The Welsh and the Irish

The Ash Grove, known as Llwyn Onn (win-ON) in Wales, is one of the best known melodies of the Welsh folk tradition. The melody was used by John Gay in his Beggar’s Opera in 1728, even though it is an instrumental piece in origin. It has been used as the setting for several hymn texts and is still often played on its instrument of origin, the Welsh harp. The Galway Piper has sometimes been called Piping Tim, with appropriate lyrics first published in 1746. It also has another text as a drinking song named The Rakes of Mallow. The tune has long been popular with bagpipers, who have had on occasion to slightly modify the melody to fit the unique characteristics of their instrument.