WALLS OF LISCARROLL [1] (Ballaide Lios-Cearbaill). AKA and see "Ballaí Lios Chearbhaill," "Lads on the Mountain," "Old Walls of Liscarroll," "Tumble the Tinker." Irish, Double Jig. D Mixolydian (Miller & Perron, O'Neill {all versions}, Taylor, Williamson): E Dorian (Roche). Standard. AABC (Miller & Perron): AABB (O'Neill {all versions}, Roche, Taylor). The town of Liscarrol, meaning 'Fort of Cearull', is located in the county of Cork, near the border with Limerick about halfway between the cities of Limerick and Cork, and dates.from the early Middle Ages. There is a ruined castle there to which the title may refer, or it may perhaps reference a battle which occurred at Liscarroll in the 17th century. Williamson (1976) reports that one of the lords of the castle, Sir John Purcell of Hightort, "is remembered for his feat of slaying, when armed only with a carving knife, eight armed robbers as they forced their way into his bedroom." There is a 4/4 time version of the tune in the American old-time tradition call "Muddy Water" (AKA and see). It has been suggested (by, for one, Louie W. Attebery in his article "The Fiddle Tune: An American Artifact" {1979}) that the name change from "Walls of Liscarroll" to "Muddy Water" came about in a process of naturalization due to anti-British sentiments during the War of 1812. Caoimhin Mac Aoidh, writing in the liner notes of Glackin & Hannan's CD "Whirlwind" (1995) states the tune has a Munster provenance. Towards the end of the 20th century, he says, musicians frequently played the tune in higher pitched keys than was formerly the custom. John Kelly, for one, always preferred the older, lower version. Sources for notated versions: Chieftains (Ireland) [Miller & Perron]; John Carey, a native of Limerick [O'Neill]; set dance music recorded live at Na Píobairí Uilleann, mid-1980's [Taylor]. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977; Vol. 1, No. 24. O'Neill (1915 ed.), 1987; No. 149, pg. 85. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 18. O'Neill (1850), 1903/1979; No. 704, pg. 131. O'Neill (1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 8, pg. 18. Roche Collection, 1982, Vol. 1; No. 89, pg. 40. Taylor (Music for the Sets: Yellow Book), 1995; pg. 25. Williamson (English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish Fiddle Tunes), 1976; pg. 79. Shanachie 79021, "The Chieftains I." Martin Hayes - "An Fhidle I." Shanachie 79093, Paddy Glackin & Robbie Hannan - "The Whirlwind" (1995).
T:Walls of Liscarroll [1]
L:1/8
M:6/8
S:O'Neill - 1001 Gems (8)
K:D
A|d>cA A>GE|G>EE D2E|G>EE c>EE|GAB =c2e|
d>cA A>GE|G>EE D2E|G>EE =c>EE|D>ED D2:|
|:A|d>cd ecA|d>cd ecA|=c>dc cBA|G>AB =cGE|
A>de fed|e>dc dcA|G>EE =c>EE|D>ED D2:|