A collection of interviews of the top fiddlers in the Irish tradition, Handy with the Stick brings together previously published magazine pieces with new work to present a broad view of Irish fiddling. Interviewees include Tommy Peoples, Siobhan Peoples, Paddy Glackin, Matt Cranitch, John Carty, Brendan McGlinchey, Caoimhin O Raghallaigh and Sarah Blair. Historical pieces include Junior Crehan, Patrick Kelly and Sean Ryan. By looking at players from multiple eras and regional styles, Handy with the Stick deepens our understanding of the people involved in Irish traditional music. Each chapter is accompanied by transcriptions of representative fiddle tunes, some of which are previously unpublished originals.

-A collection of interviews of the top fiddlers in the Irish tradition
-Includes contemporary and historical figures.
-Includes fiddlers from the different regional styles of Irish fiddling.
-Includes transcriptions of representative fiddle tunes.

Tommy Peoples: Casting a Long Shadow
"Gráinne's" (jig)
"Black Pat's" (reel)
Siobhan Peoples: Mad for Playing
"Nicos' Mermaid" (waltz)
"The Friendly Visit" (hornpipe)
"The Dairy Maid" (reel)
Paddy Glackin: For the Fun of It
"Gusty's Frolics" (slip jig)
"Jenny's Welcome to Charlie" (reel)
Séan Ryan: The Quiet Corner
"Sliabh Bloom" (reel)
"The Hawthorn Hedge" (jig)
"The Cuckoo's Nest" (hornpipe)
Brendan McGlinchey: The Long Road Home
"Splendid Isolation" (reel)
"The Map on the Wall" (reel)
John Carty: Out of the Smoke
"Seanamhac Tube Station" (jig)
"The Sligo Maid" (reel)
"John McHugh's" (jig)
Junior Crehan: The Soul of Clare
"The Drunken Gauger" (set dance)
"The Pigeon on the Gate" (reel)
"Toss the Feathers" (reel)
Patrick Kelly: Aeroplanes out of Scrapheaps
"Banish Misfortune" (jig)
"Drowsy Maggie" (reel)
"Mickey Callaghan's" (slide)
"O'Connell's Farewell to Dublin" (set dance)
"The Foxhunter's" (reel)
Caoimhin O Raghallaigh: Music at a Local Level
"The Millstream" (reel)
"Biddy from Sligo" (jig)
Matt Cranitch: Knee Deep in the Rushy Mountain
"Blackwater Polka" (polka)
"Kathleen's Polka" (polka)
"Mícheál's Polka" (polka)
Sarah Blair: In the Stream, Like a Breath
"The Hope Jig" (jig)
"Minnie Young's" (reel)