the first line from the irish tune called John Ryan's

If you attend our Sunday Session or our Thursday Beginner Slow Session, download this book:

Download Icon from https://icons8.com/icons/set/download by https://icons8.com Nanaimo Irish Music Tunebook : Version 2.1

If you attend our Sunday Session, download this book as well!



(Our Thursday Beginner Slow Session will not usually use the Appendix as we want to keep the tunes less overwhelming and more beginner friendly.)

Download Icon from https://icons8.com/icons/set/download by https://icons8.com Nanaimo Irish Music Tunebook : Appendix A

Nanaimo Irish Music Tunebook : Version 2.1
Tune List

  • Jigs, Slip Jigs & Slide Jigs:
  • The Swallowtail
  • Out On the Ocean
  • Morrison's
  • The Humours of Glendart
  • Road to Lisdoonvarna
  • The Butterfly
  • The Caterpillar
  • Another Jig Will Do
  • The Connaughtman's Rambles
  • The Irish Washerwoman
  • The Kesh
  • The Lark in the Morning
  • The Lilting Banshee
  • Smash The Windows
  • Haste To The Wedding
  • Tripping Up The Stairs
  • My Darling Asleep
  • Kings of Kerry
  • Road to Lisdoonvarna
  • Polkas:
  • John Ryan's
  • Maggie in the Woods
  • Britches Full Of Stitches
  • Mairi's Wedding
  • Denis Murphy's
  • The Kerry/Peg Ryan's/Egan's
  • Ballydesmond (Andy Boyle's)
  • I'll Tell Me Ma
  • Mussels in the Corner
  • The Rakes of Mallow
  • Reels:
  • The Glass of Beer
  • St. Anne's
  • Drowsy Maggie
  • The Mountain Road
  • Stan Rogers
  • Whiskey Before Breakfast
  • The Maid Behind The Bar
  • Castle Kelly
  • Cooley's
  • Waltzes & Slower Tunes:
  • Skye Boat Song
  • The Log Driver's
  • The Arran Boat Song
  • Wild Mountain Thyme
  • Star of the County Down
  • The Foggy Dew
  • The South Wind
  • Hornpipes
  • Off to California
  • The Harvest Home
  • The Boys of Blue Hill
  • Devil's Dream
  • Shanties/East Coast Sing-A-Long:
  • Lukey's Boat
  • Randy Dandy OH
  • Roll The Old Chariot
  • The Wellerman
  • Druken Sailor
  • Barrett's Privateers
  • Hot Asphalt
  • Irish Pub Song
  • Black Velvet Band
  • The Kittymen
  • Maid On The Shore
  • Chemical Worker's Song
  • Old Polina
  • Rolling Down To Old Maui

Nanaimo Irish Music Tunebook : Appendix A
Tune List

  • Jigs:
  • Banish Misfortune
  • Calliope House
  • Club Ceili
  • Tobin's Favourite
  • Haunted House
  • Ivar The Boneless
  • Jerry's Beaver Hat
  • Pay the Reckoning
  • Saddle the Pony
  • Queen of the Fair
  • The Blarney Pilgrim
  • The Carraroe
  • The Geese in the Bog
  • The Muster's Lass
  • The Trip to Sligo
  • Thompson's Jig
  • Christmas Day I'Da Morning
  • Apples in Winter
  • The Frost is All Over
  • Hornpipes:
  • Fisher's Hornpipe
  • Soldier's Joy
  • The Derry Hornpipe
  • The Galway Hornpipe
  • The Lochmaben Hornpipe
  • Barndances:
  • Green Grow the Rushes
  • The Huntsman's Chorus
  • Christmas Barndance
  • Grimstock
  • Polkas:
  • Newmarket
  • The Christmas Polka
  • The Day After Christmas
  • Waltzes
  • Fanny Power
  • Planxty Irwin
  • Si Bheag Si Mohr
  • Others:
  • Black Velvet Band
  • Loch Lomond
  • Down by the Sally Gardens
  • Molly Malone



Part of the fun of an Irish Music Session is the variety of tunes that we play! We have a bit of a Canadian Spin though, as we also incorporate some Sea Shanties and some other well-known Canadian & East Coast tunes.


As far as traditional Irish tunes are concerned, there are literally thousands of diferent tunes out there, and many tunes are also known by multiple names. In Trad sessions in Ireland, it's common for the musicians to all be playing slightly different versions of the same tune, and as long as it's in the same key it all works out and sounds pretty cool!


One of our main sources for the music is The Session which is a large database of traditional Irish tunes in multiple settings.


Our tunebook was created to have a small, core list of tunes that we can play from, and we are always adding to it. We have a running list of requests and are always working on adding new tunes to our repertoire. Check this site regularly for our most up to date tune book!


One of the best ways to help yourself to learn the tunes is by listening to them!

This Spotify Playlist from the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music, contains many of the tunes that we play at our session as well as some that will be added to our tunebook soon.

Are you obsessed with Irish Music yet? We sure are!