Britches Full of Stitches

The title may first appear in Charles Kickham's 1879 novel Knocknagow, where a Jew's harp player plays it for a visitor who has torn his trousers, then sings the words. George Petrie printed related versions as "The Breeches On" and "The Irish Lad's a Jolly Boy."

It is a polka in the Sliabh Luachra repertoire, and a Scottish reel, "A Bonny Lass to Marry Me," is its ancestor. Paul de Grae suggests it came into local use through Daithi "Davey" Lenihan (1889 to 1973), a fiddler and teacher from Mountcollins who adapted many Scottish tunes. Clare fiddler Martin Hayes plays a slow, spacious version that follows whistle player Joe Bane of Feakle.