Shaskeen Series It all started in 1970 when Tom Cussen and Benny O'Connor got together with friends in London and played in the Oxford Tavern in Kentish Town every Friday for almost a year. Moving back to Ireland around the end of 1971 both Tom and Benny wasted no time in getting the band flying. Over twenty years on and Shaskeen have produced no fewer than ten albums of fire-brand Irish traditional music. They have also produced singles and EPs along the way. The current revival of set dancing is very welcome and the band is as strong as ever. All the tunes (along with the chords as played) from five of their cassettes (which are now available in CD format) have been transcribed into two wonderful books. Copious cross-references have been appended, which go a long way to filling in the background to the tunes, encouraging the musician to look further. The tunes in the two books are those being currently played in Irish sessions which was the inspiration for producing them. The recordings are excellent examples of the sound of a working, authentic and respected céilí band and therefore the books aren't dusted-off reprints, but instead contain up-to-date, popular versions of tunes being played today.

Contents

Reels 

Ambrose Moloney's  Ash Maley House  Billy Brocker  Boys of Portaferry  Brendan McMorrin's  Connemara Stockings  Darby's Farewell to London  Drunken Landlady  Early Breakfast  Floating Crowbar  Fred Finn's  Golden Keyboard  Humours of Toomagh  Jack Maguire's  Jackson's  Killaghbeg House  Lady on the Island Last Night's Fun  Leitrim Bucks  Mary O'Neill's  Mary Staunton's  Miss Monaghan's  Monsignor's Blessing

Mouse Behind the Dresser  Moving Bogs  My Love is in America  My Mary Anne  Paddy Killoran's  Penny Candle  P. J. Conlon's  P. Joe Hayes'  St. Anne's  Tap Room  Toss the Feather  Wise Maid

Jigs 

Banks of Newfoundland  Butchers' March  Daniel O'Connell  Father Kelly's  Harry's Loch  Henchey's Delight  Maid at Spinning Wheel  Monaghan  Mysteries of Knock  Paddy Cronin's

Paddy in London  Páidín O'Rafferty  Queen of the Fair  Rose in the Heather  T'Athair Jack Walsh  Tom Busby's

Hornpipes 

Breen's  Cronin's  Home Ruler  The Swan 

Miscellany 

All-Star Barn Dance  Bill Sullivan's  Britches Full of Stitches  Cock and the Hen  Humours of Whiskey  Little Diamond  Magic Slipper  Mrs Kenny's Waltz  Untitled Waltz