Ballinasloe Fair
Notation:
Standard Notation
ABC Notation
Mandolin Tablature
Violin Tablature
traditional
PDF Files:
--- choose file type ---
Standard Notation
Mandolin Tablature
Violin Tablature
Tune Sheet
Standard Notation - wide
Mandolin Tablature - wide
Violin Tablature - wide
Irish
Play
MIDI
No audio
available
Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"Ballinasloe Fair", in Gaelic "Aonach Bhéal Átha na Sluaighe" or "Aonac Bel-Ata-Na Sluaigead",<br> also known as "The Blackpool", "The Fair of Ballinasloe", "The Leitrim Thrush" or<br> "Rita Keane's" is an Irish reel in A Dorian ('A' part) & C Major ('B' part) [O'Neill/Krassen],<br> A Minor ('A' part) & C Major ('B' part) [Breathnach, Miller & Perron, O'Neill/1850 & 1001].<br> The parts are played AB (Breathnach), AAB (Miller & Perron/1977, Krassen/O'Neill),<br> AA'B (O'Neill/1850 & 1001) or ABB' (Miller & Perron/2006, Vallely).<br> There is an annual horse fair at Ballinasloe, the second largest town in County Galway,<br> in the western part of Ireland. It is one of Europe’s oldest and largest Horse Fairs,<br> dating back to the 18th century and is held in October. Along with horses, other<br> livestock was traded at the fair. <br> Famed County Sligo fiddler Michael Coleman (1891-1945) recorded the tune in 1927 in<br> New York in a medley as the second tune, following "Lord McDonald". O'Neill also<br> printed a variant as<br> "The Leitrim Thrush".<br> It was printed in Breathnach Ceol Rince na hÉireann III (1985),<br> Lyth's Bowing Styles in Irish Fiddle Playing, vol. 1 (1981),<br> Miller & Perron's Irish Traditional Fiddle Music (1977) and<br> Irish Traditional Fiddle Music, 2nd Edition (2006),<br> Krassen's O'Neill's Music of Ireland (1976),<br> O'Neill's Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies (1903) and<br> Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907),<br> Vallely's Learn to Play the Fiddle with Armagh Pipers Club (197?).<br> It was recorded by The Chieftains on Boil the Breakfast Early (1980) and<br> The Best of the Chieftains (1992),<br> Martin Wynne on My Love is in America: The Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival (1991),<br> Michael Coleman on The Heyday of Michael Coleman (1973) and<br> The Classic Recordings of Michael Coleman (1979),<br> Davy Spillane on Pipedreams and<br> Vincent Griffin on Traditional Fiddle Music from County Clare (1977). <br>
Click
here
for a full page view.