The most I can find on the 'Poll Ha'penny' ~ 'Holey Ha'penny' connection is
on [1]www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/POA_PORS.htm: POLL HA'PENNY (Maire Na Leat-Pingin/Pingean). AKA and see "[2]Carolan's Dream," "[3]Brian the Brave [1], "[4]Garrai na bhFeileoig (Garden of Butterflies), [5]Holey HaPenny/Halfpenny, "[6]Molly Halfpenny/Ha'penny," "[7]Molly MacAlpin," "[8]O'Carolan's Farewell to Music," "[9]Paul Ha'Penny," [10]Remember the Glories of Brian the Brave. Irish, Hornpipe, Long or Set Dance (4/4 time). A Dorian (Mulvihill). Standard tuning. AB (O'Neill/1915 & 1001): AAB (O'Neill/1850): AABB (Mitchell, Mulvihill, O'Neill/Krassen). The dance version of the air Molly MacAlpin, by the ancient harper Laurence OConnellan, born at Cloonmahon, County Sligo, in the mid-17th century (c. 1645). Donal O'Sullivan in his Carolan biography (vol. 1, p. 18) reported that the Irish harper and composer OCarolan (1670-1738) thought so highly of this tune that he was supposed to have said he would rather have been its composer than any of his own melodies. Ciaran Carson, in his book Last Nights Fun (1996) thinks it may be possible that the title Poll Hapenny may have derived from the English title Holey Hapenny, since the word poll in Irish means hole. See [11]Molly Macalpin for more on the history of this tune. See also the related English tune [12]The Radstock Jig. The famous uilleann piper Patsy Tuohey, one of Francis ONeills informants, recorded this tune on an Edison cylinder. It was recorded in modern times by whistle player Mary Bergin under the title Garrai na bhFeoleoig (Garden of Butterflies). Mulvihill (1^st Collection), 1986; No. 7, pg. 120 (appears as Pol Hapenny). O'Neill (ONeills Irish Music), 1915; No. 397, pg. 190. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 208. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1783, pg. 333. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 983, pg. 169. Bellbridge Records, Bobby Casey Casey in the Cowhouse (1992. Originally recorded 1959). Mulligan MUL 027, Martin OConnor - A Connaughtmans Rambles. Piping Pig Records PPPCD 001, Jimmy OBrien- Moran Sean Reids Favourite (1996). As usual, it descends into guesswork about the place where it gets interesting. There seems no connection between the *tunes* 'Poll Ha'penny' and 'Holey Ha'penny', at least to my ear, even with my lousy sense of rhythm. The site is less help on our 'Holey Ha'penny', unfortunately. John John -- References 1. http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/POA_PORS.htm 2. outbind://84/CAR_CASU.htm#CAROLAN'S_DREAM 3. outbind://84/BRANCH_BRIDE.htm#BRIAN_THE_BRAVE_[1] 4. outbind://84/GAMB_GAY.htm#GARRAI_NA_bhFEILEOIG 5. outbind://84/HJ_HONOL.htm#HOLEY_HA'PENNY/HALFPENNY 6. outbind://84/MOLL_MOM.htm#MOLLY_HALFPENNY/HA'PENNY 7. outbind://84/MOLL_MOM.htm#MOLLY_MACALPIN 8. outbind://84/OA_OG.htm#O'CAROLAN'S_FAREWELL_TO_MUSIC 9. outbind://84/PAR_PAY.htm#PAUL_HA'PENNY 10. outbind://84/REE_RH.htm#REMEMBER_THE_GLORIES_OF_BRIAN_THE_BRAVE 11. outbind://84/MOLL_MOM.htm#MOLLY_MACALPIN 12. outbind://84/RAA_RAJ.htm#RADSTOCK_JIG To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
