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Annotation:Fairy Hurlers (1) (The)
X:1 T:Fairy Hurlers [1], The T:Walsh's Favorite M:4/4 L:1/8 S:Joseph P. Tamony & John Kelly, San Fran. Z:Paul Kinder R:Reel K:C AB|c2 gc acgc|~c2 ge dBGB|(5c/2d/2c/2B/2c/2 gc acgc|fage dBGB| c2 gc acgc|sBcs ge dcBd|c2 gc acgc|seas ge sdBs GB|| A2 (3cBA .e.A.c.A|(3AAA ge dBGB|A2 (3cBA eAcA|sgfgsd BGGB| A2 (3cBA eAcA|~A2 sges dBGB|A2 (3cBA .e.A.c.A|(5g/2a/2g/2f/2g/2 gd BGGB| |:scdefs sgfges|scdecs sdBGBs|scdefs sgfges|afge dBGB:| |:(3cBA eA fAeA|(3cBA eA dBGB|(3cBA eA fAeA|(5g/2a/2g/2f/2g/2 gd BGGB:| |:Aceg ^fdec|Acec dBGB|sAcegs s^fdefs|gfge dBGB:| |:(3cBA eA (3cBA eA|(3cBA eA .d.B.G.B|(3cBA eA (3cBA ef|gfge dBGB:||
FAIRY HURLERS. AKA and see "Walsh's Favourite." Irish, Reel. A Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). ABCCDDEEFF. Caoimhin Mac Aoidh (1994) explains that O'Neill's source was a fiddler named Joe Timoney, known in Donegal as Joe Phaedar Sheain O Tiomanai, who was born and raised at Min a tSamhaidh, Fintown, Donegal, and who was the great-great-great-great-great grandson of the renowned poet Tadhg An Fhile O'Tionamai An Aighe. Timoney emigrated to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century and arrived in San Francisco just after the great earthquake of 1906. Breathnach (1963) finds the 'A' part is shared with "Lord Wellington (1)." O'Neill (1922) remarks: "According to legendary lore the fairies or good people enjoy the same activities and pastimes, especially hurling and dancing, as they did before being called to another life. Many a tale is told of their kidnapping a competent piper when necessary to entertain them at their festivities in the subterranean they are said to occupy within the ancient raths or forts so numerous all over Ireland. The Fairy Faith survives."
The first strain of "Fairy Hurlers" may be cognate with that of "Rayan's Rant" in Glasgow publisher James Aird's Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 5 (1797). The tune has been described as a member of the rather large "Galway Rambler (The)"/"Mills are Grinding (1) (The)" tune family. However, Fr. John Quinn finds "Fairy Hurlers" to be cognate with the tune family that includes "Ryan's Rant," "Jakie Stewart's Reel," "Jolly Seven (The)," "Around the World (1)," "Miss Percy's Reel," "Miss Kelly's (1)," "John Byrth's," "Gravel Walks (The) (to Granie)" and "Highlandman Kissed His Mother (The),"
