Most of Carolan's tunes are not dated. In his
biography of Carolan, Donal O'Sullivan attempted to date many
of them. Most of the tunes he gives specific dates for are
because they were composed for a wedding or death. This is not
comprehensive or conclusive. I plan to add a great deal more....
and change the format when I figure out how best to do this... If
you are a Carolan scholar and note any mistakes or have other
information, please send corrections.
| 1670 | Carolan's Birth |
| Between 1670 and 1684 | Carolan's infatuation with Bridget Cruise |
| 1684 | Carolan's family moves to Roscommon |
| 1688 | Carolan blinded by smallpox |
| Begins to learn harp | |
| 1691 | Carolan completes apprenticeship |
| Composes first tune: Sheebeg and Sheemore | |
| Sometime before 1708 | Elizabeth Nugent |
| 1708 | Lament for Sir Ulick Burke |
| 1713 | Lament for Terence MacDonough |
| Captain John Irwin | |
| Sometime between 1718-1726 |
Mrs. Cole |
| 1719 | Lord Inchiquin |
| 1720 (1721) | Miss Fetherston (Carolan's Devotions) |
| 1721 | Mrs. Farrell |
| 1723 | Denis O'Conor, first Air |
| 1724 | Squire Woods Lamentation |
| John Drury, first Air | |
| Probably before 1729 | Thomas Morres Jones |
| 1732 | Mrs. Crofton |
| 1733 | Carolan's wife dies |
| Sometime before 1735 | Squire Parsons |
| Dr. John Hart | |
| Sometime toward the end of his career | Loftus Jones |
| George Brabzon, first Air | |
| 1738 | Carolan's Farewell to Music |
| Carolan's Death | |
| 1747 | Carolan's son publishes his works with Dr. Delany |