The origin of the Drum-a- Derry jig

Once upon a time,in a far off town in South Mayo,there lived a poor creature who had a terrible hump. He had a childhood accident which resulted in his fearful "cruit"
Though he was inflicted in life he was a cheerful enough type.He made his living from basket making.A dab hand he was and his baskets were in demand all over two parishes.
In his youth he had some fiddle lessons and could scrape a bunch of tunes.In a countryside where" pus" music was the norm he was highly acclaimed-a big fish in a small pond as you might say.

He was in great demand for parties,dances and American wakes and would play his little heart out for a few mugs of porter or whatever liquor was available at that time.
Oftentimes he played until nearly dawn and wouldn't stagger home till bunny was out.


One night he played for a party and left for home in the early hours,clutching his precious fiddle and humming a lively jig to shorten the road.
He took a short cut across some fields and paused, by a fairy rath, to rest his weary bones.
Whether he dozed or not isn't rightly known but suddenly he heard singing and
dancing inside the fairy rath.He crept up for a look-see and he beheld a host of little people dancing merrily around and around a fairy thorn.A nice group of singers was all they had in the line of music and they sang,

De Luan,De Máirt
De luan,De Máirt

over and over and over again.They sang it until the "cruiteachán"was sick and tired of their sweet refrain-so-when next they sang

De Luan,De Máirt
De luan,De Máirt

-he added in DE Céadaoin

The fairies were astounded and amazed with the improvement in their song and they quickly gathered around"mo dhuine"and cheered and clapped him till their little hands were stinging and sore."Sing it again,sing it again" they shouted in wild glee and excitement.
He did.

The king of the fairies stepped up "Well",adeir sé,"you have improved our song greatly and I mean to reward you for your kindness"

"Abra kill abra Killiney aZoo"adeir sé and with these magic words the "cruiteachán's" hump disappeared and he was as straight as a die-Moladh agus buíochas le Dia na Glóire-he said and he went away home "ar cos in áirde"


By God,the word soon spread of this miraculous cure and soon reached the ear of another unfortunate "cruiteachán" who lived in the neighbouring parish."On my word",adeir sé,"I'll have to investigate this rumour".

Now this "cruiteachán" ,we'll call him John, was a completely different character to our hero ,from now we'll call HIM "Bob".
John was cranky-I suppose ,not improved by his terrible affliction.
He was ,as they say,as "coiligneach as a dris cosáin"-as awkward and contrary as a briar across a path.
Still and all, when John arrived at Bob's door, with a face on him that'd sour milk,our Bob never ceased his smiling and welcoming."Come in,a stór,"says he,"and what can I do for you?"
From the gymp of John it was obvious that the hump was his problem ,so Bob told him his scéal and how his good fortune had made him whole.

John said he'd have a go himself.

For the next three nights he sat in the field but all he heard was the keening wind and the faint crack of twigs as they broke in the bitter frost.
Then on the fourth night he awoke from a doze and heard the soothing sound of the fairies singing.He crept up to the fort and ,sure enough, there they were, dancing around the fairy bush and they were singing their hearts out
De Luan,De Máirt
De luan,De Máirt
De Luan,De Máirt
De Céadaoin
Damn nice it sounded, ringing out in the frosty air, but John was not happy-NO-when next they sang their song he HAD to add in ...Agus Deardaoin.

Well there was consternation among the fairy host.The king roared "You bloody bastard,you have ruined our lovely song, you are as useless as tits on a goose, blast you to hell".
John pleaded, but to no avail. Then he made a bolt for freedom but a senior fairy with a walking stick,deftly put the "cámóg" around his neck and dragged him back to face his tormentors.The king roared again "Amber Kilambra Durrow Aloo" and lo and behold a fairy servant appeared with Bob's hump and slapped it on the back of poor John.

The old saying is true"It is NOT safe to upset the fairies.!!