Michael Clarkson
Irish Flute Tunes
Traditional Irish Flute Tunes (iflute@googlemail.com)
Author
Michael Clarkson
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 9, 2026
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Episodes
The Tailor's Twist 06.11.2007 2:39
Here's a hornpipe I was asked to post here. It took me about ten minutes to put the flute together as I'm tired after being away for a few days. I do the travel thing very badly. If I can put myself together in ten days I'll be doing well. As for putting this tune together ...
The Butcher's March (jig) 05.11.2007 1:40
A popular jig. I can't tell you much about it now as I have to rush off now.
The Sandpiper (reel) 03.11.2007 1:20
Related to the emery bard.
Anach Cuain (jig) 01.11.2007 1:15
Here's a song turned into a jig. Sorry for the higgledy-pigglediness of the posts over the next few days. I'll tidy them up next week.
The Humours of Tuaimgreine (hornpipe) 30.10.2007 1:38
Here's a nice hornpipe from County Clare. Some nice things do come from that county, so I'm told.
The Woods of Old Limerick (jig) 28.10.2007 1:49
Here's one I was asked for. I'm not too sure of the second part so I looked it up. I hope I didn't mess it up too. The tune itself should be nice enough and strong enough to survive the slight mangling I gave it.
Is Trua Gan Peata an Mhaoir Agam 27.10.2007 1:28
Here's a nice, simple reel which is really a song. I think I probably heard it on a recording of Michael Tubridy at some stage. I stole my wife's flute to play it here. There could be a slippery slope here somewhere.
The Factory Smoke (hornpipe) 24.10.2007 2:33
I think this tune is also known as "The Brown Coffin". I thought of the first title, and hence the tune, when I went into the kitchen to check on my dinner and was greeted by acrid fumes which made my eyes feel like I was wearing contact lenses made from slithers of onion. Now that I have eaten the dinner the second title is starting to annoy me. I think this tune is much nicer than my cooking. I'...
The Showman's Fancy (hornpipe) 23.10.2007 2:15
The first part of this tune seems to have about as many endings as prople who play it. It's a cheerful sort of tune for all that.
The Greencastle Hornpipe 21.10.2007 2:19
Here's a melodic sort of a tune. It used to be the theme tune of the TG4 programme "Geantraí". It may well still be but it's on past my bedtime these days so I haven't seen it or heard its intro. for a while.
The Cocktail Reel 20.10.2007 1:42
This might be related to Scotch Mary's tipple choices. It's definitely related to the Dublin Reel. I've heard this tune called "The Cock's Tail Reel" too. As for this rendition (very ordinary), I can't quite recall when I played it but I hope it isn't so bad as to be offensive.
Scotch Mary (reel) 19.10.2007 2:08
Ta CW for reminding me of this tune on C&F. I'm never too sure about C# vs. Cnat in pt.3 but I love this reel. As for Mary's taste in whiskey (or whisky) ... what's wrong with Power's or Jameson's? (apart from the paranoia they induce)
Maggie in the Woods (polka) 19.10.2007 2:28
This was recorded by Tom Morrison in 1928 and probably by several other people since. Maggie may be in them and I'm note sure that I'm out of them yet myself. This is the 500th posting I've put on this site so I'm away for a lie down and to think of a few tunes for the next thousand.
The Lillies in the Field (reel) 18.10.2007 1:26
I once heard someone I know describe 2 women as being standing like "frillies in a field" but I have had little exposure to paddock based arums. This is a fairly popular tune which seems happy to have as much or little done to it is one may prefer.
The Good Natured Man 17.10.2007 2:15
Here's a tune which seems to be going through my head a bit recently. I think this os because Raidió na Gaeltachta are using it as the theme music for their pick of the week show "Rogha na Seachtaine", which often seems to call out from my radio when I'm washing potatoes for dinner. With the soon to arrive winter here, the tap water will get colder and I'll get sore hands washing the spuds. Thr...
The Shetland Fiddler 16.10.2007 2:08
Here's the tune I used to hear at sessions all the time played along with Dinky Dorrian's. For some reason it and Mr. Dorrian's reel seem fairly absent from the sessions I hear these days. Sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder. In my case it just makes my recollections of this, and of "Dinky's", grow vaguer. In any case, here what remains of my recollections of it. I'm sure www land contai...
Dinky's 'lite' 16.10.2007 0:57
The Dermis can be taken from the feline by various means. This one might be less painful (but you'd really have to ask Tiddles). 'E's between the 'A's in the second part seem the ease the journey a bit. Just a notion but it might sound normal enough in a crowded pub.
Dinky Dorrian's Reel (Dinky's) 15.10.2007 2:14
Here's a reel which was released into the wild by Francie "Dearg" Byrne who was a fiddle player from Kilcar, Co. Donegal. It is often just known as "Dinky's". I was reminded of it by its being mentioned on the C&F flute forum today. I didn't know it was a hard tune until I tried to play it here. I think it is easier on a bowed flute with strings but it is probably quicker to practice it a bit on t...
The Ballykett Courthouse 15.10.2007 1:24
Here's a single reel from Co. Clare. I've always been well behaved when in Co. Clare so all I know of this courthouse is that it has a reel named after it. I suspect it hasn't heard the clatter of a gavel for some time.
Dever The Dancer (slip jig) 14.10.2007 1:21
I'm never quite sure the title of this tune refers to someone's name or is an instruction. It is a very popular tune and is on a lot of recordings. Packie Duignan recorded a particularly nice version of it.
Lord Gordon's Reel 13.10.2007 3:34
This reel started out as a perfectly respectable 2 part creation but Michael Coleman threw a whole pile of other bits at it. He must of been either having a very bad or a very good day. Here's my attempt at remembering it.
The Congress Reel 12.10.2007 2:51
I don't think I've recorded this one already. If I have then the previous attempt is buried in the oblivion which befits its qualities. This tune is probably usually played in something approaching A minor. It also seems to quite like being played a key up the ways so I've 'B' ten as well. I think that's as far along the alphabet as I'll venture today.
The Star Above the Garter 11.10.2007 1:47
Here's a slide which gives its name to a great record of Juiia Clifford and Denis Murphy from Sliabh Luachra. The name may have other connotations too but I don't understand them, whatever they may be.
The Moving Cloud (reel) 09.10.2007 3:10
Here's a tune I was asked to play. I haven't chanced it for a long time as the clouds in the sky above here seem to have forgotten how to move so this tune never seem to come to mind. It was composed, I think, by Neillidh Boyle who was a remarkable fiddle player from near Dunglow in Donegal. His birdsong impressions are equally as memorable as his tunes about his cumulus companions. I hope the...
The Boys of Portaferry (reel) 07.10.2007 1:23
I don't know much about this one apart from how it goes (sort of).
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