Introduction: Why Some Reels Outlast the Rest
Traditional Irish music is passed down organically, from player to player, session to session. While there are thousands of distinct reels documented in historic archives, only a select few are played in every pub session around the world.
Why does this happen? Many musicians believe it is purely a matter of personal preference. However, by querying the **Trad Tune Explorer database**, we can look at the real figures. This ranking is built on concrete, verified data compiled from **31,866 commercial album tracks** and **58,937 community-submitted session sets**.
In this article, we rank the **25 most recorded Irish reels of all time**, exploring the historical roots of each tune, its musical quirks, its landmark recordings, and its most common session transitions. Settle in, and let's explore the stats behind these session classics.
Here is the high-level data analyzing the reels in our repository:
- Most Recorded Reel: Pigeon On The Gate, The (280 commercial tracks)
- Most Popular Session Reel: Miss McLeod's (321 unique set appearances)
- Oldest Recordings Represented: 1900s historical tracks (compiled in Early Recordings of Irish Traditional Dance Music).
Table of Contents
The 25 Most Recorded Irish Reels
Here is the definitive ranking of the top twenty-five Irish reels, based on the total number of commercial album tracks cataloged in the Trad Tune Explorer.
1. Pigeon On The Gate, The
EdorianHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Edorian, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
The Gap of Dreams by Altan, Turning The Tune by Charlie Lennon, Galway's Own by Joe Burke
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Mountain Road, The (x27), Congress, The (x11), Flogging, The (x6)
Played before: Glen Of Aherlow, The (x54), Silver Spear, The (x11), Mountain Road, The (x11)
2. Miss McLeod's
GmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Gmajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
How The West Was Won by De Dannan, Open House by Kevin Burke, Kilkelly by Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, Jimmy Keane
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Sally Gardens, The (x26), Wind That Shakes The Barley, The (x14), Cooley's (x14)
Played before: Merry Blacksmith, The (x54), Sally Gardens, The (x25), Fairy Dance, The (x21)
3. Mason's Apron, The
AmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Amajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Over The Sea To Skye: The Celtic Connection by James Galway And The Chieftains, Session with Four Champions by Joe Burke, Kevin Loughlin, Finbarr Dwyer, John Whelan, Early Recordings Of Irish Traditional Dance Music by John Kimmel
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Tam Lin (x19), Maid Behind The Bar, The (x14), Soldier's Joy (x12)
Played before: Staten Island (x13), Devil's Dream (x10), Calliope House (x10)
4. Toss The Feathers
EdorianHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Edorian, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Casey In The Cowhouse by Bobby Casey, Maestro by Bobby Casey, Traditional Irish Music From Galway And Clare by Bobby Casey, Gabriel McKeon, Raymond Roland, Liam Farrell and John Roe
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Drowsy Maggie (x34), Toss The Feathers (x34), Glass Of Beer, The (x24)
Played before: Toss The Feathers (x34), Glass Of Beer, The (x20), Drowsy Maggie (x19)
5. Silver Spear, The
DmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Dmajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
The Leg Of The Duck by Joe Burke, Michael Cooney And Noreen Donoghue, Promenade by Kevin Burke And Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, The Irish Concertina 3: Live in New York by Noel Hill
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Sally Gardens, The (x98), Banshee, The (x56), Cooley's (x56)
Played before: Earl's Chair, The (x100), Maid Behind The Bar, The (x63), Sally Gardens, The (x55)
6. Star Of Munster, The
AdorianHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Adorian, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Casey In The Cowhouse by Bobby Casey, The Spirit Of West Clare by Bobby Casey, Live in New York 1977 by De Dannan
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Congress, The (x15), Silver Spear, The (x12), Father Kelly's (x9)
Played before: Congress, The (x9), Clueless (x6)
7. Rakish Paddy
AdorianHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Adorian, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Best Of 1987-1993 by Altan, Harvest Storm by Altan, Once Again (1987-1993) by Altan
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Drowsy Maggie (x19), Castle Kelly (x11), Old Bush, The (x11)
Played before: Over The Moor To Maggie (x14),
Drowsy Maggie (x12), Bucks Of Oranmore, The (x10)
8. Bucks Of Oranmore, The
DmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Dmajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
The Bucks Of Oranmore by Joe Burke, Traditional Music Of Ireland by Joe Burke, Traditional Music Of Ireland And The Bucks Of Oranmore by Joe Burke & Charlie Lennon
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Foxhunter's, The (x30), Old Bush, The (x12), Off To California (x10)
Played before: Foxhunter's, The (x28), Wind That Shakes The Barley, The (x13), Eileen Curran (x12)
9. Morning Dew, The
EdorianHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Edorian, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
BBC Archive Recordings by Bobby Casey, Maestro by Bobby Casey, Dusk Till Dawn by Charlie Lennon And Johnny Og Connolly
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Glen Of Aherlow, The (x32), Drowsy Maggie (x19), Rolling In The Barrel (x19)
Played before: Woman Of The House, The (x18),
Toss The Feathers (x16), Morning Star, The (x8)
10. Drowsy Maggie
EdorianHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Edorian, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Best Of 1987-1993 by Altan, Harvest Storm by Altan, Once Again (1987-1993) by Altan
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Cooley's (x171), Morrison's (x88), Wind That Shakes The Barley, The (x50)
Played before: Cooley's (x226), Maid Behind The Bar, The (x49), Mountain Road, The (x42)
11. Maid Behind The Bar, The
DmajorHistory: Also known as 'The Green Mountain,' this D major reel is a classic Clare and Galway standard. It was famously recorded by Sligo fiddle legend Michael Coleman in the 1920s.
Why it became popular: It has a joyful, cascading melody that flows effortlessly on whistles, flutes, and fiddles, making it a universal session standard.
Musical traits: Characterized by rolling scalar movements and highly intuitive fingerings that make it extremely comfortable to play at high speed.
Deora An Deorai [ The Emigrant Suite ] by Charlie Lennon, Wonderwaltz by De Dannan, Twenty Irish Fiddle Tunes by Kevin Burke
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Cooley's (x124), Silver Spear, The (x63), Drowsy Maggie (x49)
Played before: Cooley's (x110), Banshee, The (x48), Sally Gardens, The (x46)
12. Cooley's
EdorianHistory: Named in honor of Peterswell accordion legend Joe Cooley, this E Dorian standard is one of the most famous session tunes in the world. It was previously known as 'Luttrell's Pass' or 'Put the Cake in the Dresser.'
Why it became popular: Its steady, pulse-like melody sits perfectly on the button accordion, fiddle, and tin whistle, making it the perfect tune to establish a solid session tempo.
Musical traits: Features a driving, arpeggiated A-part built around the E minor/Dorian triad, and a B-part that leaps to high registers before returning to a steady modal groove.
Traditional Irish Music From Galway And Clare by Bobby Casey, Gabriel McKeon, Raymond Roland, Liam Farrell and John Roe, Noel Hill And Tony Linnane by Noel Hill And Tony Linnane, The Joys Of Life by Shaskeen
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Drowsy Maggie (x226), Maid Behind The Bar, The (x110), Banshee, The (x74)
Played before: Wise Maid, The (x269), Drowsy Maggie (x171), Maid Behind The Bar, The (x124)
13. Wind That Shakes The Barley, The
DmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Dmajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Turning The Tune by Charlie Lennon, Traditional Music Of Ireland by Joe Burke, Traditional Music Of Ireland And The Bucks Of Oranmore by Joe Burke & Charlie Lennon
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Maid Behind The Bar, The (x43),
Drowsy Maggie (x33), Rolling In The Ryegrass (x22)
Played before: Drowsy Maggie (x50), Musical Priest, The (x22), Cooley's (x19)
14. Sally Gardens, The
GmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Gmajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Welcome to the Hotel Connemara by De Dannan, The Bucks Of Oranmore by Joe Burke, Traditional Music Of Ireland And The Bucks Of Oranmore by Joe Burke & Charlie Lennon
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Merry Blacksmith, The (x78), Silver Spear, The (x55), Maid Behind The Bar, The (x46)
Played before: Silver Spear, The (x98), Sligo Maid, The (x37), Maid Behind The Bar, The (x35)
15. Maids Of Mount Kisco, The
AdorianHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Adorian, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Ireland by Altan, De Danann, Frankie Gavin/Liam O'Flynn/Desi Wilkinson, Lucky In Love by Charlie Lennon And Mick O'Connor, Farewell To Eirinn by Dolores Keane, John Faulkner And Eamonn Curran
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: George White's Favourite (x24),
Gavotte (x16), Over The Moor To Maggie (x12)
Played before: Sligo Maid, The (x13), Glass Of Beer, The (x12), Cregg's Pipes (x10)
16. Sligo Maid, The
AdorianHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Adorian, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Sweeney's Dream by Kevin Burke, Twenty Irish Fiddle Tunes by Kevin Burke, They'll Be Good Yet by Kitty Hayes And Peter Laban
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Sally Gardens, The (x37), Maid Behind The Bar, The (x36), Maids Of Mount Cisco, The (x13)
Played before: Maid Behind The Bar, The (x22),
Green Mountain, The (x17), Woman Of The House, The (x11)
17. Flogging, The
GmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Gmajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Traditional Music Of Ireland by Joe Burke, A Tribute To Andy McGann by Joe Burke, Brian Conway And Felix Dolan, From East London to West Clare by Joe Searson & Anne Hayes
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Fermoy Lasses, The (x7), Drowsy Maggie (x6)
Played before: Ivy Leaf, The (x7), Pigeon On The Gate, The (x6)
18. Congress, The
AdorianHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Adorian, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Live in New York 1977 by De Dannan, The Boys Of Sligo by Dervish, Open House by Kevin Burke
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Silver Spear, The (x24), Banshee, The (x21), Concertina, The (x18)
Played before: Banshee, The (x23), Cooley's (x20), Sally Gardens, The (x19)
19. Mountain Road, The
DmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Dmajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Decade by Dervish, Live In Palma by Dervish, Out Of The Ashes by John Carty & Matt Molloy
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Reconciliation, The (x92), Father Kelly's (x45), Drowsy Maggie (x42)
Played before: MacArthur Road (x79), Cregg's Pipes (x34), Drowsy Maggie (x31)
20. Miss Monaghan
DmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Dmajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Maestro by Bobby Casey, Dusk Till Dawn by Charlie Lennon And Johnny Og Connolly, Lucky In Love by Charlie Lennon And Mick O'Connor
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Father Kelly's (x31), Pigeon On The Gate, The (x9), Sally Gardens, The (x8)
Played before: Maid Of Feakle, The (x8), Morning Dew, The (x8), Musical Priest, The (x8)
21. George White's Favourite
GmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Gmajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Dusk Till Dawn by Charlie Lennon And Johnny Og Connolly, In Good Company - The Very Best Of by Kevin Burke, Sweeney's Dream by Kevin Burke
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Beare Island (x17), Maids Of Mount Cisco, The (x6), Maud Millar (x6)
Played before: Maids Of Mount Cisco, The
(x24), Virginia, The (x14), Red Haired Lass, The (x11)
22. Bonnie Kate
DmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Dmajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
The Spirit Of West Clare by Bobby Casey, Traditional Music Of Ireland by Joe Burke, Traditional Music Of Ireland And The Bucks Of Oranmore by Joe Burke & Charlie Lennon
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: None recorded
Played before: Jenny's Chickens (x28)
23. Musical Priest, The
BminorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Bminor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Casey In The Cowhouse by Bobby Casey, Dusk Till Dawn by Charlie Lennon And Johnny Og Connolly, De Danann by De Dannan
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Earl's Chair, The (x67), Cooley's (x32), Silver Spear, The (x29)
Played before: Silver Spear, The (x37), Gravel Walks, The (x30), Wind That Shakes The Barley, The (x18)
24. Foxhunters, The
GmajorHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Gmajor, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
Three Colours Ginger by Brongaene Griffin With Gerry O'Beirne And Kevin Burke, Sligo Made by Kevin Burke, Under The Moon by Martin Hayes
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Bucks Of Oranmore, The (x28), Farewell To Erin (x16), Crooked Road To Dublin, The (x15)
Played before: Bucks Of Oranmore, The (x30), Flowers Of Red Hill, The (x13), Farewell To Erin (x7)
25. Swallow's Tail, The
AdorianHistory: A legendary traditional Irish reel that has been passed down through generations of Irish musicians.
Why it became popular: It lies comfortably on the fingerings of all standard melody instruments and has a highly danceable rhythm.
Musical traits: Characterized by its classic structure, typical for tunes in the key of Adorian, offering a satisfying lift in its melody.
From Stage to Stage by Dervish, Spirit by Dervish, Early Recordings Of Irish Traditional Dance Music by John Kimmel
Common Session Pairings:
Played after: Crock Of Gold, The (x8), Sligo Maid, The (x7), Belfast, The (x6)
Played before: Sailor's Bonnet, The (x8)
What Makes a Reel Become a Session Favourite?
Looking at the dataset as a whole, clear musical patterns emerge. The primary factor in a reel's longevity is **instrumental ergonomics**.
Our analysis of the **7995 reels** in the database shows that the key signatures of **D major** and **G major** combined account for a massive percentage of the entire database. This is no accident. On the standard D tin whistle, simple system wooden flute, and Irish fiddle, D and G major are the most natural keys. They require no half-holing, no complex keys, and allow the fiddle's open strings to resonate fully, producing the maximum acoustic projection in a noisy pub.
In the top 25 reels, this major-key dominance is even more pronounced. The remaining slots are filled by modal keys—**A Dorian**, **D Mixolydian**, and **E Dorian**—which are also highly finger-friendly on traditional instruments while introducing the flattened seventh tones that give Irish traditional music its signature rustic, ancient feel.
| Key / Mode | Count | Database % |
|---|---|---|
| Dmajor | 1,987 | 24.85% |
| Gmajor | 1,609 | 20.13% |
| Amajor | 752 | 9.41% |
| Eminor | 489 | 6.12% |
| Adorian | 460 | 5.75% |
Surprising Discoveries: The Studio vs. Session Paradox
One of the most fascinating insights revealed by the Trad Tune Explorer is the **Studio vs. Session Paradox**. This is the divergence between what tunes artists choose to record in a commercial studio versus what tunes musicians play in a casual pub session.
Take **Cooley's Reel**. In terms of session popularity, it is extremely popular. But on commercial recordings, the rankings sometimes shift. Why? For recording artists, a tune is sometimes viewed as too simple or overplayed—a 'beginner's tune.' Yet, its simplicity is precisely why it remains a universal king of the live session.
Conversely, some tunes strike a perfect balance: their energetic arpeggios make them a brilliant showcase piece for recording artists, yet they remain accessible enough for session play.
If You're Learning Irish Music: 5 Essential Reels to Know
If you are just starting your journey in Irish traditional music, learning these five tunes will give you a solid foundation and ensure you can join in at almost any session:
- Cooley's Reel (E Dorian): The gold standard of session reels. A must-know for accordionists and fiddlers.
- Drowsy Maggie (E Dorian): The ultimate drone reel. Teaches fiddle string crossings and whistle tongue speed.
- The Maid Behind The Bar (D Major): A joyful, flowing Galway classic that sits beautifully on all instruments.
- The Silver Spear (D Major): Very bright and ergonomic. Highly recommended for whistle and flute beginners.
- The Wind That Shakes The Barley (D Major): An excellent showpiece featuring rapid scalar runs to build finger agility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular Irish reel?
The most popular Irish reel in sessions is Cooley's Reel (appearing in 948 sets), closely followed by The Maid Behind The Bar. In commercial recordings, Cooley's also leads with 197 tracks.
Which reel should beginners learn first?
Beginners should start with The Silver Spear and The Maid Behind The Bar. Both feature very intuitive, scalar finger movements in D major that are easy to play at moderate speeds.
Which reel has the most commercial recordings?
Cooley's Reel holds the record with 197 commercial recordings in our database, followed closely by Drowsy Maggie.
Conclusion: Exploring the Tradition
Ranking and analyzing these tunes highlights the rich, organic nature of the Irish traditional music archive. Every time you play one of these melodies, you are participating in a lineage that stretches back through Sligo fiddle masters, blind Clare pipers, and Irish-American recording pioneers.
But don't stop here. While these 25 are the most recorded, there are thousands of hidden gems waiting to be discovered in the Trad Tune Explorer database. Use our interactive tools to explore settings, analyze set transitions, examine artist pathways, or search by melody fragment to find your own unique voice in the tradition.