Shaun O'Nolan: Sargeant Early's Jig

This week's 78rpm disc features the uilleann piping of Shaun O'Nolan, often billed as "The Wicklow Piper." He emigrated to Boston in the early 1900s, and fashioned himself into something of a singer, song-writer, and entertainer over the years. Nick Whitmer's "Lives of the Pipers" has a detailed biography of O'Nolan (livesofthepipers.com/1o'nolanshaun.html).

The Sargeant [Sergeant] Early's Jig here predates the 1928 recording by the Flanagan Brothers by two years (recorded at the end of the Sarfield Lilt set). It shares similarities with the tune known as Garrett Barry's.

Recorded in 1926 on Columbia (33091-F). From the Ted McGraw Collection, McGraw 78 02-425.