The 25 Most Recorded Versions of Cooley's Reel

Perhaps the most famous live recording of the tune. Featuring Tommy Peoples (fiddle), Matt Molloy (flute), Paddy Keenan (uilleann pipes), and Micheál Ó Domhnaill (guitar), this version is celebrated for its incredible lift, drive, and speed. It serves as a masterclass in ensemble dynamic control.

A deliberate tribute to Joe Cooley, featuring Frankie Gavin's Sligo-influenced fiddle playing and Paul Brock's masterfully clean button accordion technique. They open the album with Cooley's Reel, playing with a bouncy, traditional East Galway lift that captures Cooley's own spirit.

A standard-setting recording for concertina and fiddle players. Noel Hill's rhythmic concertina ornamentation (cuts, rolls, and bellows bellows-bouncing) combined with Tony Linnane's sweet Clare fiddle style makes this a must-listen for learners looking to master micro-ornamentation.

Recorded by one of the absolute giants of the button accordion. Tony MacMahon plays the tune under the alternative title "Joe Cooley's Fancy." His style is marked by a deep, dark, and highly rhythmic bellows-driven bounce, capturing the pure soul of Clare accordion playing.

Famous for their appearance in the movie Titanic, Gaelic Storm brought this reel to a massive global rock audience. Their version features a driving, highly energized modern folk band arrangement with guitar, djembe, and mandolin backing up a crisp fiddle lead.

John Sheahan's driving fiddle and Barney McKenna's iconic tenor banjo style define this raw and lively Dubliners recording. This is a classic example of the pub session style that popularized the tune across Europe in the 1970s folk revival.

As a former band member, Joe Cooley's influence is clear in the Tulla's signature lift. This recording is a perfect reference for the classic, steady-tempo Clare céilí band style, designed specifically for set dancing with heavy piano and snare drum accents.

Recorded ten years after their 40th anniversary, this recording features a larger, more polished ensemble sound but retains the exact Clare swing. The set transitions from Cooley's into a driving rendition of the Cup of Tea and resolves with the Wise Maid.

Seamus Cooley (Joe's brother) playing wooden flute alongside Sligo-style fiddle legend John McGreevy in Chicago. The style is tight, rhythmic, and represents the historic immigrant-community sound that kept Irish traditional music alive in urban midwest America.

Clare fiddle and concertina master Peter O'Loughlin presents Cooley's Reel as a solo track, playing it with a relaxed, deep, and unhurried tempo. He focuses heavily on the steady pulse and classic bowing patterns characteristic of East Clare.

John Carty, a master of multiple traditional instruments, records a highly influential version on banjo. His playing style features crisp triplets and incredible cross-string picking that highlights the syncopation of the E Dorian melody.

A beautiful, bright button accordion performance by Connemara melodeon and accordion master Johnny Connolly. This version demonstrates a faster, punchier, Western style of accordion playing that stands in contrast to the Clare bellows-shaking style.

Kevin Keegan’s accordion style is fluid, bouncy, and deeply traditional. Keegan was another major exponent of the Galway style who brought his music to San Francisco. Playing Cooley's as a follow-on to Father Kelly's, he highlights the accordion's capacity for rapid treble ornamentation.

Recorded in London during the peak of the Irish emigrant music scene. Fiddle player Bobby Casey joins Raymond Roland (accordion) and Liam Farrell (banjo) in a classic ensemble recording. They play at a medium session tempo, full of swing and Clare-style ornamentation.

An acoustic trio consisting of Tomas Ó Canainn (uilleann pipes), Matt Cranitch (fiddle), and Raymond Roland (accordion). This recording is slower, clean, and highlights the counterpoint between Cranitch's precise Munster fiddle bowing and Ó Canainn's pipes.

Matt Cunningham's extensive recordings are the bible for set dancers. This version has a highly regular, rock-steady tempo, with pronounced melody leads. Excellent for beginners who want to listen to a clear, uncluttered statement of the tune to get it under their fingers.

A classic duet featuring Seán Ryan on whistle and Dan Coughlan on guitar. For whistle players, this recording shows how to navigate the E Dorian rolls, cuts, and breath control at a moderate pace without losing the tune's driving groove.

The long-running band Shaskeen presents a classic Galway-style group setting. Cooley's is positioned as the middle tune, sandwiched between the driving Morning Dew and the lifted Earl's Chair, showing how to construct a standard three-reel set.

Galway flute player and fiddler Eddie Moloney represents the classic mid-century style. Playing Cooley's Reel on the flute, his version features strong puffing breath accents and rapid finger cuts that are highly characteristic of the North Clare/South Galway flute style.

Chris Droney, the late legendary concertina player from Bell Harbour, County Clare, plays Cooley's Reel with a bouncy, single-note staccato Clare style. The tempo is steady and the focus is on a crisp rhythm that is perfect for step dancing.

Tom Doherty, playing a robust double-row button accordion, drives Cooley's Reel forward with thick chordal bass accompaniment on the left hand. His recording highlights the driving, energetic style common in the western counties of Mayo and Galway.

An invaluable historical recording of Sligo fiddle legend Michael Gorman. He plays the tune solo under its older name, "Put the Cake in the Dresser." His style features the rapid Sligo bowing and sliding notes that represent a pre-revival era of traditional music.

This recording showcases the Cape Breton stylistic adaptation of the tune. Fiddler Wendy MacIsaac plays with the sharp, driving, and heavily syncopated Cape Breton bowing style, combining Cooley's with classic Scottish and local Cape Breton reels.

Fiddler Sharon Corr (of the famous Irish folk-pop band The Corrs) records Cooley's Reel as a solo instrumental on her debut solo album. This version is polished, lyrical, and showcases the crossover pop-folk production style of the early 2010s.

The ultimate educational reference. Recorded by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, this is a clean, medium-tempo group recording designed specifically for students and session learners to play along with. It couples Cooley's with the Wise Maid and the Bird in the Bush.

9. Conclusion: Finding Your Voice on Cooley's

Cooley's Reel is much more than a simple sequence of notes; it is a rite of passage for every traditional musician and a bridge that connects players across borders. Whether you study the fierce, driving energy of The Bothy Band, the rhythmic nuances of Noel Hill, or the steady dance pulse of the Tulla Céilí Band, each recording offers a unique perspective on this timeless melody.

We encourage you to explore our interactive tools to study the sheet music settings, analyze alternative chord progressions, search for related melody fragments, and discover new artist pathways to build your own unique session sets. Happy playing!