When Captain Francis O’Neill donated his famous library to the University of Notre Dame in 1931, it was one of the foremost libraries of Irish history and antiquities in America.  A catalogue of the library from an earlier time, 1919, showing the way Captain O’Neill organized the subjects in his collection, has the following subject headings:

Hibernicana: Archaeology & Antiquities Historical Works, County & Local Histories, Folk Lore, Descriptive etc.. Musical Library, Musical History and Literature, Dancing, Poetry and Songs, Biography, Memoirs etc. Periodicals, bound, Literature, fiction etc., Miscellaneous, Irish; Miscellaneous English.

Visitors to the Hesburgh Library frequently ask to see the O’Neill Collection.  A classified list is in process, but in the interim, here is a list of the music books, organized by year.

This list is of part of the O’Neill Collection. 

Orpheus Caledonius: a collection of Scots songs.  William Thomson. London: Printed for the author, 1733.
Rare Books Medium (M 1746 .T5 O7 1733 )

Calliope: or, the musical miscellany. A select collection of themost approved English, Scots, and Irish songs, set to music. London: C. Elliot and T. Kay, 1788.
Rare Books Medium (M 1738 .C3)

A selection of Scotch, English, Irish & foreign airs. Properly adapted for the German flute, violin or fife.  G. Goulding, [1782?]
Rare Books Small (M 5 .S4 )

The Caledonian muse : a collection of scarce and favourite Scots tunes both Highland and Lowland, viz. Songs, luinigs, laments, reels, strathspeys, measures, jiggs, etc., properly adapted for the violin, German-flute, harpsichord & piano-forte : to which is prefixed an essay on Scots music.   London: printed for the editors at their warehouse, c.1785.

With: The Hibernian muse: a collection of Irish airs
Rare Books Small M 1 .H5                                       

The musical miscellany; a select collection of the most approved Scots, English, & Irish songs, set to music.  Alexander Smith. Perth: J. Brown, 1786.
Rare Books Small – M 1738 .M797 1786

Historical memoirs of the Irish bards: interspersed with anecdotes of, and occasional observations on the music of Ireland: also, an historical and descriptive account of the musical instruments of the ancient Irish: and an appendix, containing several biographical and other papers, with select Irish melodies.  Joseph C. Walker.  London: T. Payne, 1786.
Rare Books Large (ML 3654 .W3 1786 )

The royalty songster; and, convivial companion: a collection of all the most esteemed English, Scotch and Irish songs, &c. sung with the highest applause at the Royalty Theatre, and every other place of public entertainment. Ratcliff Highway: C. Stalker, 1788.
Rare Books Small (M 1738 .R69 1788 )

Calliope; or, The musical miscellany: a select collection of the most approved English, Scots & Irish songs set to music. London:  Elliot,  1788.
Rare Books Medium M 1738 .C3

The musical miscellany: or, songster’s companion; being a collection of new humourous songs, duets, catches, glees, &c. North-Shields: W. Thompson, 1789.
Rare Books Small (ML 1741.18 .M87 1789 )

The Edinburgh musical miscellany: a collection of the most approved Scotch, English, and Irish songs, set to music. Edinburgh: W. Gordon, 1792-1793.
Rare Books Small (M 1738 .S5 E3 1792 )

The Repository of Scots & Irish airs, strathspeys, reels &c. Part of the slow tunes adapted for 2 violins & a bass, others with variations. The whole with improved basses for the harpsichord on piano-forte… Glasgow, McGoun, [1796].
Rare Books Small (M 1 .R4 )  

New edition of a general collection of the Ancient Irish Music: containing a variety of Irish Airs, never before published, and also the compositions of Conolan and Carolan, collected from the harpers, etc., in the different provinces of Ireland, and adapted for the pianoforte. Dublin: I. Willis, 1796.
Rare Books XLarge (M 1744 .B868 G4 1796 )

The favorite opera dances for the year 1798: performed at the Kings Theatre, hay Market. London: Longman & Broderip.
Rare Books Small (M 1 .H5 )

Bland and Weller’s annual collection of twenty-four country dances for the year 1798: with their proper figures for the violin and German flute: Performed at court, bath, & all public assemblies.  London: Bland & Weller, 1799.
Rare Books Small (M 1738 .B67 1798)

Musicians’ omnibus complete: contains 1500 pieces of music for the violin.   Boston: Elias Howe [18–] Rare Books Medium (M 40 M8 ) 

A complete repository of old and new Scotch strathspeys, reels & jigs, adapted for the German flute. Selected from the works of Niel Gow & sons.  Edinburgh : Printed for & sold by R. Purdie c1805.
Rare Books Small (M 1746 .C738 1805 )

A selection of Irish melodies: with symphonies and accompaniments.  Sir John Stevenson; Thomas More. London:  J. Power’s Music & Instrument Ware House, [1808].
Rare Books XLarge (M 1744 .S54 1808 )

A general collection of the ancient music of Ireland: arranged for the piano forte; some of the most admired melodies are adapted for the voice, to poetry chiefly translated from the original Irish songs.  Edward Bunting.  London: Clementii, 1809.
Rare Books XLarge (M 1744 .B868 G4 1809 )

Powers musical cabinet for the German flute, flageolet or violin. Dublin; London: W. Powers   [n.d]
Rare Books Small M 1774 .P6

Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway song: with historical and traditional notices relative to the manners and customs of the peasantry.  R. H. Cromek; Allan Cunningham; William Gillespie.  London: T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1810.
Rare Books Medium (ML 2531 .C788 R46 1810 )

The Irish Harper’s legacy; being a choice collection of popular new songs, now singing with unbounded applauce at the different places of public amusement.  Cork: John Connor, 1814.
Rare Books Small (PR 8860 .Ir4 1814

The words of the most favourite pieces, performed at the Glee club, the Catch club, and other public societies.   Richard Clark, ed.  Thomas Morley, comp.  London: The Philanthropic Society, 1814.
Rare Books Medium (ML 48 .C4 W6 1814 )

A companion to the ball room.  Thomas Wilson.   London: Button, Whittaker, 1816.
Rare Books Small (GV 1751 .B4 C6 1816 )

Irish Melodies. Thomas Moore.  London: J. Power, 1821.
Rare Books Small (PR 5054 .I8 1821 )

A collection of Irish airs for the flute, violin of flageolet, with new symphonies arranged as duetts or solos. Dublin: E. McCullagh [n.d.]
Rare Books Small M 1 .C6

The vocal library; being the largest collection of English, Scottish, and Irish songs, ever printed in a single volume; selected from the best authors between the age of Shakespeare, Jonson, and Cowley, and that of Dibdin, Woldot, and Moore.  London: Printed for G. B. Whittaker, 1824.
Rare Books Small (PR 1187 .V6 1824 )

The beauties of melody: a collection of the most popular airs, duets, glees, &c. of the most esteemed authors, ancient and modern: comprising those of Arne, Handel, Haydn, Mozart… &c; Also, a selection of the best … Irish melodies, with appropriate words written expressly for them: the symphonies and accompaniments entirely new, and composed for this work; Interspersed with many of the beautiful Scotch melodies … Arranged for the voice, with an accompaniment for the piano-forte, &c; To which is prefixed, observations and instructiosn on music, particularly vocal an accompaniment.  London: Dean and Munday, 1827.
Rare Books Medium (M 1738 .P739b )

The poetical works of Thomas Moore including his melodies, ballads, etc. complete in one volume.  Thomas Moore;  J. W. Lake.  Paris: A. and W. Galignani, 1829.|
Rare Books Medium (PR 5050 .E3 1829 )

Irish minstrelsy: or, Bardic remains of Ireland; with English poetical translations.  James Hardiman, ed.  London: J. Robins, 1831.
Rare Books Small (PR 8851 .Sp26i 1887)

Ancient Scottish melodies: from a manuscript of the reign of King James VI: with an introductory enquiry illustrative of the history of the music of Scotland.  William Dauney; Finlay Dun.   Edinburgh: Edinburgh Print. and Pub. Co., 1838.
Rare Books Large (ML 3655 .D24 )

Popular songs of Ireland.  Thomas Crofton Croker.  London: Colburn, 1839.
Rare Books Medium (PR 1187 .C7 1839 )

The ancient music of Ireland: arranged for the piano forte, To which is prefixed a dissertation on the Irish harp and harpers, including an account of the old melodies of Ireland.  Edward Bunting.  Dublin: Hodges and Smith, 1840.
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .B868 G4 1840 )

Alexander’s select beauties for the flute. London:  J. Alexander, [s.n.]. 2 volumes.
Rare Books Large M 60

The spirit of the nation.  Ballads and songs by the writers of “The Nation.”  With original and ancient music, arranged for the voice and piano-forte.  Thomas Osborne Davis, ed.   Dublin: J. Duffy, 1845.
Rare Books Medium (PR 8861 .L8 S6 1845 )

National and historical ballads, songs, and poems.  Thomas Osborne Davis.  Thomas Wallis, editor.  Dublin: J. Duffy, 1846.
Rare Books Small (ML 54.6 .D33 1846 ) 

Musical memoirs of Scotland, with historical annotations and numerous illustrative plates.  Sir John Graham Dalvell.  Edinburgh: T. G. Stevenson, 1849.
Rare Books Large (ML 501 .D3 1849 )

The poets and poetry of Munster : a selection of Irish songs by the poets of the last century with poetical translations by the late James Clarence Mangan, now for the first time published with the original music and biographical sketches of the authors. James Clarence Mangan/ John O’Daly.   Dublin : John O‘Daly 1851.
Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library Special Coll. Rare Books Small (PB 1395 .M7 M3 1851 )Not in O’Neill list

Songs and ballads, including those sung in his “Irish Evenings” and hitherto unpublished.  Samuel Lover.  New York: D. & J. Sadlier, 1851.
Rare Books Small (PR 4892 .S66 1851 )

Ancient Irish Minstrelsy.  William Hamilton Drummond.  Dublin: Hodges and Smith, 1852.
Rare Books Medium (PB 1424 .D844a 1852 )

The songs of Ireland: without words.  John Thomas Surenne, arranger. Francis Robinson, editor.  Dublin: H. Bussell, c.1853.
Hesburgh Library Music Collection (2nd Floor) (M 38.5 .S87 R833 1853 )

A treatise on the theory and practice of music: with the principles of harmony and composition, and an approved method of learning to sing by note and in parts: intended as a class-book for academies.  John Smith.  Dublin: J. McGlashan, 1853.
Rare Books Large (MT 6 .S67 1853 )

Moore’s Irish Melodies.  Thomas Moore.  Daniel Maclise, illustrator.  London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1853.
Rare Books Large (PR 5054 .I7 1853 )

The Petrie Collection of the ancient music of Ireland: arranged for the piano-forte.  George Petrie, editor and arranger.  Dublin: Society for the Preservation and Publication of the Melodies of Ireland, 1855-1882.
Rare Books XLarge M 1744 .P448 1855

The ballads of Ireland.  Edward Hayes.  Boston: P. Donahue, 1856.
Rare Books Medium (PR 8860 .H37 1856 ) 

One hundred Irish airs: arranged for the piano forte.  3 volumes in one. New York: P. M. Haverty, 1858-1859.
Rare Books XLarge (M 1 .O4 1858 )

Eloge on the late George Petrie…: delivered at a meeting of the Royal Irish Academy on the 12^th February, 1866.  Charles Graves.  Dublin: University Press, 1866.
Rare Books Medium (DA 948.3 .P448 G783e )

The songs of Ireland: including the most favourite of Moore’s Irish melodies and a large collection of old songs and ballads with new symphonies and accompaniments.  James Lyman Molloy.  New York: Boosey, 1873.
Hesburgh Library Music Collection (2nd Floor) (M 1744 .M738 S6 )

Ancient music of Ireland from the Petrie collection; arranged for the pianoforte. F. Hoffmann.  Dublin: Pigott, 1877.
Rare Books Large (M1 .H65 A5 1877

The tutor for the Highland Bagpipe; with a selection of marches, quicksteps, strathspeys, reels and jigs amounting to one hundred tunes.  William McKay (editor).  Edinburgh: David Glen, 1878.
Rare Books Small (M 145 .T8 1878 )

The art of dancing, embracing a full description of the various dances of the present day, together with chapters on etiquette, the benefits, and history of dancing.  Judson Sause.  New York: Sause’s Dancing Academy, c. 1879.
Rare Books Small (GV 1751 .Sa87a )

Songs of Old Ireland: a collection of fifty Irish melodies.  Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, arranger. Alfred Perceval Graves, librettist.  New York: Boosey, 1882.
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .S71 S6 1882 )

Musical instruments, historic, rare and unique.  Alfred James Hipkins.  Edinburgh: A. & C. Black, 1888.
Rare Books Oversize (ML 462 .H611m 1888 )

The poetry and song of Ireland.  John Boyle O’Reilly.  New York: Gay, 1889.
Rare Books Large (PR 8851 .O7 1889 )

Irish music and song : a collection of songs in the Irish language set to music. edited for the Society for the Preservation of the Irish Language by P. W. Joyce. Dublin: M. H. Gill, 1898.
Rare Books Large M 1744 .J854 1898

Ancient Irish music: comprising one hundred Irish airs hitherto unpublished, many of the old popular songs, and several new songs.  P. W. Joyce.  Edited by John William Glover.  Dublin: Gill, 1890.
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .J854 1890 )

The Glen collection of Scottish dance music : strathspeys, reels, and jigs, selected from the earliest printed sources or from the composer’s works.  arranged with new accompaniments for the pianoforte by John Glen.  Edinburgh: [J. Glen], 1891-1895.
Rare Books XLarge (M 1746 .G55 1891)

Harding’s collection of jigs, reels, etc.  S. L.: Frank Harding,  1891.
Rare Books XLarge (M 32 .H3 1891)

Irish songs and ballads.  Charles Villiers Stanford, Sir.  London: Novello, 1893.
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .S7 I7 )

Old English popular music. William Chappell, F.S.A.A new ed. with a preface and notes, and the earlier examples entirely revised by H. Ellis Wooldridge.  London: Chappell; New York: Novello, Ewer, 1893.
Rare Books Large (M 1740 .C368 O43 1893)

The Irish song book : with original Irish airs. edited, with an introduction and notes by Alfred Perceval Graves. London: T. F. Unwin; New York: P.J. Kennedy, 1895.
Rare Books Small (M 1744 .G783 I7 1895)

The minstrelsy of Scotland : 200 Scottish songs, adapted to their traditional airs  arranged for voice with pianoforte accompaniment, and supplemented with historical notes, by Alfred Moffat.  London :  Augener,   1896.
Rare Books Large (M 1746 .M695 M5 1896)

White’s Excelsior collection of jigs, reels, and hornpipes, clogs, highland flings, strathspeys and a miscellaneous selection of favorite tunes old and new : Arranged for the violin with bowing and fingering. Boston: White-Smith Publishing Co., 1896.
Rare Books Large (M 43 .W4 1896)

An Irish folk-song.  Arthur Foote.  Boston:  Arthur P. Schmidt, c.1894.
Rare Books XLarge (M 1744 .F66 1894 )

The minstrelsy of Ireland. Alfred Moffat. London: Augener, [1897].
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .M695 M51 189)

The minstrelsy of Ireland: 206 Irish songs adapted to their traditional airs: arranged for voice with pianoforte accompaniment, and supplemented with historical notes. by Alfred Moffat. London: Augener, [19–?]
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .M695 M51)

The piobaireachd: as MacCrimmon played it / with instructions how to read and understand music by J. McLennan.  Edinburgh: J. McLennan, [1907]
Rare Books Large (MT 530 .M3 1907)

Songs of Erin: a collection of fifty Irish folk songs.  Charles Villiers Stanford, Sir.  London: Boosey, 1901.
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .S7 S6 190a)

The complete collection of Irish music.  George Petrie.  Edited by Charles Villiers Stanford.  London: Boosey for the Irish Literary Society of London, c.1902-10-5.
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .P448 1902 )

Irish music and song: a collection of songs in the Irish language set to music.  P.W. Joyce.  Dublin: Gill, 1898.
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .J854 1898 )

Irish com-all-ye’s: a repository of ancient Irish songs and ballads – comprising patriotic, descriptive, historical and humorous gems, characteristic of the Irish race.  Manus O’conor.  New York: Popular Pub. Co., c.1901
Rare Books Large (PR 8860 .O3 1901 )

Irish music and song: a collection of songs in the Irish language.  P. W. Joyce.  Dublin: Gill and Son, 1901.
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .J854 1901)

Hyland’s mammoth Hibernian songster: a collection of over 500 songs that are dear to the Irish heart, including sheets of selected music and numerous toasts and sentiments.  Chicago: J. S. Hyland & co., c.1901.
Rare Books Medium PR 8860 .H997m

The Highland bagpipe: its history, literature, and music.  William Laird Manson.  London: A. Gardner, 1901.
Rare Books Medium (ML 980 .M318h ) 

An Cruitire / Eoghan Laoide do ǵhléas. Baile Átha Cliath [Dublin]: Chonnradh na Gaedhilge, 1903.
Rare Books Large M 142 .C44 C7 1903

Songs of Uladh, collected and arranged by Padraig Mac Aodh O’Neill, with words by Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoll and designs by Seaghan Mac Cathmhaoil.  Belfast: [W. Mullan], 1903.
Rare Books XLarge (M 1 .H8 S6 1903)

The minstrelsy of England: a collection of English songs adapted to their traditional airs: for voice with pianoforte accompaniment.  Supplemented with historical notes by Edmonstowne Duncan. London: Augener, pref. 1905]
Rare Books Large (M 1740 .M54 1905)

The Well-known songs of Ireland. Edited and arranged by Hubert E. Rooney.  Dublin: James Duffy & Co., [19–?]|
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .R674 W4)

A collection of Irish airs for the flute, violin of flageolet, with new symphonies arranged as duetts or solos.  Dublin: E. McCullagh,  [n.d.]|
Rare Books Small (M 1 .C6)

Irish songs: a collection of airs old and new.  Edited and the piano accompaniments arranged by N. Clifford Page.  Boston: Oliver Ditson Co.; New York: Ditson & Co., c1907.
Rare Books Large M 1744 .P344 1907 Non-Circulating

Old Irish folk music and songs; a collection of 842 Irish airs and songs, hitherto unpublished. Edited, with annotations, for the Royal society of antiquaries of Ireland, by P. W. Joyce.   London: New York,  Longmans, Green, and co., 1909.
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .J854 1909)

Songs of the Irish harpers. Collected and arranged for harp and piano by C. Milligan Fox.  London: Bayley & Ferguson; New York: Schirmer,   [1910]
Rare Books XLarge M 272 .F6 S6 1910

Irish songs in English and Gaelic.  Arranged and harmonized for two voices with piano accompaniment by Patrick O’Sullivan. Irish-American patriotic songs / composed and adapted to American airs / by A.J. Seabrook.  Chicago: O’Sullivan & Seabrook, [1911].
Rare Books Large (M 1744 .O8 I7 1911)

Sixteen Welsh melodies : with traditional and original Welsh words and English lyrics / by Alfred Perceval Graves ; the music edited and arranged by J. Lloyd Williams and Arthur Somervell.  London;  New York: Boosey, c1907-1909.
Rare Books Large (M 1742 .W4 1907)

Feis ceóil collection of Irish airs : hitherto unpublished / edited by Arthur Darley & P.J. McCall. Dublin: Feis Ceóil Association, 1914.
Large (M 1744 .D28 1914)

Songs of the Gael: a collection of Anglo-Irish songs and ballads wedded to old traditional Irish airs / by an t-Athair Pádruig Breathnach.  Dublin: Browne and Nolan, [1915]
Rare Books Small (PR 8860 .So58 1915)