Description
An Fhalaingín Mhuimhneach (The Little Munster Cloak)
Spanish influence on Irish music is not widespread. Some vessels of the Spanish Armada foundered on the coasts of Donegal, Galway, Sligo and Kerry in the late 1500s. Some survivors may have stayed in Ireland and married local girls and, perhaps, brought a tune or two with them from the old country. An Fhalaingín Mhuimhneach is a Gaelic song whose tune, or part of it, was published by Bartlett Cooke in 1793 as “The Bonny Black Irish Maid” but the tune is unmistakably Spanish. The Spanish composer Enrique Granados (1867-1916) features a variant of this same melody in his “Danza Espaňol” No.6, Op. 37, published in 1893. The earliest appearance of An Fhalaingín Mhuimhneach in print, with both words and music, is in Joyce’s Old Irish Folk Music and Songs (Dublin, 1909). It’s quite feasible that this Spanish melody was warmly received by the people of Kerry in the late 1500s. It inspired at least one anonymous Gaeltacht poet to write words to fit it. The song is a vivid description of a cloak of many colours – no doubt, the pride and joy of the poet.
An Fhalaingín Mhuimhneach
Dá mb’ agam an fhalaing ní thabharfainn don Mhuimhneach í Ach thabharfainn don scafaire ‘chóireochadh broth mín uirthi.
Falaing ar fhalaing, ‘sí an fhalaingín Mhuimhneach í Falaing ar fhalaing, ‘sí an fhalaingín Mhuimhneach í
Fógraim an fhalaing, is íomóg ‘ta daor uirthi Tá dubh agus dearg, glas-uaine ‘gus buí inti.
Falaing ar fhalaing, ‘sí an fhalaingín Mhuimhneach í Falaing ar fhalaing, ‘sí an fhalaingín Mhuimhneach í
Dá mb’agam an fhalaing ní thabharfainn don phíobaire í Is túisce do chraithfinn mar easair fém chaoirigh í
Falaing ar fhalaing, ‘sí an fhalaingín Mhuimhneach í Falaing ar fhalaing, ‘sí an fhalaingín Mhuimhneach í
Croí cráite ar an fhalaingín cé gur beag suarach í Is tapaidh do leagfadh sí fear spúir agus buataisí Falaing ar fhalaing, ‘sí an fhalaingín Mhuimhneach í Falaing ar fhalaing, ‘sí an fhalaingín Mhuimhneach í
Falaing ar fhalaing, ‘sí an fhalaingín Mhuimhneach í Falaing chrua chasta ‘s nár chasaidh sí choích’ orainn. Falaing ar fhalaing, ‘sí an fhalaingín Mhuimhneach í Falaing chrua chasta ‘s nár chasaidh sí choích’ orainn.
The Little Munster Cloak
If I had the cloak I wouldn’t give it to the Munsterman But would give it to the strapping fellow who would add some smooth fur to it.
Chorus:- A cloak of all cloaks, it’s a Munster cloak Cloak of all cloaks, it’s a Munster cloak (repeat)
I proclaim the cloak with expensive ivory on it; One that has black and red and green in it.
Chorus:- A cloak of all cloaks, it’s a Munster cloak Cloak of all cloaks, it’s a Munster cloak (repeat)
If I had the cloak I wouldn’t give it to the piper I’d sooner shake it out as bedding below my sheep
Chorus:- A cloak of all cloaks, it’s a Munster cloak Cloak of all cloaks, it’s a Munster cloak (repeat)
Woe betide the little cloak even if it is tiny and trivial How quickly it would it floor a man, a man with spurs and boots on him.
Chorus:- A cloak of all cloaks, it’s a Munster cloak Cloak of all cloaks, it’s a Munster cloak (repeat)
Final Chorus:-
A cloak of all cloaks, it’s a Munster cloak A hard, ungainly cloak is one that would never be cast upon us.(repeat)
