Thanks Guest. If I ever make it to Ireland that statue to O'Carolan would be #1 on my list of places to go.

This thread has solved a mystery for me. I have heard different versions of The Princess Royal which seem like totally different tunes. Now I understand about its use in Morris dancing and working the tune to fit the dance moves.

O'Carolan's tune Miss MacDermott Roe/The Princess Royal is a beautiful tune.

The music notation is in the O'Carolan tunes section of
O'Neill's Music of Ireland

Scroll down to find Princess Royal (just before the Planxty tunes in the index) for links to music notation and a MIDI file.

Note: the Old Music Project, O'Neill's Music of Ireland is a brilliant site. One of my absolute favourite sites on the internet.

The tune was first published in the book by Edward Bunting The Ancient Music of Ireland

and later in the comprehensively researched book by Donal O'Sullivan: Carolan: The Life Times and Music of an Irish Harper