Gallery of Jigs and Reels

Tunes from the Armagh Pipers Club

I bought the three parts of this wonderful book when I was in Ireland with Helen in 1976. I never could get the hang of the tin whistle, but I find that the descant recorder, which I am much more familiar with, can hold its own with these tunes. On Bloomsday at the Melbourne Savage Club, I always get called upon to play a selection of these jigs and reels and whatever else. I present here all my favourite tunes from the Armagh Pipers Club.

Name: Boolavogue
Book: Part 1

“Boolavogue” is an Irish ballad commemorating the campaign of Father John Murphy and his army in County Wexford during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It was composed by Patrick Joseph McCall in 1898, the centenary of the Rebellion.

The ballad covers the victories of Father John Murphy of the village of Boolavogue in County Wexford as he led his parishioners in routing the Camolin Cavalry on 26 May 1798, to defeat the British at Oulart Hill, as well as at Enniscorthy. The Wexford insurgents fought bravely against professional troops, and were eventually defeated at the Battle of Vinegar Hill on 21 June. Father Murphy and the other leaders were hanged.

My friend James King is very fond of this piece. He tells me his mother used to sing it to him.