The Boys Of The Town

The Boys of the Town is a traditional Irish jig whose exact age remains uncertain, but which can be traced in written sources back at least to the late nineteenth century. It appears in P.W. Joyce's collection Ancient Irish Music (1890) and later in Francis O'Neill's celebrated anthology Music of Ireland, published in Chicago in 1903. Its Irish title, Buachaillí an Bhaile, translates literally as "the boys of the village," and the melody also circulates under the names The Milltown Jig and St. Patrick's Day.

Confusion surrounding this title is long-standing: a second, distinct jig bears the same name — it appears in the Roche's Collection of 1911 — and the two are often played back-to-back in a medley, both in Ireland and in Cape Breton. Variations on the main theme were also composed in the 1970s by Irish piper Chris Langan.

It is a staple of Irish sessions, valued for its lively and accessible character. Its straightforward melody and well-defined rhythm have also made it a popular choice among pipers, whether playing solo or within Celtic music ensembles.