Poll Ha'penny (hornpipe)

This is an old tune, but still popular in both recordings and sessions today. I know nothing about the name - who Poll (Polly?) was, or whether she's giving or receiving the half-penny, or if it's a good busking tune that gets you pennies, or what. It's interesting as hornpipes go; there's a different "feel", in part because of the triplet run, but it's not the same kind of "triplet hornpipe" as, say, the Independent, or the Rights of Man. I've heard (session.org) that it's a descendant of the air "Molly McAlpin" but I've never heard the air, so that's just a rumor - but I'd easily believe that it has roots slightly different from other hornpipes, so I like the idea.
This is the 40th installment in my hornpipe-a-week home-recording project; thanks for listening.

[@folkfriend]

I absolutely love this tune and have included it in my forthcoming book of fingerstyle guitar arrangements. Nice to hear it so beautifully played!

[@Kitiwake]

Yah . Great performance and great tune.

[@fearfeasog]

Also I love the c# in the 2nd go-through of the first part. Unexpected and lovely.

[@tonedumbharry]

Poll Ha'penny is a hornpipe derived from an air called Molly McAlpine, thought to be by the harper William Connellan and written in the mid 17th Century. According to O'Sullivan, in The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper, Carolan said of this tune that, of all those he knew, it's the one he most wished he had written himself. In fact, it is often called Carolan's Dream. Over the centuries, Molly McAlpine became Moll Halfpenny, became Poll Ha'penny.

[@joanpickavance1532]

Thanks, I love learning about the history of tunes. Often lost in the mists of time.

[@tonedumbharry]

@@joanpickavance1532 The Molly McAlpine "O'Carolan's dream versions can be rather differently, but they are, essentially, the same tune.
ruclips.net/video/Z9fJuttTGBc/видео.html

[@tonedumbharry]

@@joanpickavance1532 If the introduction to that disconcerted you, try this
ruclips.net/video/PmJ2nm-bIJU/видео.html

[@fearfeasog]

very nice. I love this tune. I'm gonna say "poll" is from the Irish name Pól (paul) and probably the tune's name means "Halfpenny Paul." A particularly poor Paul! At least that's my guess based on what i've learned of the Irish language.
I'm going to learn this tune just as you've played it here more or less, thanks for the great vid! -mark in western mass

[@jhohlkennedy]

Go raibh maith agat. Thanks, this is fabulous. :)

[@wadefite]

ive been checking this nice tune out.
i heard it on a fc album (not named)so its nice to hear a slower version
tx