thousand pounds I'll give you, and fly from home with thee
And dress myself in man's attire, and fight for liberty!"
Chorus
We are the boys of Wexford, who fought with heart and hand
To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land!
 Tune book of the
15

God Save Ireland

n September 18, 1867, a group of 20–30 men effected the escape of two

O Fenian prisoners by ambushing the carriage transporting them to Belle

Vue Gaol in Manchester. An attempt to shoot the lock off the carriage
door caused the death of a police guard. Five were tried on 29 October, convicted
and sentenced to death. One of the five, Edward O'Meagher Condon, concluded his
speech from the dock with the words "God Save Ireland", a motto taken up by
supporters in the public gallery. One was acquitted on appeal and Condon was
commuted. The other three, Michael Larkin, William Phillip Allen, and Michael
O'Brien, were hanged on 23 November 1867 and dubbed the “Manchester
Martyrs.” The song was set to the well-known tune of "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" a
popular pro-Union song of the American Civil War.
The ‘Manchester Martyrs’ hanged in 1867,
shouted “God Save Ireland” during their trials.
 Tune book of the
16

Whiskey in the Jar

hiskey in the Jar" is the tale of a highwayman or footpad who, after robbing a military or government official, is
betrayed by a woman; whether she is his wife or sweetheart is not made clear. Various versions of the song take
W place in Kerry, Kilmoganny, Cork, Sligo Town, and other locales throughout Ireland. It is also sometimes placed
in the American South, in various places among the Ozarks or Appalachians, possibly due to Irish settlement in these places.
Names in the song change, and the official can be a Captain or a Colonel, called Farrell or Pepper among other names. The
protagonist's wife or lover is sometimes called Molly, Jenny, or Ginny among various other names. The details of the betrayal
are also different, being either betraying him to the person he robbed and replacing his ammunition with sand or water, or not,
resulting in his killing the person.
 Tune book of the
17

N-ear Ban - bridge town, in the Coun - ty Down One ev - en - ing last Ju - ly Down a

Bóith - rín green came a sweet cai - lín And she smiled as she passed me by.

Read more: https://www.letssingit.com/the-high-kings-lyrics-star-of-the-county-down-vz7w7tt#ixzz4rLNs4iPa

LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community

She looked so neat in her two bare feet To the sheen of her nut brown hair
Chorus: From Ban - try Bay down to Der - ry Quay From Gal - way to Dub - lin town, No

Read more: https://www.letssingit.com/the-high-kings-lyrics-star-of-the-county-down-vz7w7tt#ixzz4rLOBkVvg

Read more: https://www.letssingit.com/the-high-kings-lyrics-star-of-the-county-down-vz7w7tt#ixzz4rLPJtTiF
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community
Read more: https://www.letssingit.com/the-high-kings-lyrics-star-of-the-county-down-vz7w7tt#ixzz4rLNs4iPa
Read more: https://www.letssingit.com/the-high-kings-lyrics-star-of-the-county-down-vz7w7tt#ixzz4rLOBkVvg
Coax - LetsSingIt
ing elf, I'd
- Your favorite to
Music shake my - self
Community To make sure I was stand - ing there.
maid
LetsSingItI've seen Music
- Your favorite like Community
the fair cai - lín That I met in the Coun - ty Down.

Read more: https://www.letssingit.com/the-high-kings-lyrics-star-of-the-county-down-vz7w7tt#ixzz4rLNs4iPa

Read more: https://www.letssingit.com/the-high-kings-lyrics-star-of-the-county-down-vz7w7tt#ixzz4rLOn0xfe
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community

Star of the County Down

Read more: https://www.letssingit.com/the-high-kings-lyrics-star-of-the-county-down-vz7w7tt#ixzz4rLOBkVvg

LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community

tar of the County Down" is a ballad set near Banbridge in County Down, in Northern Ireland. The song is sung from

S the point of
Readview

referred toLetsSingIt
of a young man who chances to meet a charming lady by the name of Rose (or Rosie) McCann,
more: https://www.letssingit.com/the-high-kings-lyrics-star-of-the-county-down-vz7w7tt#ixzz4rLNs4iPa

as the- "star of the

Your favorite
the ballad, he imagines wedding the girl.
County
Music Down". From a brief encounter the writer's infatuation grows until, by the end of
Community
 Tune book of the
18

A Nation Once Again

Nation Once Again" is a song, written in the early to mid-1840s by Thomas

A Osborne Davis (1814–1845). Davis was a founder of Young Ireland, an Irish

movement whose aim was the independence of Ireland. Davis believed that "a song
is worth a thousand harangues". He felt that music could have a particularly strong influence on
Irish people at that time. "A Nation Once Again" was first published in his nationalist
newspaper The Nation on 13 July 1844 and it quickly became a rallying call for the growing Irish
nationalist movement at that time. The song's narrator dreams of a time when Ireland will be,
as the title suggests, a free land, with "our fetters rent in twain". The lyrics exhort Irishmen to
stand up and fight for their land: "And righteous men must make our land a nation once Thomas Davis, chief organizer and
again". poet of the Young Ireland movement
 Tune book of the
19

The Mountains of Pomeroy

n this tragic tale, a maid meets her love, the “gallant Reynardine,” an outlaw, on the mountains of Pomeroy. Even

I though he is an outlaw, he “keeps the flag of freedom safe." In this sense, the figure of Reynardine is more akin to
“freedom fighter” outlaws such as Rob Roy or Robin Hood. She is afraid for him because her kinsmen would kill him,
so she leaves "her cruel kin and home" to run away and marry him, but drowns on the way in a storm. The real-life Mountains
of Pomeroy are a vast mountain range that runs west of the town of Pomeroy in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The area
around the mountain range is scenic, with a variety of moorland, forestry and rural farming.
Tune book of the
20

Military Set
Tune book of the
21
 Tune book of the
22

Garryowen
arryowen is a neighborhood in Limerick, Ireland. The word “Garryowen” is a

G transliteration of the Irish “Garraí Eoin” - "the garden of John" - and relates to
the 12th-century association between St John's Church and the Knights Templar,
whose house in Limerick was dedicated to John the Baptist. The song emerged during
the late 18th century, when it was a drinking song of rich young roisterers in Limerick. It
obtained immediate popularity in the British Army through the Royal Irish Regiment of
Dragoons. The influx of recent Irish immigrants into the US Army made the song popular
among notable units like the “fighting” 69th NY regiment and other units of the famous Irish
Brigade in the Union Army. Later, the song became famous as the regimental march
of the 7th Cavalry Regiment under Gen. George A. Custer. As the story goes, it was the “Garryowen” is still the regimental
last song played for Custer's men as they left General Terry's column at the Powder slogan of the 7th Cavalry Regiment and
River before their defeat at Little Bighorn. its descendent units, as seen in the
regimental emblem.
 Tune book of the
23

Back to Donegal
Donegal is a county in the Northern Irish province of Ulster. It is one of three counties in Ulster that did not join the other
nine in forming Northern Ireland of the United Kingdom.
 Tune book of the
24

Brian Boru’s March

rian Boru (c. 941 AD - 23 Apr 1014 AD) – Brian of Béal Bóraimhe, was born near Killaloe in

B County Clare – was from a Munster (So. Ireland) family formerly of no great distinction. At
that time, Ireland was hidebound by tradition, where political power was dominated by a single
great dynasty, the Uí Néill. These descendants of the eponymous and perhaps mythical Niall of the
Nine Hostages occupied a vast swathe of Ireland and had held exclusive rights to the almost High
Kingship of all Ireland. This meant that, although at any one time upwards of half a dozen provincial
rulers were powerful enough to bid for national supremacy, the force of tradition and Uí Néill propaganda
combined to deny them the honour.
Brian Boru flouted this convention. For 20 years he led a political and military struggle to undermine the
ruling dynasty. And by the year 1002 Brian had succeeded in forcing the Uí Néill high king, Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, to
recognize him as his superior. It was a landmark in Irish history. Brian had demonstrated that one did not have to be a
descendant of the eponymous Niall to put forward a claim to the high kingship. Brian Boru led the Irish to victory at the
Battle of Clontarf in 1014, ended the would-be Viking conquest and secured Irish freedom from foreign oppression. He was
killed during the battle on Good Friday, 1014.
 Tune book of the
25

The Men of the West

en of the West is a song written about western rebels during the 1798 rebellion. After the defeat of forces of

M the United Irishmen in areas of eastern Ireland such as Wexford, rebels carried on the fight in regions of
western Ireland such as Connaught for over a year. These “men of the west” represented the enduring spirit of
Irish freedom in the face of clear defeat.
Tune book of the
26

Killaloe
 Tune book of the
27

Hyfrydol
yfrydol is a Welsh hymn tune that appears in a number of Christian hymnals in various arrangements. Composed by

H Rowland Prichard, the title of the tune means “Cheerful.” Rowland Huw Prichard (14 January 1811 – 25 January
1887) was a Welsh musician. A native of Graienyn, near Bala, he lived most of his life in the area, serving for a time
as a loom tender's assistant in Holywell, where he died.
 Tune book of the
28

Down by the glen - side I - saw a young wo - man A’

Pluck - ing young net - tles she n’er saw me com - ‘in. I

List - ened A - while, to the song she was hum - min’ glo - ry

O! Glo - ry O! to the bo - ld Fen - ian men!

Down by the Glenside

own by the Glenside (the Bold Fenian Men) is an Irish rebel song written by

D Peadar Kearney, and Irish Republican and composer of numerous rebel songs,
including “The Soldier’s Song,” now the national anthem of Ireland. Kearny
was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, popularly known as the “Fenians.”
He wrote the song around the time of the 1916 Easter Rising. IT evokes the memory of
the freedom-fighters of previous generations, as recalled by an old woman by the glen side.
It is effectively a call to arms for a generation of Irishmen accustomed to political
nationalism.
The Fenian Brotherhood was the primary political movement
for Irish Independence in the 19th century. They conducted
political agitation and several small insurrections over the
century.
 Tune book of the
29

Those Endearing Young Charms

elieve Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms" is a popular song written in 1808 by Irish poet Thomas Moore

B using a traditional Irish air. The tune to which Moore set his words is a traditional Irish air, first printed in a London
songbook in 1775. It is thought that after Moore's wife, Elizabeth, was badly scarred by smallpox, she refused to leave
her room, believing herself ugly and unlovable. To convince her his love was unwavering, Moore composed the ‘Endearing’
poem which he set to an old Irish melody and sang outside her bedroom door. He later wrote that this restored her
confidence and re-kindled their love.
 Tune book of the
30

Highland Cathedral
 Tune book of the
31

Skye Boat Song

 Tune book of the
32

The Parting Glass

 Tune book of the
33

Kerry Polka
Oh the Britches Full O’ Stitches
 Tune book of the
34

Sweeney’s
 Tune book of the
35

I’ve been a wild ro - ver for ma - nys a year, and I’ve spent all me
Now I'm re - turn - ing with gold in great store, and I Ne - ver will

Mo - ny on whis - key and beer.

Play the wild ro - ver no more! And it’s

No nay ne - ver! No nay ne - ver no

More will I play the wild ro - ver no

Ne - ver no more!

The Wild Rover

he origin of this song is unknown, but historically, the song has been referred to in Irish folklore and, since the late

T
song.
sixteenth century, it has been noted in written records. The song is a staple for artists performing live music in Irish
pubs. It is often considered to be a drinking song. For many people, the Wild Rover is the stereotypical Irish drinking

The song tells the story of a young man who has been away from his hometown for many years. Returning to his former
alehouse the landlady refuses him credit, until he presents the gold which he has gained while he has been away. He sings of
how his days of roving are over and he intends to return to his home and settle down.
 Tune book of the
36

The Gael
 Tune book of the
37

Setting Sail
 Tune book of the
38

O’Keefe’s Slide
 Tune book of the
39

Hag at the Churn

 Tune book of the
40

Itchy Fingers
 Tune book of the
41

Wexford Hornpipe