Friday 1 January 2021
Tune of the Day: O'Sullivan's March
Traditional Irish tune
This tune is nowadays played more often as a jig, but is said to have been the march of the Kerry-based Irish Clan of O'Sullivan. However, antecedents to the melody can be found in the Scottish “The Highlander's March” (printed in James Oswald's “Caledonian Pocket Companion”, c. 1760) and, nearly a century earlier, in the English “Montrose's March” (printed in Playford's “Musick's Hand-Maid”, 1663).
A recording of “O'Sullivan's March” by Matt Molloy of The Chieftains was notably featured in the soundtrack for the 1995 film Rob Roy, starring Liam Neeson.