I first heard this played years ago by one of the Dubliners on the mandolin and I taught it was fantastic. I have heard it played by various musicians on the tin whistle. I downloaded a copy of this tune from only God knows where. I am a relative newcomer to the whistle after playing the bagpipes in Chicago for 30 years. I tried learning it by ear a couple of days ago and the only whistle that seems to work with this version is my Susato Bflat. It seems to be in the key of Eflat major. I have only the first part down but it gave me pleasure because I am not good at learning by ear. Also who is it playing this? I hope some of the experts can help me because I am not good also at determining keys. I have uploaded the Mp3 to the following URL.
http://www.box.net/shared/a2b0b11qpj
Any help would be appreciated on the musician and the keys, thanks John M Ryan
There are several recordings of the tune on this website:
http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/slowairs.html
The site mentions the whistle it was played on.
I have e-mailed you the sheet music version I have.
Nice tune by the way.
Lovely tune. Must learn it…
Does this clip help you identify?. Apologies if I am wrong. No, I take that back. The YouTube one is worth listening to as well. 
The Session has a version notated as a hornpipe. Drat. Maybe I can disentangle it…
Dr. Phill,
Thank you, Thank you. You hit the hammer on the bingo nail.
I don’t remember when I downloaded it but that is the one I
was looking for. And it looks like Matt Cunningham is playing
it on a Generation Bflat whistle. Which I was doing. Also the tune ends
on an Eflat which I think should be the key if I am not mistaken.
Thanks again. John Ryan, Salamanca, Spain
A pleasure to help. And thanks to you for drawing my attention to a lovely tune.
And the ABC on the Session is about right (get rid of the R:Hornpipe, add Q:40). Oh and the tune is repeated with a variation.
I have a slightly different version of the ABC taken from O’Canainn’s book. (slightly different rhythm using triplets instead of those notes with three ‘bars’ on them). But by that time, I am going by ear.
Matt Cunningham also manages to stuff far more notes into the tune than either version that I have can hold…
Oddly enough, the versions I have are both in [key/mode with two flats] and end on D. Hmmmm
The Matt Cunningham clip is “high setting” in GMaj fingering. On the Bb whistle, that gives a concert key of Eb.
The Session’s setting is “low setting” in DMaj fingering. To match the clip (approximately), you could play it on an Eb whistle. Or transpose the dots to GMaj on a Bb whistle.
Thanks MTGuru.
I thought it would be something like that, but I wasn’t going to risk parading my ignorance again.
If you want to learn by ear on the D whistle Joanie Madden’s ‘Songs of the Irish Whistle’ has it. I’ve been working on that version for a while
Paddy Keenan recorded a wonderful version in the higher, G, key, on
Doublin’
Paddy Glackin & Paddy Keenan
Tara 2007
I learned it from a Mick O Brien CD, in D, on
The Ancient Voice of Ireland
Which is a wonderful CD consisting only of airs.
I also learned May Morning Dew and Lagan Love from Mick’s playing.
He plays pipes in D, C, and B on that album so you have to be careful.
To me, these airs are best learnt by ear. It takes me quite a while to get the tune internalised, but when it is, then I can be more free with the timing and specific notes etc. The beauty of these airs is to play around with them so that you don’t play them the same way twice.
Useful sources, thanks PanCelticPiper, ‘The Ancient Voice of Ireland’ is on my Amazon wish list, ready for my birthday.
I too find I learn a lot by ear, but only after I have got the basic notes from some written source. This tune is a good example - I would have tried to play along on a D whistle, not found it possible, and then would have given up. but having the dots to hand, I could learn the tune (in D) and get the phrasing by listening.
Since I only have D whistles and am not good at pitches I would never have guessed the key. Now I have been told, however, I have the Audacity to drop the pitch of the recording and I can play along.
You can find the dots and listen to it here in the key of D. If you find a whistle in a different key just use the same D fingering sequence and the whistle will play it in that key.
http://www.tinwhistler.com/tunes.aspx
Mick Woodruff also has a nice version on his site. Including the sheet music.