The tune was recorded by Séamus Ennis in 1952 from the playing of Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford, who referred to it as “Danny Ab’s”—the name of their source for the tune. While some have suggested the title refers to Dan O’Keefe (1821–1899), a piper who emigrated to the United States in 1847, this seems unlikely. A more probable origin is Dan O’Keeffe (also known as “Danny Ab”) of Tureen Cahill, near Lisheen in the Sliabh Luachra region. He lived close to Tom Billy Murphy’s house and was well known to his neighbors, including Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford, making him the likely namesake of the tune.