Stupid question #346: Which one is “The Maid on the Mourne Shore,” the air or the reel?
Asssumedly the air, since the tuen of the reel is the reel, since a reel is a tune, not a song like a… well a song is.
However, a google search of that name gives a completely different tune. Hm.
It is the aire, not the reel.
Checking up on the song, the aire has several versions of the tune name ascribed to it, the most common being “Maids of the Mourne Shore”. The version of the song that I learned the words from had it as “The Maid on the Mourne Shore”.
David
Hmm… this page here: http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiMOURNESH;ttFOGGDEW3.html gives a different melody of “Maids of the Mourne shore” than I play for “Down by the Sally Gardens”. The words of each fit either melody tho, so maybe one of us has got them switched?
EDIT: Ah, I didn’t read the explanation of the bottom of the page… all makes sesne now. So is the Foggy Dew teh one that begins DE|F2ED E2FA|B4A2dA, etc.?
A bit late to the discussion (as usual)!!
Top of my list of favourite slow airs just now as a
recent whistle apostate and newcomer to the flute are:
A Stór mo Chrói
Amhrán na Leabhair
Aisling Geal
Gortín Eoran
Binsín Luchra
Marbhna Luimni
Port na bPucaí
Súil a Ghrá
The tune I sing the song to is this one.
http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiSALLYGRD;ttSALLYGRD.html
David
What the Devil Ails You
O My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose
The Job of Journeywork (the slow version as done by the Chieftains)
Nice and UNUSUAL version of the latter tune by one of our members here:
“Lament For Oliver Goldsmith” - as played by Finbar Furey.
I play the Foggy Dew as a “rockish” song. lol Definately not an air. 
My favorite air is Cape Clear.
These days it’s Idir Deighric ‘Gus Breo’. Simple, but lovely on whistle or flute.
-Craig
Not all necessarily intended to be aires, but can be played in a ‘aire’-y manner to great effect:
The Foggy, Foggy Dew
Women of Ireland
Inisheer
Stirling Castle
Star Above the Garter
Planxty Fanny Poer
The Path You Can’t See (by our own Gian Marco)
Just about any tune you really like playing and can put emotion into at a slower pace will work in solo performance.