Sporting Paddy

'Sporting Paddy' is a traditional Irish tune, a reel played widely by musicians.

Who Plays It? Many musicians have recorded the tune. It appears on Cormac Breatnach's "Musical Journey" (whistle), John Whelan's recordings (button accordion, often paired with "John Dwyer's" and "Galtee Rangers"), and Sharon Shannon’s album "Each Little Thing" (whistle played by Sharon Shannon herself). Versions also exist on Altan's "Blackwater" album.

Musical Structure: The tune has two distinct parts, and the second part shares similarities with the tune "Spoil The Dance." Several different transcriptions and notations of the tune’s musical structure have been shared.

Origins and Names: The tune’s author is unknown. It appears in O’Neill’s "Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody" (1922) as “Irish Pat”. There’s speculation about whether "Sporting Paddy" refers to a person, a type of person (a 'sport' or 'rake'), or if there were multiple 'Paddys' associated with the tune.

Variations: Different versions exist, including a recording by Burke, Cooney & Corcoran, a flute version, a banjo version, and a version from Donncha Ó Briain. It is often paired with other tunes like "Mulqueen’s" and "Mutt’s Favorite."

Where to Find It: Recordings of the tune are available on YouTube and Spotify, as well as on CDs from various artists. It is also transcribed in the Comhaltas Book 3 and on TheSession.org. The complete O’Neill’s "Waifs and Strays" book is available online.