Source: Paddy Sweeney (1894-1974), Powelsboro (fiddle).1
Reputedly one of Paddy Sweeney’s own compositions. It has been speculated that the name became confused with the first tune on the above recording resulting in a situation where ‘George White’s Favourite’ gained the alternative title ‘The Carracastle Lass’2 as distinct from the present tune entitled ‘The Lass of Carracastle’.
Also known as Miss Langford3 and recorded as Miss Langford’s by James Morrison in 1935 (interestingly alongside The Humours of Westport under another title4).
Morrison (1893 – 1947) known as “The Professor” from near Riverstown, Co. Sligo was at the age of 17 employed by the Gaelic League to teach the Connacht style of step dancing and Irish at the Gaelic League school in Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo during the summer months for a number of years5 before emigrating to New York where he began a celebrated and historic commercial recording career which was to include a number of duets with Mayo piper Michael Carney, with whom he lodged at one stage in Brooklyn.
Some speculation on the title Miss Langford can be found here.
- Paddy Sweeney (fiddle), Eileen O’Shea (piano). George White’s Favourite / Lass of Carracastle. New York: Decca 12006 (78 RPM), 1934.
- https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:George_White%27s_Favorite (accessed 18/08/18)
- Breandán Breathnach (ed.), Ceol Rince na hÉireann vols. 2. An Gúm, Dublin, 1976, #144, p77.
- James Morrison, Miss Langford’s, The Milestone At The Garden. Columbia 33538-F (78 RPM), 1935.
- http://jamesmorrisonfestival.com/biography/ (accessed 18/08/18)
