Found this on an earlier thread. It doesn't answer my question but may inspire some others to seek out O'Carolan's music.

Regards
John

Subject: RE: Planxty? From: Barry Finn Date: 05-Sep-98 - 10:38 PM

O'Carolan composed only one song/tune in the traditional style, "Bridget Cruise" after his first love, his other estimated 200 pieces were in what became his style, Planxty. He was the first of the great harpers (& last of the great Bards) to write in this non traditional way. Some of his tune/songs are known by names & Planxties, an example "O'Rouke's Noble Feast" is also "Planxty O'Rourke". He was besides the greatest of harpers, also a singer & many of his tunes were written with accompanying words. Recently (maybe the past ten years) Seamus Connelly has been recording, he is probably the worlds best Irish fiddler interprerting O'Carolan's music today, to hear him play a piece by O'Carolan is magical & mystical, every thing gets silent, great musicians put down their instruments, eyes start to flutter & close as a dreamy sound starts to take you back in time to place long ago so pleasant that you could get lost in the sound & listen forever. Barry