“Cork Butter Market was established in the year 1770 and farmers from all over Cork and Kerry brought their butter to that market to sell. So the route from Kerry was and still is called the Old Butter Road. Sometime in the past year I travelled that road and thought it a good idea to name a tune after it.”

Click to listen to the tune:

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The Mountplummers are Coming

“My daughter Áine is married to Francis O’Connor and they live in Mountplummer, Co. Limerick.

When they come to visit, our very quiet house is transformed like a storm would hit it when the three children take over.  But we still really look forward to their coming!”

Click to listen the tune:

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The First Swallow

“The first swallow of the year does not guarantee that summer has arrived, but to see one is a welcome sight none the less.  I composed this tune in April 2013 having seen the winner!”

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Black Gate

“Half way out the laneway from my house there is an entrance to a field which we always refer to as the Black Gate even though I can never remember it being black!”

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Curlews in the Bog

“On wet marshy land close to where I live I remember when I was young to hear the curlews calling during the late summer. I still hear them occasionally but sadly not to the same extent anymore.”

Click to listen to the tune:

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The Forge

“In every rural town and village in Ireland up to the 1980s you would find at least one forge.

I can still hear the ring of the hammer on the anvil during school hours as the local blacksmith plied his trade.”

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Fire on Cleanrath

“One very dry summer the forest on Cleanrath went on fire and for a few days there was great activity in the locality with fire fighters and helicopters etc.”

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Mountain Stream

“I named this tune after a wild fast flowing stream that runs down Cleanrath Mountain into the river Toon.  I know the  stream very well as my mother came from the foot of that mountain.”

If you can’t see the score, get the Sibelius Scorch plug-in here. Created using Sibelius.

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Happy Days

“During a visit that my wife’s niece Deirdre made to the house, we were reminiscing about something which happened in the past and Deirdre remarked ‘Happy Days’ – I composed this tune that night.”

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Robin at the Door

“During a very hard winter some years back we had a period of frost and snow for at least two weeks.  Every day my work consisted of feeding cattle from a shed where meals and fodder were stored.

A robin came to the door at the start of that period in search of food and I got into the habit of feeding it each day to the extent that he became a pet of sorts.  But when the cold snap passed and spring was in the air the robin stopped his daily visits.  I’m not sure what became of him but I do know he gave me the inspiration to write this tune.”

Click to listen to the tune:

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