Annotation:Kinnegad Slashers (The)

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 KINNEGAD SLASHERS, THE (Buailteoiride Ceann-Na-N-Gad). AKA and see "Bannocks o' Barley Meal (1)," "Barley Meal," "Land of Sweet Erin," "Leitrim Slashers (The)," "O! An Irishman's Heart," "O! Merry am I," "Old Brags (The)," "Paddy Digging for 'Goold'," "Powers of Whiskey," "Slashers," "Twin Sisters." Irish, Double Jig or March. D Major (most versions): C Major (Howe). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (Howe, O'Farrell): AABC (Sweet): AABBCC (Kerr, O'Neill). The tune was first published in the third volume of O'Farrell's Pocket Companion (London, c. 1808). The first appearance in America was in John Paff's Gentleman's Amusement No. 2 (New York, c. 1812), as "Kinneygad Slashers." O'Neill, in Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody (1922), proposed this tune as the antecedent of "Turkey in the Straw." There is some resemblance in the first part, but in general the relationship is seen by most as incidental and not relational, and there are better claims for the derivation of "Turkey in the Straw." O'Neill says the tune can be played either as a jig or a march. The tune was popular during the 78 RPM era and was frequently recorded. Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin proposes that this tune was originally dedicated to the Kinnegad, Westmeath, hurling team (hurling being played with ash sticks in a decidedly rough-and-tumble encounter!). However, the title may actually honor an Irish yeomanry unit called the Kinnegad Cavalry, who, on July 11th, 1798, found themselves in defence of Clonard against the rebels. The attack of the United Irishmen was repulsed and the attackers dispersed, whereupon the cavalry of the Kinnegad Yeomen pursued them with much slaughter. Their success in this engagement earned them the sobriquet of Kinnegad Slashers. The Journal for Army Historical Research, Vol. IV, gives that "a lively melody, still popular in Ireland, was named The Kinnegad Slashers in complimentary commemoration of the achievements of that corps at Clonard." The tune has been the regimental slow march of the Gloucestershire Regiment, the 'Glosters', who inherited the nickname of the Old Brags from the 28th Regiment of Foot. Gloucestershire fiddler Stephen Baldwin (1873-1955), a veteran of the regiment, had this tune in his repertoire under the title "Old Brags (The)." Some see resemblances to the Scottish tune usually known as "Kenmure's On an' Awa Willie," (Kenmure's Up and Awa') after a Jacobite song of that name, but the relationship seems more distant than with other more closely related tunes. The air was recorded in the music manuscript copybook of fiddler John Burk, dated 1821, in the key of 'C' under the title "Irishman in London (The)," with the note that it is a 'Song'. The song takes its name from a farce by English dramatist William Macready (1755-1829), called The Irishman in London; or, the Happy African (1793), although there was no music in the play.  Source for notated version: fiddler James Kelly [Ceol].  Printed sources: Cahusac (Annual Collection of Twenty Four Favorite Country Dances for 1809), 1809; No. 16. Ceol, VI, 1, April, 1983; p. 14. Howe (Complete Preceptor for the Accordeon), 1843; p. 10. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 245, p. 27. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. III), c. 1808; p. 31. O'Neill (O'Neill's Irish Music), 1915/1987; No. 151, p. 86. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 40. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 901, p. 168. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 148, p. 39. O'Neill (Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody), 1922; No. 237b. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; pp. 93 & 105. Sweet (Fifer's Delight), 1964/1981; p. 30. "The Caledonian Companion" (1975).  Recorded sources: Celtic Crossings CD0299-02, Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin & Patrick Ourceau - "Tracin" (1999. Learned from East Galway/Bronx, N.Y., flute player Jack Coen). Shanachie 34014, James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien & Daithi Sproule - "Traditional Music of Ireland" (1995).  See also listing at: Alan Ng's Irishtune.info Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources Hear the tune played by Martin O'Donohue and the Moate Céilí  Band  at the Comhaltas Archive.

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