Kesh Jig – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 73

I don’t have an elaborate story about Kesh Jig. I have heard it a number of times, and hadn’t really ever played it but I had it in my head. When I was thinking of Irish tunes, it came to mind so I played it.

Kesh Jig is a pretty simple tune, and I think that sometimes that is what really makes a tune great and memorable. It seems to have worked for the Kesh Jig, still being played at least 150 years after it was written.

As a side note, this tin whistler really tears it up.

The Kesh Jig according to Fiddler’s Companion

KESH JIG [1], THE. AKA and see “Castle Jig [1],” “Kerrigan’s,” “The Kincora Jig,” “Little Boy Ted in the Hay,” “The Mountaineers’ March,” “Tear the Callies.” Irish, Double Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB (most versions): AA’BB’ (Miller & Perron). Very popular in Irish sessions, albeit often seen as a ‘beginners tune’. See “Port Pat Coclain” for a West Kerry slide version of this tune, and also the related “Spring Well” and “Fond of the Ladies.” Michael Coleman recorded the melody on 78 RPM as “Kerrigan’s Jig.” The first printed version appears to be in George Petrie’s 1850’s collection under the title “Tear the Callies.”