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he writes, in his preface to the " Select Melodies of Scotland," " Some airs are claimed by both countries, but by means of the harpers or pipers wTho used to wander through the two, particular airs might become so common to both (Ireland and Scotland) as to make it questionable which of the countries gave them birth." Burns wrote in a similar strain on more than one occasion. But the Irish origin of much of the Scottish music has long been admitted by the best in-formed writers on the subject. O'Kane was one of the " famous harpers" (referred to by Boswell in his " Journal of a Tour through the Hebrides") and Laurence O'Connallon (some say his name was William) was another who wandered through Scotland playing the best of the Irish melodies. The latter was brother to the celebrated Thomas O'Connallon, who com-posed upwards of seven hundred airs. At his death Laurence (or William) used to play such of his pieces as pleased most, including " Planxty Davis," since well known as the " Battle of Killiecrankie," and "Farewell to Lochaber." But my authority is wrong about the latter. The music and words were from the heart and brain of Miles O'Reilly of Killincarra, in the county of Cavan, born about 1635. He was universally referred to by the harpers of Belfast (1792) as
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