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Na Gamhna Geala (The White Calves)

This very old (1600s) Irish song from Ulster was collected and arranged by Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh and performed here with his six-piece band Dúlamán. The recording is from a live concert in the O’Reilly Hall in UCD in 1999, Dúlamán being perhaps at the height of their powers with a huge audience of several hundred people.

There is some confusion about the exact meaning of this song. Some say it’s about the unhappy political “marriage” between Ireland and England. Others say that it is a reaction against the growing materialism in Irish towns. Whatever way you look at it, the song is paean to the simple, pastoral way of life as it existed in times gone past.

At the outset, it’s the story of the plight of a young Irish country woman from the mountains who marries a rich tavern-owner from the mouth of the River Bann in County Derry. But she is far from happy there. From the window of her new, comfortable abode she looks out onto the mountains of Inishowen where she has spent many a quiet summer’s morning looking after her father’s calves.

Composed by Trad. arranged and adapted by Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh

Composed: 1993

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, lead vocals and guitar, Steáfán Hannigan, percussion, Aodh Mac Ruairí, vocal harmony, Heather Innes, vocal harmony, Tony Hunter, percussion, Seán McKay, keyboards

Download mp3 for free

Lyrics for Na Gamhna Geala (The White Calves)

‘S iad mo chuid gamhna, na gamhna geala

Itheann siad a’ féar is chan ólann siad a’ bainne

Téigheann siad anonn is anall ar a’ Bhanna

Is ní fearr leobhtha an tráigh acu ná lán-a-mara.

curfá:

hÍm, bím bó! ‘siad mo ghrá-sa na gamhna!

hUm bum bó! ‘siad mo bhrón-sa na gamhna!

Maille-liú, maille leo! ‘siad mo chrá-sa na gamhna!

Maidin chiúin sa tsamhradh gan na gamhna ‘gam le seoladh

Is beag mo dhúil i gcupaí ná i gcártaí

Fuinneogaí gloine ‘gus rúmaí bána

Ba mhíle b’fhearr liom a bheith i gcró beag sa tsamhradh

Poll a bheith ar a’scraith is mé ag coimhéad ar na gamhna

Bheirim mo mhallacht do tsagart a phós mé

‘s an tarna mallacht don bhaile bhuí mhór seo

Chan ag cur maoil ar chártaí a chleacht mé ‘dtús m’óige

Ach ag rince ar a’ tamhnaigh ‘gus na gamhna a sheoladh.

Tiocfaidh an geimhreadh is greadfaidh an t-earrach

Is séidfear an sneachta go domhain ins na gleannta

Tiocfaidh éag ar an eallach is feannfar na gamhna

Is a charaid mo chléibh’ ná cur spéis ar bith iontu

An Rábaire (The Dashing Blade)

The song relates the adventures of an 18th-century rake, footloose and fancy-free on the back roads of Co. Kerry, who stops at a cottage looking for lodgings for the night. The old wizened woman who answers the door turns him away but then a younger woman inside the house intervenes on his behalf and he is brought in. But it’s a scam. He gets a roasting in the middle of the night but leaves with some pleasant memories as a consolation prize.

For a traditional song, probably dating from the 18^th century, it has a modern-day ring to it, hence the treatment.

Arranged and adapted by Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh with a newly-composed refrain and considerable adjustment of Munster usage to Ulster usage in the text.

The recording is from a live concert in the O’Reilly Hall in UCD in 1999.

Composed by Trad. Arr. and adapted by Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh with a newly-composed refrain

Composed: 1997

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, lead vocals and guitar, Steáfán Hannigan, percussion, Aodh Mac Ruairí, vocal harmony, Heather Innes, vocal harmony, Tony Hunter, percussion, Seán McKay, keyboards.

Download mp3 for free

Lyrics for An Rábaire (The Dashing Blade)

D’éirigh ariamh liomsa imeacht ó mo mhuintir

Agus taisteal domh síos cois Féile

Mar shíl mé dá n-insinn go minic idir dhaoine

Go bhfaighfinnse luach mo cheird’ ann.

Ag taisteal na slí domh-sa, casadh chun tí mé

Agus d’iarr mé cead suí go séimh ann

D’fhreagair gan mhoill mé an tseanbhean chríonna

Agus dúirt nach raibh slí aici d’éinne.

Labhair an bhrídeach leis an mhnaoi chríonna

“Nach bhfuil i do chroí aon daonnacht?

Rábaire an tsaoil mhóir a chur amach san oíche

Ag taisteal na slí is é ina aonar.”

“Mura bhfuil tuí agat nó leaba go luíodh sé ‘r

Tabhair cead suí istigh féin dó”

Mo hata a scaoil mé de mhullach mo chinn

Agus ghabh mé léi míle buíochas.

Nuair a bhí am dhul a luí ann d’ordaigh siad síos mé

Go seomra beag galánta aolmhar

Ina raibh leaba chlúimh mhíne faoi bhratacha líne

‘Gus cuilteanna ar dhroim a chéile.

Ba ghearr san oíche go dtáinig taobh liom

An ainnir ‘gus í ina léine;

Ba bhlasta is ba chaoin mar a ghlac mé comaoin

Agus geallaim gur shín sí taobh liom.

‘Feadh tamaill ‘na dhiaidh seo a chaith muid an oíche

Mise is mo mhaoin, ag pléaracht

(Is) nuair nach raibh mé á fáscadh le mo chroí isteach

Ba bhlasta mar d’inis mé scéal di.

Gheall mé gach ní dí, culaith bhreá shíoda

Ó mhullach a cinn go féar glas

Siopa branda go mbeadh beath-uisce is fíon ann

Siúicrí milse agus tae ann.

Ba ghearr san oíche go dtáinig fear a ‘tí isteach

‘S lena bhata mór draighin a phléasc mé

“A rábaire an tsaoil mhóir, nach bhfuil eagla an dlí ort

Agus tú a bheith sínte taobh léi!”

10.

Tusa, óró, a bhrídeach, tar anseo ‘níos chugam

Is ná himigh ón áit seo, a chladhaire,

Go gcuirfidh mé rópa ort is go dtiocfaidh na péas ort

Is caithfidh m’níon tú a dhaoradh.”

Seoladh na nGamhna (Directing the Calves)

A pastoral love-song. A beautiful young woman wandering alone on a hillside late one evening is, apparently, lamenting the straying of her herd of calves. She meets a young man who pledges to sort everything out for her down to the last detail, including a cosy little hollow under the shade of a fragrant tree where they might spend the night together. She regrets her actions the next morning and wonders what her parents might say or do. The young man is a bit dismissive and not at all reassuring.

The recording is from a live concert in the O’Reilly Hall in UCD in 1999.

Composed by Trad. Arr. Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh

Composed: 1997

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, lead vocals, Steáfán Hannigan, flute, whistle, Aodh Mac Ruairí, vocal harmony, Heather Innes, vocal harmony, Tony Hunter, percussion, Seán McKay, keyboards.

Download mp3 for free

Lyrics for Seoladh na nGamhna (Directing the Calves)

Tráthnóinín déanach ar thaobh an ghleanna,

‘S mé ‘seoladh na ngamhna faoin bhfásach,

Sea dhearcas taobh liom an spéirbhean chailce

Chiúntais bhanúil náireach;

D’fhiosríos féin go séimh den ainnir,

An éinn’ í thar lear do tharla;

“Ag lorg na ngamhna ‘s ea d’fhágas an baile

‘Gus ceann ní bhfaighead go lá ‘cu”.

Tá crainnín cumhra i lúib na coille

Is ragham araon go lá ann

Mar a mbeidh ceol na n-éan dár síor-chur a chodladh

Is gheobhaimid na gamhna amárach;

Gheobham cead saor ó mhaoraibh na coille

Féar a thabhairt go lá dhóibh

‘S le fáinne an lae beam araon ‘nár seasamh

Ag seoladh na ngamhna faoin bhfásach.

“Dá mbeadh a fhios ag mo mhámaí is dá mbeadh a fhios ag

mo dheadaí

Mise ‘gus tusa a bheith in éineacht

Fiche buile de mhaide a thabharfaí domh ar maidin

Is a Dhia, cad a dhéanfaimís an lá sin?”

“Fóill, fóill, a chailín, ní mise a dhéin dada ort

Ach a’ rud a dhéanadh cheanna le mo mháithrín

Seo barr mo chúig méar duit, a ghrá agus a chumainn,

‘S a chéad searc mo chúig chéad slán leat”.

Casadh an tSúgáin (The Twisting of the Rope)

A poet/harper has been visiting his loved one this particular day, but her mother, all the while, has been thinking of an effective way of getting him out of the house. We can’t really tell from the song the reason why the old woman disapproves of him so much, but she asks him to twist a straw rope [a “súgán”]. As he twists away towards the door, she tells him to continue twisting outside the house. When he is at a safe distance, the old woman jumps up, closes the door in his face and bolts it firmly. She then throws his harp out the window!

One of the most beautiful and poetic songs in the Irish Language.

Arrangement: Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh (with a little help from Johann Sebastian Bach!)

The recording is from a live concert in the O’Reilly Hall in UCD in 1999.

Composed by Trad. Arr. Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh

Composed: 1997

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, lead vocals and guitar, Steáfán Hannigan, percussion, Aodh Mac Ruairí, vocal harmony, Heather Innes, vocal harmony, Tony Hunter, percussion, Seán McKay, keyboards.

Download mp3 for free

Lyrics for Casadh an tSúgáin (The Twisting of the Rope)

A Rí na bhFeart cad a chas insan dúthaigh seo mé ?

Níos mó cailín deas a gheobhainn im’ dhuthaigín beag féin

Nó gur casadh mé isteach mar a raibh searc agus grá geal mo chléibh’

‘S chuir an tseanbhean amach mé ag casadh an tsúgáinín féir.

Curfá:- Má bhíonn tú liom bí liom, a stóirín mo chroí

Má bhíonn tú liom, bí liom os comhair an tsaoil

Má bhíonn tú liom, bí liom, gach orlach ded’ shlí.

‘Sé mo lom go fann nach liom Dé Domhnaigh thú mar mhnaoi.

Tá mo cheann-sa liath le bliain is ní le críonnacht é

Is ní bheathaíonn na bréithre na bráithre pé sa domhan scéal é;

Is táim-se ‘d’ dhiaidh le bliain ‘s gan fáil agam ort féin,

‘S gur gheall le fia mé ‘r shliabh go mbeadh gáire con ‘na dhiaidh!

Ó, threabhfainn, d’fhuirsfinn is chuirfinn síol insa chré,

Sheolfainn na gamhna ar a‘ talamh is fearr le a bhfaighfidís féar

Is chuirfinn crú fén each is mire shiúil riamh ar féar

‘S ní éalódh bean le fear nach ndéanfadh sin féin.

Máire Ní Mhaoileoin (Mary Malone)

A young man meets Mary in a wood. It’s by pre-arrangement. She’s beautifully adorned wearing a tight scarlet dress with buckles of gold on it. The man takes her to a heathery hill where they spend the night but in the morning she sits in tears, this “flower among young women”. But their relationship is doomed.

One misty night in despair he takes out his little dagger. Mary’s heart’s blood he spills, right down to the laces of her shoes. He throws off his cloak, his stockings and his boots, drops her body in the river and disappears into the mist. Her ghost comes to him an hour before the dawn and lays a cold kiss upon him saying “You’ll soon be lying in a room of loneliness and a white sheet wrapped around you. The pangs of hell are all before you, young man!”

The recording is from a live concert in the O’Reilly Hall in UCD in 1999.

Composed by Trad. Arr. Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh

Composed: 1997

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, lead vocals, Aodh Mac Ruairí, vocal harmony, Heather Innes, vocal harmony.

Download mp3 for free

Lyrics for Máire Ní Mhaoileoin (Mary Malone)

Casadh orm sa choill í, mo chuid den tsaol ‘s mo stór,

Bhí gúna dearg teannta uirthi ‘gus búclaí buí den ór

Thug me liom fan fhraoch í is chaith mé léi an oíche

Nó gur fhág mé ag gol sa chúinniú í, plúr na mban óg.

“A’ dtiocfaidh tú a’ bhaint aitinne liom, a phlúr na mban óg?”

“Thiocfainn is a cheangail leat, a ógánaigh óig,

Rachainn féin chun Aifrinn leat is chan le grá do m’anam sin

Ach a gheall ar a bheith ag amharc ort, a ógánaigh óig”.

“A’ dtiocfaidh tú chun teampaill liom, a ógánaigh óig?”

“Cad é bheadh muid a dhéanamh ann, a phlúr na mbán óg?”

“Bheadh muid ag éisteacht le cantaireacht na ministéirí Gallda

Nó go gcríochnódh muid an cleamhnas ann, a phlúr na mban óg”.

Tharraing mé amach mo scian bheag, mo chreach ‘s mo mhíle brón

Is lig mé fuil a croí léi go hiallach a bróg

Chaith mé domh mo chlóca, mo stocaí is mo bhróga

Is d’éalaigh mé sa cheobhrán ó Mháire Ní Mhaoileoin

Tháinig sí ar cuairt chugam uair roimh an lá

Is leag sí béilín fuair orm is chuir sí orm lámh

“Éirigh suas, a bhuachaill! Is mithid duit ‘bheith ag gluaiseacht

Tá an tóir anois anuas ort fá bhás a’ chailín óig”.

“Tiocfaidh an bás ar cuairt agat uair roimh an lá

Is cuirfidh sé cúntas crua ort fa chuairt a dtug tú ar mhná

Beidh tú ‘do luí i seomra uaigneach is braithlín gheal anuas ort

Is beidh piantaí géara ifrinn romhat, a ógánaigh óig!”

Máire Bhéal Átha hAmhnais (Mary from Ballyhaunis)

A young wayward priest has fallen in love with a certain Mary from the town of Ballyhaunis, in the County of Mayo, and his mother, in no uncertain terms advises him to “get outa town”. The song charters the dilemma that the man has found himself in. In the first verse we see him heading down to the ships in melancholy mood, the alluring mackerel sky above only adding to his distraught. He then reflects on the beautiful Mary herself: lips curved like ripples on the sea and cheeks as red as rowan berries. “Why can’t we elope together in some little wind-filled sailing ship?” In the final verse he is imagining that she is there by his side sailing off with him to “the land of ships” where heartbreak and sickness are unheard of. Go luck with that.

Seoirse composed the music for the additional chorus.

Composed by Trad. Arr. and adapted by Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh with a newly-composed refrain

Composed: 1997

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, lead vocals and guitar, Steáfán Hannigan, percussion, Aodh Mac Ruairí, vocal harmony, Heather Innes, vocal harmony, Mike Cosgrave, keyboards and guitar

Download mp3 for free

Lyrics for Máire Bhéal Átha hAmhnais (Mary from Ballyhaunis)

curfá: Béal Átha hAmhnais, Máire Bhéal Átha hAmhnais

Béal Átha hAmhnais, Máire Bhéal Átha hAmhnais.

Ar a ghabháil ‘na’ chuain domh is mé bhí go huaibhreach

Tinn lag buartha i m’intinn,

Bhí mé ‘féachaint uaim ar an spéir aduaidh

‘S é ag éalú uaim ‘na trealltaí

Ach faraoir géar gear ‘s mé an ceann gan chéill

Nár ghlac mé comhairle mo mhaithrín féin

‘S gur dhúirt sí liom fríd chomhrá ghrinn

Go Béal Átha hAmhnais ná triall ann.

Ach ba mhór ‘thug mé grá do mo cailín bán

An lá breá i gcúl an gharraí

‘S do do bhéilín tláth mar chúr na trá

‘S go ghruaidh chomh dearg leis na caorthainn

Chuir mé mo lámh ar a cúm, ‘s bhí mo chroí lán gruaim

Ag ceiliúr caoin na n-éanlaith

‘S nach trua gan mise ag éaló leat

Faoi rópaí ‘s seoltaí séidte.

Orú, a chuid ‘s a rún dá ngluaisfeá ar siúl

Go tír na long as Éirinn

Níl tuirse croí nó tinneas cinn

Nach leighisfí ann gan amhras

Nó ba tú mo rogha inniu is inné

Agus coinnigh agat féin ón bhás mé

Is gan grásta Dé ní mhairfidh mé

Ar an tsráid seo i mBéal Átha hAmhnais.

Tráthnóna Beag Aréir (Late Yesterday Evening)

Image after image of extraordinary beauty emanate from the poem: the amorous feelings of the poet and the loveliness of the landscape intermingle effortlessly and bring us along down through the glen, through the dewy grass, through the bog-cotton, under the glorious evening sky, over the sand-dunes and down to the water’s edge. In this dreamy atmosphere he briefly meets and kisses the radiant young girl he adores so much. After this momentary encounter, they then go their separate ways. When morning finally comes all he can say is:

”O King of the Brightest Glory! Bring me back last night! ”

Words & Music: Séamus Ó Grianna [“Máire”]

The recording is from a live concert in the O’Reilly Hall in UCD in 1999.

Composed by Séamus Ó Grianna [“Máire”], Arr. Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh

Composed: 1997

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, lead vocals, Aodh Mac Ruairí, vocal harmony, Heather Innes, vocal harmony.

Download mp3 for free

Lyrics for Tráthnóna Beag Aréir (Late Yesterday Evening)

Thíos i lár a’ ghleanna

Tráthnóna beag aréir

Agus a’ drúcht ‘na dheora geala

Ina luí ar bharr an fhéir

‘Sea casadh domh-sa an ainnir

b’áille gnúis is pearsa,

Is í sheol mo stuaim ‘un seachráin

Tráthnóna beag aréir.

Agus a Rí nár lách ár n-ealaín

‘Gabháil síos a’ gleann aréir

Ag éaló fríd a’ chanach

Agus ciúnas ins a ‘spéir

Órú, rún mo chléibh’ nár mhilis

Ár súgadh croí ‘s nár ghoirid

Ó’s a Rí na Glóire Gile,

Tabhair ar ais an oíche aréir.

Dá bhfaighinnse arís cead pilleadh

‘Gus labhairt le stór mo chléibh’

Nó dá bhfaighinnse bua ar chinniúint

Cérbh mhiste liom fán tsaol?

Shiúlfainn leat fríd chanach

A’s fríd mhéilte ar chiumhas na mara

Agus dúiche Dé dá gcaillinn

Go bpógfainnse do bhéal.

Seachrán Chearbhaill (The Ramblings of Carrule)

Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh [fl.1590-1630] was court poet and harper to the Kavanaghs of Ossory in the south east of Ireland and both he and Eileanóir, the daughter of his patron, were in love with each other. They eloped because her father had arranged for her to be married to someone else. All of the wedding guests, of course, thought Cearbhall, the wedding entertainer, was speaking and singing gibberish that day when in fact he was communicating with Eileanóir in the piece and asking her to elope with him, suggesting certain meeting places and hiding places.

There is some evidence in support of the song’s antiquity: elements in its text connect the song with the literary form known as the crosántacht, a type of verse-making, comprising verse and prose, or singing and reciting. This kind of comic or satiric poetry was favoured by the court-jesters of medieval times.

It also seems like an early form of the modern-day rap!

Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh is reputed to be the composer. It has been in oral tradition ever since in Connemara.

The recording is from a live concert in the O’Reilly Hall in UCD in 1999.

Composed by Trad. Arr. Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh

Composed: 1997

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, lead vocals and spoken part, Steáfán Hannigan, percussion, Aodh Mac Ruairí, vocal harmony and guitar, Heather Innes, vocal harmony, Tony Hunter, percussion, Seán McKay, keyboards.

Download mp3 for free

Lyrics for Seachrán Chearbhaill (The Ramblings of Carrule)

Agus lá breá dá ndeacha mise a’ breathnú ar an spéirbhean bhreá,

Mar b’shiúid í ainnirín na malaí ‘gus na ngealchrobh lámh.

Bhí a grua mar an balla le go mbreactar air an t-aol mar bhláth,

Is a seang-mhalaí searca a nglaoitear ar an fhaontsúil bhreá.

Ó bhí siúd aici, deir Peadar más (a) fíor le rá

Ó rós-bhéilín tanaí le caiseal agus toinnbhéal tláth

Bhí pingin insan mhaide aici ‘s dhá leith-phinghin eile anuas ar a’ chlár,

Ní raibh fáil aici ar an chluiche údan ó mhaidin nó go n-éiríodh an lá.

Muise, an gcluineann sibhse mise libh, a chailíní na sráide údan thiar

A’ bhfuil mé i ngean oraibh le fada is mé faoi ghrásta Dé?

Tabhair an scéala uaim chuici agus aithris dí nach taobh léi atáim

Mar go bhfuil sin bean eile le fada a’ mo chloí le grá

A’ bhfuil lán doirne domhaine ins gach buinne dá dlaoi-fholt bhreá

Nó an bhfuil siad ina gcodladh mar is mithid daoibh m’úrscéal a fháil.

Dár seo ‘gus dár siúd – is é an t-úrscéal a bhí ansiúd ná triúr

bodachaí i dtús Earraigh a chuaigh ar thóir mónadh, iad fhéin

agus an dá mhadaí con a bhí acu. Chuaigh siad ag iarraidh cead

coilleadh ar a’ Choirbíneach agus thug sé sin daofa.Chroch siad

leofa a bpéire tuannaí cúl-ramhra béal-tanaí.

Dhearmad siad a ‘tapaidh ach thugadar a’ mí-thapaidh leo.

Bhriseadar na giairsí (giarsaí) ach lig siad na maidí rámha leis a ‘tsruth.

Muise ar arraingeacha eagailte domh-sa nó pianta báis,

Mar atá mé ‘a mo stancadh ag an arraing ‘tá dhul fríd mo lár

Ó b’fhearr liom seal fada ‘bheinn ag breathnú ar a’ méin-chnis bhreá

Is dá bréagadh go maidin cé go mb’aor sin domh a leithéid a rá.

Dár seo ‘gus dár siúd – is é an t-úrscéal a bhí ansiúd ná Cormaic

Mac Airt mac Choinn Mac Thréanmhór uí Bhaoiscne a chuaigh ag tomhais

na léim ag binne brice bua a bhí i mBinn Éadain Mhic Éata Mhic Amhalghaidh,

an áit a dtáinig an chéad loing is an céad laoch go hÉirinn ariamh.

Órú dheamhan sin gort socair nach i bhfogus dó ‘tá nóinín fraoigh

Agus dheamhan sin an loch ar bith gan abhainn ‘bheith ‘gabháil uaithi síos.

Tá an reithe seo ar sodair gus níl aon chónaí faoi

Is ní minic a tháinig sonas gan ann donas ‘bheith in orlaí fríd.

Dár seo ‘gus dár siúd – is é an t-úrscéal a bhí ansiúd ná reithe mór mo

mháthar móire a chuaigh siar sa teampall ag réabadh amach “déascannaí”.

Mara dtige siad roimhe reithe mór mo mháthar móire déanfaidh sé an deabhal

sa teampall mhór.

(i)

Má théann tú thart siar (ansin) chuig an tsean-bheainín bhéasach

A bhfuil aici scata de pháistí bréagach’

Cuimil do bhosa go sleamhain dá n-éadáin

Fainic an lochtofá tada dá dtréartha

Is an waigéaró wéaro, is í an chraoibhín gheal donn.

(ii)

Má théann tú thart siar (ansin) in ascal a’ tomáin

Fainic tú féin ar eas údan Shiobháin

Báthadh dhá chaora inti minseach is mionnán

Capall Uí Dhomhnaill a chú is a ghearrán

Is an waigéaró wéaró, is í an chraoibhín gheal donn.

Méiltí Cheann Dubhrann (Sand Dunes of Ranafast)

The emigrant sits the night before his departure with tear-filled eyes, memories from the past flooding into his mind: the home-place, his childhood, old friends. The knowledge that he is probably never going to return again makes his departure all the more poignant.

The sand dunes are always a delight, always uplifting to the heart, especially on a summer’s evening when the setting sun paints a warm glow over the claddagh. This is where his childhood was spent, in blissful innocence, from the rocking of the cradle to the herding of cattle by the edge of the sea…but now it’s one hundred farewells… forever.

Words: Seamus Ó Grianna [“Máire”] as Rann na Feirste; music: traditional. Arrangement: Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh.

The recording is from a live concert in the O’Reilly Hall in UCD in 1999.

Composed by Seamus Ó Grianna [“Máire”], Arr. Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh (1997)

Composed: 1997

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, lead vocals, Aodh Mac Ruairí, vocal harmony, Heather Innes, vocal harmony.

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Lyrics for Méiltí Cheann Dubhrann (Sand Dunes of Ranafast)

‘S a Mhéiltí Cheann Dubhrann, sibh a thógfadh domh cian,

Tráthnóna sa tsamhradh nuair a luigheas an ghrian;

Is aoibhinn do chladaigh d’oíche ‘s de ló

‘S a Mhéiltí Cheann Dubhrann, céad slán libh go deo!

‘Sna Méilt’ údaí a chaith mé seal aoibhinn gan gruaim,

Is mé ag buachailleacht eallaigh ar imeall a’ chuain

Is ann a bogadh mo chliabhán nuair a bhí mé beag óg,

‘S a Mhéiltí Cheann Dubhrann, céad slán libh go deo!

Nár mhéanar a bheith ann muna mbínn ann ach lá

‘S mé ag amharc ar an fhaoilean ‘na luí ar a ‘tsnámh

Bheadh aoibhneas agus aiteas, bheadh spórt agus greann

‘S a Mhéiltí Cheann Dubhrann, céad slán libh go deo!

‘S nach trua mise amárach ‘s mé gabháil eadar dhá dtír

Is sléibhte na coigrích ‘cur cumhaidh ar mo chroí

Béidh mo roscaí mar a’ shruthán ag síor-shileadh deor

‘S a Mhéiltí Cheann Dubhrann, céad slán libh go deo.

Tá néalta na maidine ar breacadh sa spéir

Tá na coilligh ag scairtigh le bánú an lae

Tá an soitheach ag fanacht in imeall a’ cheoigh

‘S a Mhéiltí Cheann Dubhrann, céad slán libh go deo!

Bean an Fhir Rua (The Red-Haired Man’s Wife)

This song/story used to be known the length and breadth of Ireland throughout the 18^th and 19^th centuries, and maybe even earlier. Such was its popularity that it continued to interest people in English translations in places where the Irish language had all but died out. The song and the story of Bean an Fhir Rua, and other song/stories of this kind, have somehow become separated. Such is the extent of this separation that many versions of the song can still be heard sung today, in Connemara, Donegal and elsewhere, yet the story itself is virtually untold. There are printed versions of course.

Seoirse’s rendering here is to re-establish the link between the song and the story by weaving musical aspects of the melody into the telling section. It’s a first in the Irish tradition.

The recording is from a live concert in the O’Reilly Hall in UCD in 1999.

Composed by Trad. song/story from Donegal arranged and adapted by Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh.

Composed: 1997

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, lead vocals and speaking voice, Steáfán Hannigan, percussion, Aodh Mac Ruairí, vocal harmony, Heather Innes, vocal harmony, Tony Hunter, percussion

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Lyrics for Bean an Fhir Rua (The Red-Haired Man’s Wife)

(Neos) táilliúir óg aerach mé ‘déanamh éadaigh i dtoigh an fhir ruaidh

Agus thug mo chroí spéis don tsíbhean ba bhinne ná an chuach,

Agus thug mo chroí spéis dá béilín meala gan ghruaim,

Ó’s a charaid mo chléibh’ dá n-éalófá liom ón fhear rua!

Nuair a théim-se suas ar cuairt go Condae na Mí

Agus cluinim an fear rua dá lua le rúnsearc mo chroí,

Nuair a chluinim níl aon suaimhneas ná aon néal de chodladh na hoích’

Gurb í Bean an Fhir Ruaidh a rinn’ gual dubh in aice mo chroí.

A bhruinneal gan smál ‘bhfuil na dealraíocha deasa in do ghruaidh

An feasach domh ní ar bith a chloífeadh aigne an fhir ruaidh

Ní cheilim-se ar aon neach, cad é an fáth a bhfuil orm a’ ghruaim

Is i gcoinne an Eaglais is bráithre is í grá mo chroí Bean an Fhir Ruaidh.

Tá crann insan gharraí a bhfásann air an bláth buí

‘S nuair a leagaim mo lámh air is láidir nach scoilteann mo chroí

Is ní iarrfainn féin aon spás ar an Ard-Rí (a)tá i bhFlaitheas na Naomh

Ach (an) aon phóg amháin is (í) á fáil ó Bhean an Fhir Ruaidh.

Ó, rachaidh mé síos seal míosa nó coicíse ar cuairt

‘Gus ní phillfidh mé aníos nó go síntear mo chaolchorp san uaigh

Ó, dochtúirí an domhain is ní leaghasfadh siad mise ar an uaigh

Ach aon amharc amháin is é á fháil ó Bhean an Fhir Ruaidh.

Nár fhága mé an saol seo a choíche ‘s nár cháille mé an greann

Go raibh mé is mo mhian gos íseal faoi bharra na mbeann,

‘S gan aon neach ‘bheith ar na gaobhair ach Brighid i measc dhuilliúr na gcrann,

Is a’ fear ruaidh ‘bheith sínte i gCill Bhríde (a)gus leac os a cheann!