Did you know the surprising history behind the beautiful Irish folk tune “A Pretty Maid Milking Her Cow” (Cailín Deas Crúite Na mBó)? 🐄🎶
From scandalous lyrics in the fields to a Hollywood feature by Judy Garland in 1940, this traditional 18th-century melody has quite the backstory! As the legend goes (collected by the great Seamus Ennis), a young maid was caught by a passing priest singing a rather “bawdy” version of the tune while milking her cows. Facing public reprimand at mass, a clever friar stepped in and taught her new, holy lyrics to the exact same melody to save the day! ⛪✨
Have you ever learned to play or sing this tune? Let us know in the comments! 👇
JudyGarland IrishHistory FolkSongs IrishCulture SeamusEnnis
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Michael Flately is well able to play the flute. Here he joins Matt Molloy and Joanie Madden.
There are socks in the frying pan.
Such a lovely moment as the Barman sings. Natural music shines through. Beautiful singing.
Finn on Banjo and Dempsey on Bodhran . The Byrne Brothers .
16/06/2026
Whether you want to move away from standard tuning or master the driving rhythm of a live traditional session, MJ will guide you step-by-step from basic chord shapes to advanced backing techniques.
📋 What you’ll learn:
•Core Tune Types: Master accompaniment for Jigs, Reels, Slip Jigs, and Hornpipes.
•Key Signatures: Dive deep into the essential traditional keys of D, G, E, and A major.
•Advanced Techniques: Elevate your sound with sliding chords, inversions, bass runs, hammer-ons, and complex strumming patterns.
All techniques are taught using a fantastic selection of well-known traditional Irish tunes. Ready to drive the session?
👉 Start learning today!
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Lunchtime in Ennis.
Grab your instruments! 🎻🪈🪗
Want to experience the lift of a real Irish session at your own pace? Jump right into this play-along video for the classic tune, Maggie in the Woods!
This one is custom-made for learners:
•We start nice and slow so you can nail the phrasing.
•We gradually increase the speed to get you session-ready!
•Staff notation and ABC notation are on-screen throughout the entire video.
What instrument are you playing along with today? Let us know in the comments! 👇
OAIM PlayAlongVideo MusicEducation
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