The Star Above the Garter

The Star Above The Garter is an album of Sliabh Luachra fiddle music recorded by siblings Denis Murphy (1910–1974) and Julia Clifford (1914–1997) in 1969 and is regarded as one of the classic albums of Irish traditional music.

The album was remastered and re-released by Claddagh Records in 2022.

The title of the album comes from a tune of the same name that Denis and Julia learned from their teacher, Pádraig O'Keeffe, however the tune was originally called The Star and Garter and it is believed was changed to The Star Above the Garter by Garech de Brún of Claddagh Records for the release of the album. The original name is thought to be a reference to the Order of St Patrick.

The cover art is by French artist Catherine Folâtre.

Track listing

1. "Rathawaun / The Hare In The Corn"  Ã¢Â€Â“
2. "O'Mahony's / The Stack Of Barley"  Ã¢Â€Â“
3. "The Morning Star / Rolling On The Ryegrass" (Denis Murphy)  Ã¢Â€Â“
4. "Farewell to Whiskey / The Dark Girl"  Ã¢Â€Â“
5. "Tom Billy's"  Ã¢Â€Â“
6. "Dan O'Keeffe's"  Ã¢Â€Â“
7. "O'Rahilly's Grave" (Julia Clifford)  -
8. "Seanbhean na gCártaí"  Ã¢Â€Â“
9. "The Ballydesmond Polkas"  Ã¢Â€Â“
10. "The Blackbird" (Denis Murphy)  Ã¢Â€Â“
11. "The Lady On The Island / Callaghan's"  Ã¢Â€Â“
12. "The Munster Jig / Munster Buttermilk"  Ã¢Â€Â“
13. "Knocknabower Polkas"  Ã¢Â€Â“
14. "Johnny When You Die / Anything For John-Joe"  Ã¢Â€Â“
15. "An Raibh Tú ag an gCarraig" (Julia Clifford)  Ã¢Â€Â“
16. "Pádraig O'Keeffe's / The Scartaglen Jig"  Ã¢Â€Â“
17. "The Fisherman's"  Ã¢Â€Â“
18. "The Galtee Rangers / The Glentaun Reel"  Ã¢Â€Â“
19. "Caoine Uí Dhónaill" (Denis Murphy)  Ã¢Â€Â“
20. "The Star Above The Garter / The Lisheen Slide"  Ã¢Â€Â“

Personnel

• Denis Murphy - fiddle
• Julia Clifford - fiddle
• Catherine Folâtre - artwork
• John S. Perrett - design

References