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Dianna Skillen
Jigs - The Irish Giant & The Atholl Highlanders
Dianna Skillen (fiddle) and Nigel Boullier (banjo), Frankie Kennedy (flute) and Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh (fiddle), play two jigs - the Irish Giant and the Atholl Highlanders. 1983.
The first tune was introduced into sessions in the late 1970s by Caoimhín Mac Aoidh, who learned it from his uncle Vincent McLaughlin from County Derry; the second of Scottish origin.
Reels - The Opera Reel & Jumping Geordie
Dianna Skillen and Nigel Boullier play two reels; the Opera Reel and Jumping Geordie, 1995.
The Opera Reel comes from the fiddle playing of Jackie Donnan (1933-2007), which he learnt from his fiddle playing mentor Willie McCloy (1886-1959). It can be found on page 99 of Nigel Boullier's book Handed Down, County Fiddling and Dancing in East and Central County Down 2012. The reel Jumping Geordie is known under various titles; the Pope's Toe, Walsh's. An early version, in the key of D, can be found on page 73 of the Athole Collection, 1884. Jumping Geordie can be found on page 99 of Dianna Boullier's book Exploring Irish Music and Dance, 1998.
Jigs - Tatter Jack Walsh, Donal Staunton's & John Henry's
Dianna Skillen & Sam McCaughey (fiddles), Nigel Boullier (banjo) and Davy Graham (mandola) play three jigs; Tatter Jack Walsh, Donal Staunton's and John Henry's. The second jig is better known as the Bush on the Hill and was often played in the 1970s sessions in Comber and Balloo, County Down where the founding banjo player Bob Davey had learned it from the fine Galway banjo player Donal Staunton from Spiddal. Dufferin Arms, Killyleagh, 1992
Mazurkas - The Spanish Mazurka & Rockin' the Cradle
Dianna Skillen (fiddle), and Nigel Boullier (banjo) play two mazurkas; The Spanish Mazurka and Rockin' the Cradle. They learned both tunes from Jackie Donnan who in turn learned them from Willie Savage the fiddle player from the Toye, Killyleagh. Recorded 1983
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