Annotation:Tavern Reel (The)



Sheet Music for "The Tavern Reel"The Tavern ReelReelSource: Rev. Luke Donnellan – “Oriel Songs and Dances",Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society (vol. II, No. 2, 1909; No. 17)Notes: A version of "Lord MacDonald's Reel."Transcription: AK/Fiddler’s Companion



TAVERN REEL, THE. Irish, Reel (whole or cut time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. "The Tavern Reel", a version of the widespread Scottish "Lord MacDonald (4)," is contained in the music manuscript collection that was in the possession of fiddler and curate biography:Rev. Luke Donnellan, of the Oriel region, south Ulster[1]. The tile "The Tavern Reel" is also included in the tune list of piper Philip Goodman (c. 1831-1908), Carrickmacross, Ireland, who is variously described as "the last professional and traditional piper in Farney, Louth", and also recorded as having been from Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan (all of which are places from the same area, and contiguous to the Donnellan's Oriel region).


Additional notes
Source for notated version : - Rev. Luke Donnellan music manuscript collection [O'Connor].

Printed sources : - Rev. Luke Donnellan, “Oriel Songs and Dances” (Journal of the County Louth Archeological Society, vol. II), No. 2, 1909; No. 17. O’Connor (The Rose in the Gap), 2018; No. 69, p. 52.






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  1. Donnellan researcher Gerry O'Connor came to believe the ms. is not the work of the curate but rather was originally compiled by an unknown but able fiddler over the course of a playing lifetime, probably in the late 19th century. The ms. later came into the possession of Donnellan, who was also a fiddler.