Na Píobairí Uilleann

Chairman, NPU

An Píobaire

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7 1 24 20110224 “Well sung, Gandsey. Here, mix yourself an- other fumbler of tunch – tumbler of punch I mean,” said Mr. Jones; “Irish whiskey is good – Irish songs are good – Irish music is good – Irishmen are fine fellows – ’tis a fine a coun- try” – hiccup – “a fine country.” “’Tis true for you, sir,” said Gandsey, “very true for you.” And here, although I am per- fectly unable to account for the fact, my recol- lection of what followed completely fails me. 24 MUSIC IN GLENFLESK IN THE 1820S W E WERE congratulating ourselves on the prospect of a good night’s rest, for the beds, notwithstanding my description, appeared excellent, and had snow- white sheets; but further inspection was checked by the bleating of a lamb – “ba, ba.” “Our host,” exclaimed Mr. Lynch, “is doubt- less going to kill the promised lamb for sup- per; but I dare say you have as little inclination as myself for such summary cookery. Let us procure for the poor animal a reprieve.” It was not without considerable persuasion, and even then much against his will, that Daniel O’Donoghue was prevailed upon to lay aside at least for the present, his murderous de- sign. This matter was scarcely arranged before our ears were saluted by – Tweedle dee, twee- dle dum – eek hum, hum eek – the sounds of a fiddle and bagpipe; and directly piper and fid- dler entered the outer room, followed, I verily believe, by all the Donoghues in the glen, men, women and children; while our careful host, to screen us from the vulgar gaze, hung a large sheet before the doorway of the inner room. “You may as well give up all thoughts of rest till morning,” said Mr. Lynch, “for I perceive we shall have nothing but fiddling and danc- ing and whiskey-drinking till daylight.” “That being the case, I see no objection,” said I, “to our joining the revels – suppose we do so?” Mr. Lynch having expressed his concurrence, we stepped forth from the apartment which had been given up to us, and found the outer room thronged almost to suffocation; even the very doorway was crowded with the merry faces of people all agog for fun. An Irishman may be said to love fighting well, whiskey better, and dancing best of all; indeed his legs seem to move instinctively at the sound of the bagpipe; and hence it happened that the useless door was no sooner taken off its hinges and placed in the middle of the floor, than Paddy Haly made his bow to Mary Donoghue, and flinging off his brogues, called for a double jig, and began to caper away on the prostrate planks, making them rattle again with his thumping, as he went through the var- ious movements of a moneen jig – at the same time snapping his fingers and uttering a joyous whoop. The assemblage did their part, and gave loud vent to their admiration at every new fling from Paddy Haly: indeed, to render such movements the more conspicuous, and that not a single step might be lost, three or four tall fel- The following passage, including the illustration on page 25, is from the same source as the preceding one (pp182-186)

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