1.

The Rambling Pitchfork
The Kilavil
Have a Drink With Me

Brendyn has enjoyed playing this set for a long time. The Kilavil comes from the playing of Dervish, while Brendyn remembers hearing Have a Drink with Me as a child on Eavesdropper, a Kevin Burke and Jackie Daly album

Jigs

2.

Ah Surely
The Sligo Maid
Speed the Plough

Ah Surely must be one of the best tune names in the tradition. We follow it here with two common session reels.

Reels

3.

Hardiman the Fiddler
My Mind Will Never Be Easy

Two common slip jigs, both lovely tunes. The second one could be renamed My mind will never be easy until I've heard it again.

Slip Jigs

4.

One Book Too Many
The Bearded Mountain
(comp. Brendyn)

The first reel was written by Brendyn, on holiday after finishing his BSc. The second refers to Leith Hill in the Craigieburn Range behind his mother's home, and whose image appears beneath these words. Leith Hill's lower slopes are covered in native beech trees.

Reels

5.

Caoineadh an Spailpin
(the spalpeen's lament)

Spailpin is an Irish Gaelic word meaning itinerant labourer. These people were looked down apon by society. In modern Irish usage the word is a mild term of abuse.

Air

6.

The Maids of Mount Cisco
Craig's Pipes
John Kelly's

Brendyn got Craig's Pipes from the playing of Darren Hurley, a Limerick fiddle and bouzouki player. Darren and Brendyn played this and many other tunes incessantly while Darren was in New Zealand. John Kelly's was learnt from Alan Doherty, a Dublin based flute player.

Reels

7.

The Green Cottage
The Lark on the Strand
(comp. Jono Lonie / Trad)

The first tune was composed by Jono Lonie, a fiddle player from Aukland, New Zealand. The green cottage is one of several cottages on the Lonkie family land on the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin. A truly beautiful spot.

Jigs

8.

Name Unknown
The Britches Full O'Stitches
Mike Quinn's

The first is one of those tunes learnt on the way home after a session. The third tune comes from the playing of Gary, who notoriously never has names for tunes, got the tune from Hugh Quinn, a piper from Cork who got it from his brother Mick.

Polkas

9.

The Piper's Broken Finger
The Woman I Never Forgot

Brendyn got this tune from an obscure recording of some Connemara musicians on a French label that he found in the Otago University Library. We have called it a barndance for want of a better rhythmic description. Brendyn learnt the second tune from Planxty.

Barndance
Reel

10.

Name Unknown
Eddie Kelly's
The Mad Piper

Brendyn learnt the first tune from Mayo flute player, Ultan Molloy and in retiurn, taught him the second tune in this set (and introduced him to avocados). The third tune comes again from the playing of Alan Doherty.

Jigs

11.

Liv's
The Revolver
(comp. Brendyn / Brendyn and Mike)

Brendyn was inspired by a great friend of his, Olivia James, to compose this air. The reel was written at the same time, over the apple-picking season 2002. After some redesigning with Mike the tune came to life and found its name.

Air
Reel

12.

The Rosscommon Reel
The Sweet Flowers of Miltown

The first tune comes mainly from the playing of Damp in the Attic, while the second one Brendyn learnt originally from Conal O'Grada who plays it as a schittische.

Reels