“The Irish Washerwoman” is a traditional tune known to have been played throughout Britain & Ireland and in North America. Although usually considered an Irish tune, some scholars claim that it is English in origin, derived from the seventeenth-century tune “Dargason”.This jig was incorporated as the first movement of the Irish Suite, a collection of traditional tunes arranged for orchestra by American composer Leroy Anderson in 1946.Over the years many songs have used The Irish Washerwoman tune. One of the most popularly known lyrics sung to the tune is McTavish Is Dead.The song has been used in many movies, such as Christmas in Connecticut and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. In the Little House on the Prairie book series, Pa Ingalls plays the song on his fiddle. Words from old Irish army song
Songs with Banjo from Harold Hagler
