References to Pipes, Piping and Music in the series
Ireland, From the Act of Union, 1800, to the Death of Parnell, 1891
A series of reprints, mostly fiction, set in Ireland and published by
Garland Publishing, Incorporated, New York, 1978 - 1980
References complied by Nick Whitmer
Series Numbers 5 - 38 Series Numbers 39 - 62 Series Number 68 Series Numbers 69 - 75
Series number : 5
Title: Ormond / Maria Edgeworth ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Edgeworth, Maria,1767-1849.
Notes: Reprint of the 1817 ed. printed for R. Hunter, London.
This book is also online at Project Gutenberg
vol. 3, pp. 295-298 [Use of flageolet during prison escape]
Series number : 6
Title: The wild Irish girl / Lady Morgan ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Morgan, Lady (Sydney), 1783-1859.
Notes: Reprint of the 1806 ed. published by R. Phillips, London.
vol. 2, pp. 13-17 Mention of Carolan and his songs, particularly Fanny Power.
Series number : 16
Title: Tales / by the O'Hara family [i.e.] John Banim and Michael Banim ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Banim, John,1798-1842.
Added Author: Banim, Michael
Notes: Reprint of the 1825 ed. printed for W. Simpkin and R. Marshall, London.
Contents: v. 1. Crohoore of the Bill-hook.--v. 2. Crohoore of the Bill-hook. The fetches.--v. 3. John Doe.
vol. 1, pp. 15-25 [From the story "Crohoore of the Bill-hook"] In a little time, a respectful, though resolute hand raised the latch, and Andrew Muldowny, the district piper, made his appearance. The insinuating servility of this man’s voice, and the broad sycophancy of his grin, as he gave his salutation, "Go dthogah diuyh uluig shey-an agus sunus duiv," * [* "God send luck and a plentiful Christmas to all in this place;" generally given shorter, but the piper will, as they say, "make a croonawn or song of it."] bespoke his partly mendicant profession, and plainly told, at the same time, his determination to make himself agreeable and delightful, in lieu of the shelter and good cheer of which he made no question. And on he plodded to rightful seat on the spacious hob, with that loitering gait so characteristic of that lounging, lazy life; and as, unbidden, he drew from the immense pouch of his tattered outside coat, (especially constructed to hold them) his welcome-making pipes, screwed them together, and gave several squeaking "notes of preparation," he emptied, simultaneously, his budget of gossip and scandal; told of weddings and wakes, of christenings and funerals, broken-off matrimonial bargains, and the endless et-cetera of rustic tattle; all which, as, in one shape or other, it brought wind to his bag, Andrew was keen in snuffing out, as ever was the primest-nosed hound in coming on his game.
By the time Andrew’s anecdotes were exhausted, and his tongue tired, his instrument was happily ready to take his part, and he blew forth his most ravishing strains. The music inspired a general passion for dancing, and the young light hearts did not demur, nor the old ones disapprove; so Pierce led out his Alley, and Paudge Dermody did his best bow to Chevaun Darlduck, by whom he was blushingly accepted, and the dance went on. Old Anthony relished the sport, furnishing himself with a foaming can of his best home-brewed ale, with which he plied the piper.... [pp. 15-17]
[The dance is interrupted by a fight; mentions of piper until gathering disperses.]
vol. 1, pp. 187-189; 203-204 [The scene is a rustic public house or bar, a shebeen.] Perhaps, joined to the riotous mirth that now went on, serious business had been in debate before the appearance of Shea; for he could perceive, that, in the midst of their wildest hilarity, whispers and looks occasionally went round; at all events he certainly missed the accompanying hubbub of the bagpipes, previously heard at the door; and hinting at the first circumstance, and particularly mentioning the last to his companion,
"Come, Murthock," cried Doran, slapping on the humpy shoulders a stupid-looking blind creature, who was seated apart from the others, and who, his music silent, seemed to have sunk into sympathising non-entity, as if he had only existed while his instrument was at work, or as if the breath that gave him life had been blown into his lungs by one of its complex pipes, part of the stock by which it was itself vivified, and that, the one exhausted, the other must fade away: "Come Murthock, strike up Andrew Carey, or Sheelin-a-gig, or something that’s hearty."
The bent and lethargic figure instantly got a little motion, as his bellows gave the first puff, and he answered, "Hah! hah! I wouldn’t doubt you, Rhia Doran; you war always the boy for my money; faith, an’ I’ll give you purty nate music as ever left a poor piper’s bag:" then, busily stirring his arm, he emitted a very dismal, and, as he played it, a very discordant air.
"Och, murther, murther, your pipes want a drink, Murthock, they’re so sorrowful; here, man, take this, and try something that won’t set us crying."
"Sha, sha, sha, Rhia Doran; you war never fond o’ bein’ sad yourself, an’ small blame to you, fur your blood is hot an’ sthrong;" he seized the noggin, and stretched his neck to have a good guzzle; "that was the White-boy’s Lamentation;" –another draught;- "bud stay now ‘till I give you the White-boy’s Delight; here goes."
"Do so, Murthock; something that has fun in it, or by this blessed liquor I’ll take you to the threshold, cut your bags, and let your music about the fields."
"Never fear," said Murthock, stirring his arm with somewhat quicker motion; though he only repeated the former air, (if air it might be called which air had none,) in more jigging time; in truth, except in the instance of his having been born blind, nature never intended Murthock for a musician; his strains did not fail, however, to impose on his audience, and inspire them with many a vociferous shout, at which, well pleased, the creature smiled in self-flattery, and then plied his bellows with might and main, so that his chanter squeaked more and more shrilly, and his drone grunted more and more deeply, as if in ill humour with its own music; the whole effect not unlike a noise to which, we believe, it has sometimes been locally compared, namely, a litter of young pigs making clamorous demands on their poor worn-out dam, which, in gruff expostulation, she admits or rejects. [pp. 187-189]
[The occasion turns into a meeting of revenge-minded tenants. Rhia Doran ends the meeting with this comment:]
"Come, come, enough for tonight; every man quietly and by himself to his home,-if he has one; Murthock, don’t sleep over your part of the work; be careful to warn all the boys; you’re better at it than at your music, my good fellow."
"Hah! hah! Rhia Doran; you’re welcome to your joke; bud, afore to-morrow night, all the boys in the parish ‘ill know id, plaise God, iv Murthock does be a live piper." [pp. 203-204]
vol. 2, pp.15-16 [From the story "John Doe"] [At a fair in Wicklow] As our trio stood a little elevated above the concourse, they counted ten pipers within ken, each surrounded by a crowd of "boys and girls," footing it away with every mark of utter glee and happiness. The manner in which a piper set up his establishment was simple enough. If he had a wife- "as which of them had not?" –she brought a stool, and, lacking of that convenience, a stone served the purpose; he seated himself; struck up a merry jig; one or two friends patronized his muse, and presently he had a group around him, and was prosperous.
vol. 2, pp. 24-27 [Graham, an Englishman, dances with an Irish county girl. He is asked to name the tune for dancing.] ...from his total ignorance of native music, Graham could name no tune likely to be understood. In this dilemma he had recourse to the piper, who sat with his instrument prepared, awaiting orders; and in a whisper desired he would give his own favorite. But before we proceed further, let us introduce more particularly Mr. Thadeus Fitzgerald-or-as he was called by his own friends-Thady Whigarald, the piper.
This popular votary of Apollo, was, if his physiognomy furnished proof, as happy in playing his pipes, as those they set a capering. He sat, a good bulky personage, with a fat, pleasant orb of countenance, which, while he tuned his pipes, simpered like a joint of mutton in the diner-pot; and, when at work, his sightless eyeballs kept rolling about, as his head went backward and forward, up and down, in unison with his own beloved strains; while every other feature expressed correspondent applause and ecstacy. His rusty, broad brimmed hat was encircled by a small hay rope instead of the ordinary band, and in this his pipe was stuck; the leaf turned up all round; so that if Thady happened to be out in a shower, he must have a rivulet running round his head.
His gray frieze coat and waistcoat were much broken; the knees of his breeches open as usual; and his stockings so peculiarly tied below the fat knee, as to serve for convenient pockets. Into one he slipped the halfpence, the result of his professional skill; and from the other occasionally extracted a quid of tobacco, which, with a dexterous jerk he deposited in his mouth, scarcely ever allowing this digression materially to interfere with the progress of his music. Thady was facetious withal; from time to time encouraging the dancers, as good sportsmen cheer on their dogs. When he heard the feet beat loud time to his jig, which in his estimation was the beau ideal of dancing,-"whoo! ma colleen-beg! that’s id, a-vich ma-chree!-whoo! whoo! that’s your sort, Shaumus!"-these and similar ejaculations joyfully mingled with the notes of his instrument.
To Graham’s request for his own favorite air, Thady replied-"Why, thin, agra, becase your lavin’ it to myself, I’ll give you somethin’ that’s good: so here goes in the name o’ God;" and instantly he set his arm in motion to inflate his bag, and then volunteering a prefatorial shout, struck up a jig, the rapid canter of which set Graham’s extremities going at such a rate, as quickly to put him in a violent heat, and leave him panting for breath. Meanwhile, Graham’s mountain-partner, possessing better lungs, or being more of an adept at the exercise, seemed little exhausted, and through common shame and gallantry he rallied his own spirits, and resolved to dance the bottle out; but, notwithstanding the encouraging shouts of Thady, the lively and really mirth-inspiring air, and the importance which he could not fail but perceive was attached to durability-for at different intervals he was addressed by the spectators with-"that’s id, your sowl! hould on as long as Thady has a screech in chanther!" notwithstanding all this, Graham was at last compelled make his bow, and retire to a seat, completely blown and crest-fallen.
[Dancing continues.]
vol. 2, p.28 Thady blew with redoubled fury, and grew downright clamorous in his cries of encouragement....
Series number : 17
Title: The Boyne water / John Banim ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Banim, John,1798-1842.
Notes: Reprint of the 1826 ed. published by W. Simpkin and R. Marshall, London
[Turlough O Carolan (1670-1738) appears as a character in this historical novel. His first appearance is at vol. 1, page 100, and he appears intermittently until the end of the novel.]
Series number : 18
Title: Tales, second series / by the O'Hara family [i.e.] John Banim ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Banim, John,1798-1842.
Added Author: Banim, Michael,
Notes: Reprint of the 1826 ed. published by H. Colburn, London
Contents: v. 1-3. The Nowlans, and Peter of the castle.
vol. 3, pp. 116-117, 120, 132 [From the story "Peter of the Castle"] [At a wedding] Here the visitors found a large assemblage of young and old; the young folk predominating, however. A piper, seated near the hearth, on a three-legged stool, was blowing away, with might and main, while two sets, of two couples each, danced-as well as they could manage it in the limited space prescribed-the old reel of four. This was premature, it may be remarked: before the marriage feast, nay, even before the marriage itself. Yes; but time to spare, and a piper at hand, such a group of "boys and girls" might keep quiet in Holland, England, or even perhaps in Scotland; not in Ireland. [p. 116]
...after the [wedding] party entered, all were summoned to the nuptial feast.
Instantly the piper stopped; the dancers became fixed in one position; and every countenance grew grave at the near approach of the time for behaving "dacent." [p. 117]
[The procession into the wedding feast in order of social rank] ...until, as at the women’s side, very humble folk, including pipers and fiddlers, closed the array. [p. 120]
[After the wedding feast] Two pipers, blind old fellows, sleek in face and person, though rather tattered in attire, shambled from among the humbler guests, at the end of the barn, and took their seats on two stools, in a corner. They were quickly followed by two little fiddlers, thin and half-starved, (until that evening,) but active and frisky as kittens, who also seated themselves, in virtue of their superior craft, before the pipers; and, the orchestra thus assembled, a jarring noise of scraping, thrumming, squeaking and grunting, proclaimed that nuisance for which the most fashionable orchestras are celebrated, namely, the prefatory tuning of their instruments. [p. 132]
Series number : 23
Title: The mayor of Wind-gap and Canvassing / by Michael Banim, Harriet Martin ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Banim, Michael,1796-1874.
Added Author: Martin, Harriet Letitia
Notes: Reprint of the 1835 ed. published by Saunders and Otley, London.
vol. 1, p. 54 [From the story "The Mayor of Wind-gap"] [A village celebration] ...more faggots and other combustibles were thrown on the fire; the piper and the fiddler, preceded and followed by the "boys and girls," adjourned to an adjacent level spot, under the clamorous direction of Meehawl O’Moore; and the dance quickly commenced....
vol. 2, p. 295 [From the story "Canvassing"] "What luck we had, to get this vagabone of a Jim to dhrive us-he’s as drunk as a piper."
vol. 2, p. 370-371 [There is a ‘Hauling Home Hornpipe’] "Well, then, I’ll tell you what it means: -a dragging home, or hauling home, is when a girl of one parish is married to a boy of another, and that ‘tis too far for the young man’s people to come to go to the wedding; when she comes home to her husband’s friends, they have another wedding, equal to the first, and that’s what they call a dragging home."
vol. 3, p. 22, 27-28, 44-46 [English "quality" visit Ireland] "I’ll send for Paddy the piper, directly, if you like, for this evening."
"Oh thank you! thank you! dear Miss Wilmot!" his eyes already jig-dancing with delight, as he exclaimed,-"A piper! a real Irish piper! oh, what capital fun! an Irish piper!-and Irish servants dancing Irish jigs!-I would not have missed coming to Ireland for a thousand pounds! I wouldn’t, I declare!" [p. 22]
The party were leaving the kitchen when Barham called after Maria:
"Oh-Miss Wilmot, you are forgetting the piper."
"Perhaps, as Lord Warringdon has met this accident," replied Maria, "it might be as well to defer it to another evening-the noise might be disagreeable to him."
"Oh no-I beg you don’t alter your arrangements on my account-the pain is very trifling, and the Piper will serve rather to amuse than annoy me."
"You are quite right, Lord Warringdon:" exclaimed Barham, delighted, "I assure you a little fun is the best cure in the world for pain of any kind:" and, so saying, off he gallopped in search of a messenger, to carry Maria’s mandate to Paddy Bacha, commanding his attendance that evening. [pp. 27-28]
...every member of the Castle Wilmot household, reinforced by travellers "going the road," who had lounged in for their dinner, and the idlers of the neighborhood, who had been attracted by the piper, each and all, their utmost strength of palms and lungs to do honour to "the quality." [pp.44-45]
Mr. Barham was almost in convulsions of laughter at the "funny piper, and the funny dancing." [p. 46]
Series number : 24
Title: The bit o’writin’ and other tales / John Banim ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Banim, John,1798-1842.
Added Author: Banim, Michael
Notes: Reprint of the 1838 ed. published by Saunders and Otley, London.
vol. 1, pp. 178-181 [From the story "The Bit o’ Writin’"] [A wedding] In the little parlour, alone, two pipers blew away in rivalry, until the perspiration teemed from their foreheads: while, at some distance, in the barn or banquet-hall, three other professors of the same musical instrument surpassed them, if possible, in zeal and melody; and parlour and barn were crowded with youthful visitors, footing it heartily to their strains, while the elderly and the old looked on.... [pp. 178-179]
[The wedding banquet] And when all was ready, the ould admiral placed one of his pipers on a barrel, at the head of the feast, and commanded him to pipe all hands aboard, instructing him to use no variety of notes on the occasion, but to allow his chanter to perform a solo, to the utmost of its power; which it did, keeping up one unbroken monotonous scream, until the guests had taken their places. [p. 181]
vol. 3, p. 229 [From the story "The Publican’s Dream"] [Describing a rural ‘house of "Entertainment for Man and Horse"’] In a corner still appeared (capsized, however) an empty eight-gallon beer barrel, recently the piper’s throne, whence his bag had blown forth the inspiring storm of jigs and reels, which prompted to more antics than ever did a bag of the laughing-gas.
Series number : 26
Title: Holland-tide / Gerald Griffin ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Griffin, Gerald,1803-1840.
Notes: Reprint of the 1827 ed. printed for W. Simpkin and R. Marshall, London.
pp. 235-236 [From the story "The Hand and Word"] [At a gathering at a house in rural Ireland] Near the chimney-corner sat Dora Keys, a dark-featured bright eyed girl, who, on account of her skill on the bagpipe, a rather unfeminine accomplishment, and a rare one in this district, (where, however, as in most parts of Ireland, music of some kind of another was constantly in high request) filled a place of high consideration among the merry-makers.
Series number : 27
Title: Tales of the Munster festivals / Gerald Griffin ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Griffin, Gerald,1803-1840.
Notes: Reprint of the 1827 ed. published by Saunders and Otley, London.
vol. 2, pp. 230-233 [From the story "Suil Dhuv, the Coiner"] [At a ball] ...the company within received sufficient reason for dancing from a long and lean piper, who had been hired for the evening, as an assistant in the orchestral department.
The ball opened with a most tortuous dance called the Reel of Three-which, however scientific, did not fully satisfy the longings of the mercurial spectators, whose mettlesome heels were eager for livelier operations. For some time no occurrence took place to disturb the gravity and decorum which prevailed in the assembly, with the exception of an awkward blunder made by Sally, who during a pause in the music leaned back unwittingly on the piper’s unexhausted bag, from which proceeded a squeal so mournful and so like the remonstrance of a living creature in pain, as convulsed the hearers with laughter, and covered our poor heroine with confusion. Soon after, while the floor was again clear, and the gentlemen were plying their fair ones with agreeable attentions in various parts of the room, the piper seeing Sally disengaged, and perhaps willing to shew that he harboured no malice-danced up to her, throwing the drone up over his left shoulder, playing a rapid jig tune, and capering away with a pair of enormously long legs, looking-in his close cropped head, black worsted stockings, torn blue jacket, tight pantaloons, and red woollen cravat or comforter-more like the ideal of an evil genius than any thing human. When Sally cheerfully danced forward, amid the shouts of delight and approbation which broke from the assembly-her strange partner retired to the centre of the floor, where he continued to time his own music, now pounding the earth like a paviour’s rammer, now flying from side to side as if he trod on air, and anon, remaining to grind the floor in one spot, throwing back his head, and moving it from one side to another with a certain ravished air. The guests gradually gathered around the dancers, following, with eyes and mouth distended in extatic admiration, the feet of the extraordinary piper, and unable to repress a cheering shout of rapture, when by a fresh, wild bound, he seemed to recover all his former vigour as fast as it was exhausted. The contagion at length spread-the floor was covered with emulative groups-and the dancing master’s genteel reels and figures were all merged into the national and inspiring mourneen. Overpowered with fatigue, Sally at length permitted herself to be danced and played to her seat by the piper, who whispered in her ear as she turned to sit down-"There’s one you know waiten for you in the sally-grove, Miss."
The words were almost inaudible, but such as they were, they made Sally start and look up suddenly. The speaker was already in his former place, playing on, and directing his attention to the dancers.
Series number : 28
Title: The collegians / Gerald Griffin ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Griffin, Gerald,1803-1840.
Notes: Reprint of the 1829 ed. published by Saunders and Otley, London.
vol. 1, p. 189 [An Irish "mountaineer" compliments Doctor Leake] "...An’ you did a good job too that time, Docthor," he continued, turning to the latter, "Old Keys, the piper, gives it up to you of all the docthors going, for curing his eye-sighth. And he has a great leaning to you, moreover, your such a fine Irishian." * [* One skilled in the Irish antiquities, language, &c]
vol. 3, p. 232 [A "mumming masquerade" at a dance held on a country road] ...half a dozen persons, who composed the band, and whose attire was no less gaudy than that of their companions. One held a pipolo, another a fiddle, another a bagpipe.
vol. 3, p. 280 [At a wedding celebration] On one side [of the hall], the floor was shaken by the dancers, and the ear stunned with the music of bagpipe, violin, and dulcimer. On the other he heard the bacchanalian uproar of the party he had left. At a distance, in the kitchen, he could distinguish the sound of one solitary bagpipe, playing some air of a more rapid and vulgar character; while the voice of a villager, penetrating in triumph through a two foot wall of stone and mortar, was heard singing some wild and broken melody, which was meant for mirth, but in which a stranger ear might have detected a greater depth of pathos and of feeling than the composer probably intended.
Series number : 29
Title: The rivals ; Tracy's ambition / Gerald Griffin ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Griffin, Gerald,1803-1840.
Notes: Reprint of the 1829 ed. published by Saunders and Otley, London.
vol. 2, p. 123 [From the story "Tracy’s Ambition"] I seldom gave "parties," for I thought it no part of the virtue of hospitality to summon a number of quiet families from their comfortable fire-sides to my own, to keep them tossing their heels into the air to the sound of a small current of wind forced through a number of curiously varied apertures, or plying them with frightful excess of stimulant...
vol. 2, p. 244 Our roads divided here, and I proceeded home alone. I had not gone far, when I perceived our family piper, Phil Fogarty, riding towards me in evident perturbation. It was the first time I had seen him since my change of life, for he had taken alarm one evening at Dalton’s asking him to play "Croppies lie down;" and the nasal squeal of his chaunter was no longer heard from his modest recess behind the parlour door.
"Well Phil," said I, "what’s the matter with you?"
"Is that the masther that’s there?"
"It is." [conversation continues]
vol. 3, pp. 34-35 [At a farmer’s house] The sound of the bag-pipe, sorely maimed in its execution indeed, but yet sufficiently audible, caught my ear and awakened a startling association. A few quavers and nasal squeals were sufficient to enable me to recognize the favorite Alexander’s March of our discarded piper, poor Fogarty. I dismounted, with an aching heart, for though I never relished Phil Fogarty’s music very highly, the associations it brought to my recollection at this moment rendered it more deeply impressive than the sound of the Ranz des Vaches in the dreaming ear of a long exiled Swiss.
vol. 3, p. 80 "Let me not be disturbed, then," said Dalton, unless I call. "I have some business to do, and hark you! Tell that piper, who has been squealing like a choked cat this hour past, that I’ll put a slit in his bag if he is not quiet."
Series number : 30
Title: Tales of my neighborhood / Gerald Griffin ; with an introd. by Robert Lee Wolff.
Author: Griffin, Gerald,1803-1840.
Notes: Reprint of the 1835 ed. published by Saunders and Otley, London.
vol. 1, p. 15 [From the story "The Barber of Bantry"] [Describing a "goodnatured spendthrift"] His house was ever open; a family piper lent his music to the dance of ruin....
vol. 1, p. 19 [Welcoming the absentee landlord] Flutes, fiddles, bagpipes, and, in lieu of these, tin cans, dildorns and every other implement from which any sound could be extracted....
vol. 1, pp. 56-57 "If I find that there is a man within three baronies round us, that ever drew horsehair across catgut, or ever danced the chanter of a bagpipe on his knee, or ever whistled God save the King upon a pipolo, who shall not be at the Housewarming on Thursday next-I’ll...." [p. 56]
...on the Thursday following, a troop of fiddlers, fifers, pipers, and other musicians, of all ages and of both sexes, had assembled at the new edifice... [pp.56-57]
vol. 2, p. 194 [From the story "Touch My Honour, Touch My Life"] [Entertaining the gentry] A travelling piper was introduced, and treated to a seat behind the door, and a tumbler of punch, in return for which he favoured the company with Alexander’s March and The Little Red Fox, two favorite Irish concert pieces, which never fail to throw the listeners into extasies of alternate joy and woe. A dance followed...
vol. 3, p.151 [From the story "The Sun-stroke"] In the mean time all was mirth and life at Edmond’s wedding. Tables for the feast were laid upon the green before their patron’s door, and the violin and bagpipe gave animation to the banquet.
Series number : 31
Title: Talis qualis : or, Tales of the jury room / Gerald Griffin ;
Author: Griffin, Gerald,1803-1940.
Notes: Reprint of the 1842 ed. published by Maxwell, London.
vol. 1, p. 302 [From the story "The Mistake"] [At a wedding] The wedding baked meats were set forth, the bagpipes had struck up a merry air, and the priest had already taken his place at the head of the banqueting table....
vol. 2, pp.131+ ["McEneiry the Covetous" a story about a harper. About 66 pages long.]
vol. 3, p. 144 [From the story "The Prophecy"] Alas! for the days when he...essayed at innocent display in the evening dance, when all the happy young hearts of the village were assembled round the bag-pipes at the meeting of the roads.
Series number : 34
Title: Traits and stories of the Irish peasantry / William Carleton.
Author: Carleton, William,1794-1869.
Notes: Reprint of the 1830 ed. published by W. Curry, Jr., Dublin.
vol. 1, p. 115 [From the story "An Irish Wedding"] There was a fiddler and a piper: the piper was to stop in my father-in-law’s while we were going to be married, and the fiddler was to come with ourselves, in ordher you know, to have a dance at the priest’s house, and to play for us coming and going; for there’s nothing like a taste of music when one’s on for sport.
[There is a bagpiper in an engraving opposite vol. 1, p. 117]
vol. 1, p.164 [From the story "Larry M’Farland’s Wake"] "You all remember Tom Hance, that kept the public-house at Tullyvernon crass-roads, a little above the Squire’s-at laste, most of you do-and old Wilty Rutledge, the piper, that spint his time betune Tom’s and the big house-God be good to Wilty!-.... Well, Larry’s haunt, on finding Sally out when he came home, was either the Squire’s kitchen or Tom Hance’s; and, as he was the broth of a boy at dancing, the sarvants, when he’d go down, would send for Wilty to Hance’s, if he didn’t happen to be with themselves at the time, and strike up a dance in the kitchen...."
Series number : 35
Title: Traits and stories of the Irish peasantry, second series / William Carleton.
Author: Carleton, William,1794-1869.
Notes: Reprint of the 1833 ed. published by W. F. Wakeman, Dublin.
vol. 1, p. 317 [From the story "The Geography of an Irish Oath"] [Running a rural public house] In the summer evenings, he usually engaged a piper or fiddler, and had a dance, a contrivance by which he not only rendered himself popular, but increased his business.
vol. 1, pp. 386-388, 390 [Marriage negotiations. Peter and Ellish Connell are parents of the prospective groom] ..."you’re desairous of a match between Dan an’ Miss Granua?"
"Exactly," said the priest; "and what is more, I believe they are fond of each other. I know Dan is attached to her, for he told me so. But, now that we have mentioned her, I say that there is not a more accomplished girl of her persuasion in the parish we sit in. She can play on the bag-pipes better than any other player in the province, for I taught her myself; and I tell you that in a respectable man’s wife a knowledge of music is a desirable thing. It’s hard to tell, Mrs. Connell, how they may rise in the world, and get into fashionable company , so that accomplishments, you persave, are good. She can make a shirt and wash it, and she can write Irish. As for dancing, I only wish you’d see her at a hornpipe. All these things put together, along with her genteel connexions, and the prospect of what I may be able to lave her-I say your son may do worse."
"It’s not what you’d lave her, Sir, but what you’d give her, that I’d like to hear. Spake up, your Reverence, an’ let us know how far you will go."
"I’m afeard, Sir," said Peter, "if it goes to a clane bargain atween yees, that Ellish will make you bid up for Dan. Be sharp, Sir, or you’ll have no chance; faix, you won’t."
"But, Mrs. Connell," replied the priest, "before I spake up, consider her accomplishments. I’ll undertake to say, that the best bred girl in Dublin cannot perform music in such style, or on such an instrument as the one she uses. Let us contemplate Dan and her after marriage, in an elegant house, and full business, the dinner over, and they gone up to the drawing-room. Think how agreeable and graceful it would be for Mrs. Daniel O’Connell to repair to the sofa, among a few respectable friends, and, taking up her bag-pipes, set her elbow a-going, until the drone gives two or three broken groans, and the chanter a squeak or two, like a child in the colic, or a cat that you had trampled on by accident. Then comes the real ould Irish music, that warms the heart. Dan looks upon her graceful position, until the tears of love, taste, and admiration are coming down his cheeks. By and by, the toe of him moves: here another foot is going; and, in no time, there is a hearty dance, with a light heart and a good conscience. You or I, perhaps, drop in to see them, and, of course, we partake of the enjoyment."
"Divil a pleasanter," said Peter: "I tell you, I’d like it well; an’, for my part, if the deludher here has no objection, I’m not goin’ to spoil sport."
Ellish looked hard at the priest; her keen blue eye glittered with a sparkling light, that gave decided proofs of her sagacity being intensely excited.
"All that you’ve said," she replied, "is very fine; but in regard o’ the bag-pipes, an’ Miss Granua Mulchay’s squeezin’ the music out o’ thim-why, if it plased God to bring my son to the staff an’ bag-a common beggar-indeed, in that case, Miss Granua’s bag-pipes might serve both o’ thim, an’ help, maybe, to get them a night’s lodgin; or so; but until that time comes, if you respect your niece, you’ll burn her bag-pipes, dhrone, chanther, an’ all. If you are for a match, which I doubt, spake out, as I said, and say what fortune you’ll pay down, on the nail wid her, otherwise we’re losin’ our time, an’ that’s a loss one can’t make up." [negotiations continue] [pp. 386-388]
"Down on the nail?" inquired Ellish.
"Ay! ay! Down on the nail," replied the priest.
"Well, in the name o’ Goodness, a bargain be it," said Peter; "but, upon my credit, Ellish, I won’t have the bag-pipes burnt, any how. Faith, I must hear an odd tune, now an’ thin, when I call to see the childhre."
"Pether, acushla, have sinse. Would you wish to see your daughter-in-law playin’ upon the bag-pipes, when she ought to be mindin’ her business, or attendin’ her childhre? No, your Reverence, the pipes must be laid aside. I’ll have no piperly connection for a son of mine."
The priest consented to this, although Peter conceded it with great reluctance. [p. 390]
vol. 3, p. 169 [From the story "Denis O’Shaughnessy going to Maynooth"] [Relief and celebration] "Come," said Denis, "Pether, go over, a bouchal, to Andy Bradagh’s for Larry Cassidy the piper-fly like a swallow, Pether, an’ don’t come widout him.
vol. 3, p. 269, 274 [From the story "Phelim O’Toole’s Courtship"] [At a fair at a holy well] In the glen were constructed a number of tents, where whiskey and refreshments might be had in abundance. Every tent had a fiddler or a piper; many two of them. [p. 269]
Tipsy men were staggering in every direction; fiddles were playing, pipes were squeaking, men were rushing in detached bodies to some fight.... [reference to dancing and a ballad-singer follows] [p. 274]
vol. 3, p. 293 [At the fairies’ cabin] Larry heard, with astonishment, the music of a pair of bag-pipes. The tune played, was one which, according to a popular legend, was first played by Satan; it is called "Go to the Devil and shake yourself." To our own knowledge, the peasantry in certain parts of Ireland, refuse to sing it for the above reason.
vol. 3, p. 303 Phelim knew all the fiddlers and pipers in the barony; was master of the ceremonies at every wake and dance that occurred within several miles of him.
Series number : 36
Title: Tales of Ireland / William Carleton.
Author: Carleton, William,1794-1869.
Notes: Reprint of the 1834 ed. published by W. Curry, Dublin.
p. 75 [From the story "The Priest’s Funeral"] [Two drunkards quarreling] "I say again, you’re drunk, you old caillagh-full as a piper; ‘tis to bed you ought to go."
p. 165 [From the story "The Brothers"] [Trying to persuade a runaway couple to marry] "Eh, nabours, will we have a weddin?-there’s a rousin’ supper, an’ sure it would be a burnin’ shame not to finish the thing dacently, an’ a piper there beyant the shebeen."
Series number : 38
Title: The fawn of Spring-Vale / William Carleton.
Author: Carleton, William, 1794-1869
Uniform Title: The fawn of Spring-Vale, The clarionet, and other tales
Notes: Reprint of the 1841 ed. published by W. Curry, Dublin.
vol. 1, p. 314-315 [From the story "Lha Dhu; or, the Dark Day"] [At a country fair] Cows lowing, sheep bleating, pigs grunting, horses neighing, men shouting, women screaming, fiddlers playing, pipes squeeling, youngsters dancing, hammering up of standings and tents, thumping of restive or lazy animals, the show-man’s drum, the lottery-man’s speech, the ballad-singer’s squall, all come upon us....
Series Numbers 5 - 38 Series Numbers 39 - 62 Series Number 68 Series Numbers 69 - 75