The TOTW for Sept. 19th, 2025, is..... O'Neill's March, AKA O'Neill's Calvary March. According to the AI Overview on Google "it likely refers to the historical marches and military campaigns of Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone, particularly during the Nine Years' War (Tyrone's Rebellion) against the English from 1594 to 1603. The tune, which appeared in music collections as early as the late 18th century, may be a musical representation of these historical campaigns, which culminated in the Battle of Kinsale and the Flight of the Earls, marking a significant turning point in Irish history."
I first heard the tune in the 1980's, on the radio, by the group Silly Wizard. I learned it in the early 2000's from sheet music from The Session. I learned my version in D and claw it in Double D tuning.
There are dozens of versions on Youtube, but I couldn't find one played using CH.
Here's a few:
youtube.com/watch?v=-OToDBjtokY
youtube.com/shorts/si1M8JBr8D0
youtube.com/watch?v=lxyyoYdLPAE
youtube.com/watch?v=OFD1i5v1px4
Here's my CH version:
banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...archived=
Sometimes it seems like O'Neill's March is much too martial for my Classic Hippy Sensibilities, but I'm hoping it doesn't sound so violent when Clawhammered on a 5-string Banjo!
John D
Interesting! I play a few Irish tunes/songs on the five-banger. Nice sounding banjo, what kind is it? Thanks! banjered
Thanks, Banjered. It's a Wildwood Banjo.
Great one, John. When you uploaded it in 2017 I liked it then and it was new to me, but never learned it until today. I took the time to look at the Irish history more, and connected it to what I've learned about Turlough O'Carolan who lived one hundred years later. Your Chieftains link provided a good starting point for learning the tune.
Edited by - JanetB on 09/19/2025 16:27:58
Thanks John, this is a great tune that I hadn't heard before. Playing it softly sounds more melancholy than martial.
That is quite the ear worm!
The session page:
https://thesession.org/tunes/2236
It would work well with Tralee Gaol, which is also in E minor.
https://thesession.org/tunes/2236/sets
Great Choice of tunes. simple and melancholy, which adds a certain level of challenge. I will say that I love that link to the Sessions site. So many variations. I really liked number 5.
nice I just fast scrolled a couple--that slow mandolin version--brought out some tone and let the slow notes ring--
I almost ignored it since I already have The O N eill 1850 book but this is a different O N eill--I semi know a couple of those type marches , already--This is one worth wasting time on--and they don't make that grade very often for me ---
BTW regarding the reel jig crowd--- Kevin Burke's vids shine a bit of light on his ornamentation--
to Bill H
oh yeh sessions rocks for me--many choices--and the sheet music to match---Sometimes the emphasis has to be gleamed elsewhere---the robotic playing is still not ready for broadway--but still plenty close for getting it done
To mood in these war marches were soundtracks before their time
Edited by - Tractor1 on 09/20/2025 08:43:27
