Finola O Siochru, Irish Traditional Music, OSiochru, Ó'Siochrú

Buy Light of Lights - Solas na Soilse

Daniel — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:30:00 +0000

Click on the button below to order my new CD within Ireland:

New CD for Christmas: Light of Lights

Daniel — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 20:45:00 +0000

“Light of Lights/Solas na Soilse.
Christmas songs from the Irish Celtic tradition”

A Christmas CD of traditional songs in Irish by Finola Ó Siochrú

(Producer: Máire Breatnach)

This is a unique CD of Christmas songs in the Irish language which presents these beautiful songs, many of which have never been commercially recorded before, in a way which is immediately accessible to a mainstream audience. Produced by Máire Breatnach, the overall effect is warm, sensitive and enlivening.

The songs:

The CD features many different types of song, with varying styles of accompaniment, from the full ensemble sound of guitar, fiddle, viola, uilleann pipes, button accordion, flute and bodhrán (eg Tracks 3 and 10) to the simple, unaccompanied voice on a few tracks. The sensitive, subtle guitar style of Bill Shanley provides the perfect support for the clear, pure singing of Finola Ó Siochrú on such tracks as “Suantraí na Maighdine”(Track 15), “A Dhia na Nollag” (Track 2) and “Oíche Nollag” (Track 1).

Produced by Máire Breatnach (who also plays keyboard, fiddle and viola), it features vocals by Finola Ó Siochrú, Bill Shanley on guitar, Éamonn Galldubh on uilleann pipes and flute, Tomás Ó Briain on button accordion and Fionán de Barra on bodhrán.

All of the songs but one could broadly be described as being in the traditional idiom, but here receive a very contemporary treatment. They cover the whole spectrum of songs in Irish from 17th century Bardic poems, to folk songs, to recent compositions based on poems by contemporary Irish poets. Also included is one song in Scots Gaelic with the original Scottish air which Cat Stevens used for “Morning has Broken”.

So, “Light of Lights”, with such a rich variety of songs, both old and new, offers a new and fresh palette of Christmas sounds, with something for everyone.

Shamrock, Rose and Thistle Radio Interview

Daniel — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 07:51:00 +0000

Tune into RTÉ Radio 1's Shamrock, Rose and Thistle this Tuesday at 10pm (August 22nd 2006) to hear Finola's interview about her favourite traditional tracks.

If you miss the interview a recording will be available on the RTÉ website at

http://www.rte.ie/radio1/shamrockroseandthistle/

About "Searc mo chléibh - Love of my heart"

Daniel — Fri, 05 Nov 2004 01:12:00 +0000

These are all love songs of one kind or another which might be heard in the West Kerry gaeltacht of Corca Dhuibhne. Some, such as "An Clár Bog Déil", are not from the region but nevertheless form part of the local repertoire. Others, such as "Amhrán an tSagairt" and "Tá Smúit ar mo Chroí", while not very often heard nowadays, are most likely to have been composed by local singers. Still others, such as "Nach Cloíte an Galar an Grá" and "Réidhchnoc Mná Duibhe", are likely to be local adaptations of songs sung in other parts of the country.

Most of the songs are songs of yearning, loss and unfulfilled passion. The one notable exception is the wonderfully tongue-in-cheek "Amhrán an tSagairt", in which the young priest jauntily abandons family, friends and church for a life with his beloved.

I have tried to convey the flavour of the songs for non-Irish speakers with rough translations of key phrases. While I gratefully acknowledge the singers from whom I have learnt these songs, they are not in any way responsible for the words printed here, which are often a mixture of versions and may be liable to the some distortion due to memory loss over time!

It is with great trepidation that I have added some music to five of these songs. It is not traditional to so so, nor do the songs need it. But neither would it have happened traditionally that one singer would sing ten songs in a row, without an interval of music, dancing or other voices to break the intensity and provide variety! With the exception of the two rythmic songs, which are like dance tunes, the music was added afterwards and in a minimal way.

Buy Finola's CD online!

Daniel — Mon, 27 Sep 2004 22:36:00 +0000

Finola's album 'Searc mo chléibh / Love of my heart' is now available to buy over the internet from CD baby the store which specializes in promoting independent labels.

Lo-fi sample excerpts from tracks on the album available for download in streaming MP3 on the page.

Just click here for Finola's cd baby page

Side A Tracklist

Daniel — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 00:01:00 +0000

1. An Goirtín Eornan 5.07

Trad., arranged by Finola Ó Siochrú.

2. Raghadsa is mo Cheaití 5.24

Trad., arranged by Steve Cooney, Máire Breatnach, Finola Ó Siochrú, David James.

3. Cáit Bhán agus í Marbh 6.19

Trad., arranged by Finola Ó Siochrú.

4. Nach Cloíte an Galar an Grá (Lios Bhaile Dháith) 3.34

Trad. Arranged by Steve Cooney, Finola Ó Siochrú, Máire Breatnach.

5. An Clár Bog Déil 4.22

Trad., arranged by Finola Ó Siochrú.

6. Tá Smúit ar mo Chroí 4.50

<> Trad., arranged by Steve Cooney, Finola Ó Siochrú, Máire Breatnach.

Side B

Daniel — Fri, 02 Jul 2004 00:03:00 +0000

1. Amhrán an tSagairt 4.28

Trad, arranged by Steve Cooney, Finola Ó Siochrú, Máire Breatnach, Breandán Ó Beaglaíoch.

2. Beir Beannacht ó Rí na hAoine 7.18

Trad., arranged by Finola Ó Siochrú.

3. Réidhchnoc Mná Duibhe 6.02

Trad., arranged by Steve Cooney, Finola Ó Siochrú, Máire Breatnach.

4. Máirín de Barra 7.21

Trad., arranged by Finola Ó Siochrú.

About Sean Nós Music

Daniel — Sun, 29 Aug 2004 15:20:00 +0000

Sean-nós is a specific style of unaccompanied singing in the Irish language. There are three main styles of sean-nós, corresponding to the three areas where Irish is still spoken as a community language; the Gaeltachtaí of Munster, Connacht and Ulster. Munster Gaeltachtaí include parts of Cork, Kerry, and Waterford, the Connacht Gaeltachtaí are on the west coasts of counties Galway and Mayo, and the Ulster Gaeltacht is entirely within county Donegal. It would not be correct to say that sean-nós is not practiced outside of these areas, but only that three distinct styles can be recognised. Singers from the Galltacht (English speaking areas of Ireland), and indeed from outside Ireland, may sing in one of the three styles, or may blend them, depending on where they learned. It has been my experience that speakers of a given dialect of Irish, whether or not they come from the region where that dialect is spoken, tend to stick to the style of sean-nós that corresponds to that region. Speakers of "Gaeilge Bl' Áth' Cliath" (the official standard taught in the schools) are more likely to mix the styles of singing. The most obvious difference between the styles, to someone not familiar with sean-nós, is between the Ulster style and the other two. Donegal sean-nós has been heavily influenced by Scots Gaelic song, which is much less ornamented than sean-nós. Donegal singers tend to keep a steady pulse throughout the song. The melody is presented with minimal ornamentation (for sean-nós, that is.) The Munster and Connacht styles can be more difficult to distinguish, unless of course one is familiar enough with Irish to recognise the differences in the language. Both styles are highly ornamented, both with the forms familiar to a traditional instrumentalist and with other more complex forms. Indeed, the melody in these styles can be hard for the learner to pick out at times. To my ear, the Connacht style seems to be less concerned with the integrity of the beat, particularly in slower songs. With this style, perhaps more than any other, it is almost essential that the listener have a good understanding of Irish to get the most out of the performance. The real beauty of the Connacht style is to me the way the performer connects the text to his interpretation of the melody. The Munster style is less directly familiar to me, but my limited experience leads me to believe that it has more attention to the pulse of the beat than in Connacht.
Quoted from Tomás Ó Canainn: Traditional Music in Ireland published by Ossian Publications, Cork (ISBN 0 946005 73 7).

Celtic Grooves Review of Searc mo Chléibh

Daniel — Sat, 04 Sep 2004 22:38:00 +0000

"Delightful sean-nos singing in Gaelic. Five of the 10 tracks have instrumental accompaniment (Steve Cooney, Maire Breatnach, Brendan Begley), which Finola confesses having added for the sake of variety but not without some trepidation. The result is quite successful, O'Siochru's voice remaining the star of the show. Recommended"

Complete Lyric Sheet

Daniel — Mon, 05 Jul 2004 00:09:00 +0000

1. An Goirtín Eornan
The Little Field of Barley

Is buachaillín fíor-óg mé, go bhfóire orm Rí na nGrás,
Thug searc do chailín óg, i dtigh an ósta le cómhrá gearr.
Ni raibh hata uirthi na húda, ná búclaí déanta den phrás.
Ach téip i gcluais a bróigín, is í mo stóirín í go bhfaighidh mé bás.

Is móra dhuit, a éinín, ag léimnigh ó thor go tor.
Dá neosfainn brí mo scéil duit, ní féidir ach go ndéanfá rún.
Beir litir uaim faoi shéala, go cúlchraobhach an óir-fhult fhionn
Go bhfuil mo chroí a chéasadh, is nach féidir liom codhladh ciúin.

Ta gaoth aneas is tóirneach, is mórshruth le habhann na Laoi.
Sneachta ar na bóithre, is mórshioc a mheascadh tríd.
Ni fhanann fuaim ag róntaibh, ná ceol binn ag éan ar chraoibh
Ó chailleasa mo chéad-shearc, is í a thógfadh an ceo de m' chroí.

Is ní dod ghoirtín eornan, a stóirín, do thugas grá.
Ná dod cúpla coifrín den óir bhuí, dá mbeidíst lán
Dod chapaill na dod bhólacht, go deo, deo, ní chuirfinn i bfháigh
Ach blas do cúpla phóigin, sé is dóigh liom gurb iad ab bfhearr.

" . . . There is no sound from the seals or sweet music from the birds on the branch since I lost my first-love, who would take the mist from my heart . . . It wasn’t for the little field of barley, my dear, that I loved you . . . but for the taste of a few of your kisses . . . "
Ó amhránaíocht Eibhlín Ní Bheaglaíoch, Baile na bPoc, a d’fhoghlaimíos í seo.

2. Raghadsa is mo Cheaití
I would go rambling the mountains with my Ceaití . . .

Ó raghadsa is mo Cheaití bhálcaeireacht amach ar na sléibhte cuain.
Nó ar oileáinín mhara liom féinig mar a dtéann na héin chun suain.
Ansúd a bhíodh nead ag an bhfiach dubh, ‘s an fiolar ag éamh cois cuain
Agus mise á agairt chun Dé suas solas an lae bhreith uaim.

Ó’s a Cheaití, nach náireach mar scéal é, má imíonn tú in aon chor uaim.
Mar gur gheallais don sagart ná déanfá, mé a mhalairt go raghainn san uaigh.
Do cuireadh bocht dealbh sa tsaol mé, is mo charaid i bhfad uaim,
Ó is a Dhia, go mbeirir chugat féin mé, má imíonn mo chéad shearc uaim.

Agus ciach ar an sagart a phós mé, nár fhág sé mé i dtreo na mban.
Nó ag rinnce le cailíní óga, ag ithe ‘s ag ól ‘na measc.
‘S é an ní do shuaigh ‘s do bhreoidh mé, mé a cheangal go hóg le réic.
Nár fhág mise ag cnuchairt na móna, nó ag seoladh na mbó thar lear.

‘S tá sioc agus sneachta ar na sléibhte, is mise liom féin dá siúl.
Ag féachaint chá bhfeicfinn mo spéirbhean, a bhí bacalach, péarlach, fionn.
Ba ghile ar a com í ná Venus, is ba bhinne a béal ná an fhliúit.
Ó is dá bhfaighinnse mo chumann ina haonar, do phógfainnse a béal go dlúth.

This song comes to us from the Blasket Islands. In this version, it seems that the singer fears that his wife will abandon him, whereas according to local knowledge, it is about a woman who has drowned. Either way, the singer longs to be walking with her in the mountains.
Is ó Mháiréad Bn. Mhic Dhonnchadh a d’fhoghlaimíos é seo.

3. Cáit Bhán agus í Marbh
(Táim Sínte ar do Thuama)
I am Stretched on your Grave

Táim sínte ar do thuama agus gheobhair ann de shíor mé
S' dá mbeadh barra do dhá láimh agam ní scarfainn leat choíche
A úilín, is a annsa, sé am domsa luí leat
Mar go bhfuil blath fuar na cré uait, dath na gréine is na gaoithe.

Nuair is dóigh le mo mhuintir go mbímse ar mo leabaidh
Is ar do thuama 'sea bhím sínte, ó oíche go maidean.
Ag cur síos ar gach crua-chás is ag crua-ghol go daingean
Sí mo chailín ciúin stuama do luadh liom 'na leanbh.

Tá na sagairt is na bráithre gach lá liomsa i bhfearg
I dtaobh a bheith i ngrá leat, a óigmhnaoi is tú marbh
Mar gur thug mo chroí grá duit, is go brách, brách ná scaipfidh
Nó go mbeidh an choróin deireannach orm, thíos ins an talamh.

Is tabhair mo mhallacht do do mháithrín, is ní áirímse t-athair,
Is a maireann dod do chairde, gach lá faid a mhaireann
Mar nár lig dom tú a phósadh, is tú beo agamsa id' bheathaidh,
Mar nach n-iarfainn mar spré leat, ach luí leat sa leabaidh.

In this 18th century song by an anonymous author, a distraught lover mourns his beloved in her grave and curses those who prevented him from marrying her. The English version "I am Stretched on Your Grave", translated by Frank O’Connor, and put to music by Philip King, has been popularised by Sinéad O’Connor.
D’fhloghlaimíos an t-amhrán seo ó Mháiréad Bn. Mhic Dhonnchadh ar dtús. Ní dóigh liom gur féidir an leagan sin a shárú. Seo leagan neamh-choitianta a d’fhoghlaimíos ó amhránaíocht Nell Keane ó Chlochar.

4. Nach Cloíte an Galar an Grá
(Lios Bhaile Dháith)
Isn’t Love a Subduing Disease!

‘Sé mo chreach is mo dhíth, is nach cloíte an galar an grá
Is mairg go mbíonn sé air mí, seachtain is lá
Do bhris sé mo chroí is do mhill sé an t-easnamh i’m lár
Is codladh ní bhfaighim ach ag taidhreamh ar mo dhian-ghrá.

Is é mo chreach is mo chás, nach gcáitheann sé sneachta ‘gus sioc
Mise is mo ghrá do bheith i lár na farraige amuigh
Gan loing, gan bád, gan árthach ná aon ní ar bith
Ach caite insa tsnámh is mo dhá láimh casta ina crios.

Is do casadh slua sí orm síos chun Lios Bhaile Dháith
Is d’fhiafraíosa díobh cé’n ní do leighisfeadh an grá?
Dúirt duine acu liom go ciúin, go taise is go tnáth
An rud a théann ins an chroí ná scaoiltear as é go brách.

Is a chailín bhig óig, ná pós an seanduine liath
Ná cuir do dhá láimh le grá dó thairis aniar
Mar tá’n tú beag óg is fós níor tháinig duit ciall
Is má mhaireann tú beo beidh mórchuid leanbh id’ dhiaidh.

This song was among those listed in Séamus Goodman’s collection. It is about the heart-break of love. In verse 3, the stricken lover asks the fairy people if there is a cure for love, but alas "that which goes into the heart is never released". Some of the verses are closely related to other songs, such as "Táimse i mo Shuí", but the place-name "Lios Bhaile Dháith" gives it a local flavour.
Is ó amhránaíocht Léan Bn. Uí Ghrainbhil, Feothanach (Léan Ní Dhálaigh ón gCom), a d’fhoghlaimíos an t-amhrán seo ó thaifeadadh a dhein a mac, Johnny Grainbhil, sna seachtóidí.

5. An Clár Bog Déil
The Soft Deal Board

Do phósfainn thú gan bó, gan punt, gan áireamh spré,
A chuid den tsaol le toil do mhuintire, dá mb'áil leat é.
Is é mo ghalar dúch gan mé agus tú, a ghrá mo chléibh
I gCaiseal Mumhan is gan de leaba fúinn, ach an clár bog déil.

Siúil, a chogar, is tar i m'fhochair go dtéam on ngleann,
Is gheobhaidh tú foscadh ar leaba an fhlocais agus aer cois abhann,
Beidh na srutha ag déanamh torainn faoi ghéaga crann
Beidh an londubh inár bhfochair is an chéirseach dhonn.

Searc mo chléibh do thugas féin duit agus grá trí rún
Dá dtagadh sé de chor sa tsaol, go mbéinn féin is tú
Ceangal cléire bheith eadrainn araon, leis an bhfáinne dlúth
Is dá bhfeicfinn féin mo ghrá ag aon fhear gheobhainn bás de chumha.

"I would marry you without a cow, without a pound, without a dowry . . . Walk with me through the valley . . . the blackbird and the song-thrush will be in our company . . . If I saw my love with another man, I would die of sorrow."
Is ón gcéirnín "An Cíarraíoch Mallaithe" a d’fhoghlaimíos é seo an chéad lá. Táim go mór faoi chomaoin Mhuinitr Uí Bheaglaíoch as go leor amhrán a d’fhoghlaimíos uathu - Séamus agus Máire, ach go háirithe.

6. Tá smúit ar mo chroí
There is Sorrow in my Heart

Tá smúit ar mo chroíse 's ar m'intinn is ar m'aigne is léir
Is i gCuimín na Tíorach 'sea bhímse is gan éinne ach mé féin
Nuair a dhúisím istoíche bím ag smaoineamh 's ag machnamh, liom féin
Is go bhfuil mo ghrá sínte thíos i gCill Seanaigh im dhéidh.

D'fhág Cáit ansúd me go tinn dubhach is gan duine ach mé féin
Do chuaidh sí ar bord ón Spá Thoir le fairsinge an lae,
Do chuaidh sí siúd anonn mar a chuaidh an dúthaigh is an Daingean go léir,
Is ní thiocfaidh sí chugamsa le haon chúntas faid a mhairfidh mé, is baol.

Cuirfidh mé caint chuici go cúthail scríte i bpáipéar,
Is cuirfidh sí cabhair chugamsa go flúirseach, is nach bréag é mar scéal,
Mar ceannóidh sé sin an plúr dom, an siúicre, tobac agus tae,
agus bead-sa sa chúinne go súgach i ndeireadh mo shaoil.

A Cháit, a rúnaigh, ná lig mé ‘an Phoorhouse i ndeireadh mo ré
Nó mála ar mo ghualainn go buartha is nárbh fhairsing í an déirc
Ag lorg ionad chun suamhnis gan buannacht, nó luí amuigh féin spéir,
Is go dtugaidh Dia cúnamh, is ár gcionnta go maithidh dúinn go léir.

Ní chreidfinn ón saol ná gur bréaga go léir táid á rá,
Nach dtiocfaidh sí chugamsa fé ghúna 'gus airgead bán,
'S nach mbeidh aice aon bhólacht de bhuaibh óga agus fear álainn óg
Agus beid siúd am chaoineadh is mé sínte lag marbh ar bord.

This is a plaintive song of a father lamenting the emigration of his daughter. Left alone at home, he fears that he will end his days in the local Poorhouse.
Fuaireas an t-amhrán seo ó chnuasach Johnny Grainbhil. Pádraig Ó Conchubhair as Bhaile Dháth atá á rá. De réir an Duanaire Duibhneach, do chum Eoghan an Ghabha, fear de mhuintir Fhinn é.

7. Amhrán an tSagairt nó "An Sagairt a thit i ngrá le mnaoi óg"
The Song of the Priest

Ó is tráthnóinín aoibhinn ar faoidheachtaint na gréinne,
‘Sea do chonnacsa mo dhian-ghrá is í ag amhrán na h-aonar.
Ó do shuíosa cois tortáin agus d’éisteas léi tréimhse
Is gur bhinne liom bheith á pógadh ná ag ól fíon na Gréige.

Ar maidin Dé Domhnaigh agus deabhadh orm go dtí an tAifreann
Cuirimse orm mo léinne is an éide bhreá bheannaithe.
Nuair a chím chugam mo riúnach luíom súil uirthi i ngan fhios dóibh
Mar ní ar Mhuire a bhím ag cuimhneamh ach ar Bhríde, is í a chealg mé.
Nuair a thagann an oíche agus luíom chuig mo phaidire
Mo leabhartha a bhíonn im thimpeall is mo Bhíobla im aice.
Ní bhainim aon bhrí as, ná in aon chor aon tairbhe
Mar ní ar Mhuire a bhím ag cuimhneamh, ach ar Bhrídeach na mallan ghlas.

‘S a shagairt na n-aedh istigh, cuirim féinig suas feasta dhíot
Ó do ghabhaise i dtúis do shaoil chugat ó mar chéile Muire Bheannaithe.
Thugais leabhar éithigh ná déanfá go deo athrach
Agus cucól ní dhéanfad ar Éirinn do bhean in aithne

A Bhrídín dheas spéiriúil, ná déan sí sin ormsa,
Mar go n- imeoim ón saol seo, ní baoil duit Muire Bheannaithe.
In am lena chéile ó léar smacht na sagart súd
Agus ragham go dtí an Teampall, mar a labhrann na Protistínigh.

Agus éirigh i d’shuí a Bhrídeach agus cóiríg an leaba dhúinn
Agus fágaise rí-shlí bheag ó go luíodsa i’d aice-se.
Mar gur thréigeasa mo cháirdibh ó dtaobh máthar is athar dhom
Ó do thug suas i léinn mé ó go léifinn leabhair Laidine.

A most irreverent song, possibly from the Blasket Islands, about a young priest who falls in love with a local woman. He jauntily solves his dilemma by abandoning both family and church and joining the Protestant church "far from the control of those priests".
Tá mé fíor-bhuíoch do Roinn Bhéaloideas Éireann, Coláiste Ollscoile, B.Á.C., agus Cartlann Fuaime Raidió Éireann as an t-amhrán iontach seo. Bhí taifeadadh acu do Eilís Bn. Uí Chearnaigh ón mBlascaod (1969) á rá. Fuaireas roinnt dos na focail ón leagan a bhí i gCnuasach na Scol, a tógadh ó Mháire Bn. Uí Ailígheasa, Na Tuairíní, Uíbh Ráthach i 1935.

8. Beir Beannacht Ó Rí na hAoine
The Blessing of the King of Friday on the island I am in . . .

Beir beannacht o Rí na hAoine ar an oileainín ina bhfuilim ann.
Mar b'fhearr liom lá is oíche ann, ná blian ar an mbaile úd thall.
Mar is ann a bhíodh an ríl againn, ceol píob agus leann ar chlár.
Agus slán ag an gcorn bhuí úd, a bhíodh á líonadh den mbranda ab fhearr.

Is ar choinnleach ghlas an fhomhair bhuí, a stóirín, 'sea do dhearcas tú.
'S ba dheas do chois i mbróigín, 'S ba ró-dheas do leagan súil.
Do ghruaigh ar dhath an óir-bhuí, 'na cordaí go fite id lúb.
'S nach trua nach lánúin phósta sinn, ar bhord loinge ag dul anonn.

Is éireoidh mé amáireach gan spleáchas, le cúnamh Dé.
Mar ní fhanfad ins an áit seo go brách, brách ar feadh mo shaol.
Mar is é do chomhrá tláth lag, do chráigh is do mhairbh mé.
Is, a Dhia, nach olc an bás, atá in ann dom má scarfaim léi.

'S do chuireas litir scríobhta, go dtí í le cúntas cruaidh
‘S do chuir sí chugam aríst í, go raibh a croí chomh dubh le gual
A com ba bhinne 'na mhílseacht, ná síoda ná clúimh na n-éan
'S nach buartha, cráite a bhímse nuair a cuimhním ar ghrá mo chléibh.

Is thíos ar ché Phort Láirge, tá an t-árthach ag brath le comhair
A thabharfaidh mé thar sáile, is go brách, brách ní chasfaidh mé.
Beidh mo mhuintir is mo chairde, go cásmhar ag gol im 'dhiadh

'S anois o raghaim thar sáile, céad slán ag grá mo chléibh.

Said to be from the Blasket Island also, this is another song of emigration. The singer sadly takes his leave of the island, having suffered a cruel rejection by his beloved.
Chuala me an t-amhrán álainn seo á chasadh don chéad uair ag socraid Sheáin de hÓra ag Áine Uí Laoithe agus
Éibhlín Ní Chearna. Is ó Shéamus Ó Beaglaíoch a d’fhoghlaimíos é. Bhí an ceathrú bhéarsa ag
Mrs. Mary Kavanagh, Feothanach, i gcnuasach Johnny Grainbhil.

9. Réidhchnoc Mná Duibhe
The Smooth Hill of the Dark Woman

Is fada mé ar buaireamh ag cur tuairisc mo ghrá
Trí ghleanntán dubhach uaigneach do mo ruagairt chun fáin
Ach a samhail siúd ni bhfuaireas cé gur chuardaíos mórán
Ó Chlaisibh na Tuama go dtí Bruachgheal na Má.
'S nuair a casadh mo ghrá orm níor lig náire dhom gan suí
Do leagasa mo láimh ar a bráid is ar a croí
Sé dúirt sí "Arú fág mé, ní samhail duit mé
Mar is bean dubhach ar a bhfán mé do ráingigh i do shlí".
"Is más bean dubhach ar a bhfán tú do ráingigh im shlí
Suigh anseo láimh liom is tabhair dúshlán faoi gach buíon
An tú an maighdean mhánla na dtáithíní buí
Nó an tú an stuairín mhilis, mhánla do sciob Párthas on dTraoi?"

Ní haon ní den méid sin, mise féin dá nduraís,
Ach cailín ciúin Gaelach ón dtaobh eile thíos,
Níor shíneasa mo thaobh deas le haon fhear san ríocht
Agus tóg díom do ghéaga, táim déanach óm’ bhuíon".

'S nuair a thógas mo ghéaga dá caol coimín síos
Ba ghile ar a taobh í ná an sneachta ar a gcraoibh
An iad sluaite Chnoc Bhréanainn do ráingigh i mo lín?
Agus uaimse gur léim sí go dtí Réidhchnoc Mná Duibhe.
Ba ghile í ná an sneachta is ná an t-airgead bán
Ba ghile í ná an fhaoileann ar líonloch ar snámh.
Ba bhreá deas iad a cuacha ina truapaill léi síos
Ar gach taobh dá guailne is iad ag luascadh le gaoith.
This song has been attributed to a man called Seoirse Robart. The singer falls in love with a fairy woman from below the hill, who leaves him to return to her people.
Fuaireas an leagan seo i gcnuasach Johnny Grainbhil. Eoin Ó Catháin, Dún Chaoin, agus Pádraig Ó Dálaigh, Inis Mhicileáin, a bhí á chasadh. Is ó amhránaíocht Pheadar Ó Cearnaigh i "Beauty an Oileáin" a fuaireas cuid dos na focail. Cé nach gcloistear an tamhrán seo go ró-mhinic, bhíodh an fonn á chur le mór-chuid amhrán, mar shampla, "Máirnéalach Loinge Mé" agus "Ar mo Dhul go Baile Átha Cliatha Dhom".

10. Máirín de Barra

A Mháirin de Barra, do mharaigh tú m'intinn
Do chuir tu beo i dtalamh mé i ngan fhios dom mhuintir.
Ar mo luí ar mo leaba dhom, is ortsa bhím ag cuimhneamh
Is ar m’éirí dhom ar maidin, gur chealg tú an croí ionam.

Do thugas is thugas is thugas óm chroí greann duit
Ar Dhomhnach Fhéile Mhuire na gcoinneal sa teampall.
Dod shúilín ba ghlaise ná uisce na ngeamhartha,
Is dod bhéilín ba bhinne ná an druid nuair a labhrann.

Do shíl mé tú a mhealladh le briathra is le póga,
Do shíl mé tú a mhealladh le leabhair is le móide;
Do shíl mé tú a mhealladh ar bhreacadh na h-eornan,
Ach d'fhág tú dubhach dealbh ar theacht don bhliain nódh me.

Is aoibhinn don talamh a shiúlann tú féin air,
Is aoibhinn don talamh ar a sheineann tú bhéarsa;
Is aoibhinn don leaba ina luíonn tú fé éadach
Is ró-aoibhinn don bhfear, a gheobhaidh tú mar bhean chéile.

A Mháirín, glac mo chomhairle, is ná téir ar t-aimhleas;

Ná pós aon stróinse, fear séidte na hadhairce.
Ach gaibh leis an óigfhear a nglaonn siad Ó Floinn air;
Ach pós de ghrá réitigh, ós é is toil le do mhuintir.

Do shiúlfainn is shiúlfainn is shiúlfainn an saol leat;

Do raghainnse thar sáile gan dhá phingin spré leat;
Mo mhuintir 's mo chairde go brách, brách do thréigfinn,
Is go leigheasfá ón mbás me ach a rá gur leat féin mé.

"Máírín de Barra, you have killed my mind, you have buried me alive unknown to my family . . . It is wonderful for the bed in which you lie beneath the bed-clothes, it is too-wonderful for the man who will have you as his wife . . . You would heal me on my death-bed but to say that you were mine."
According to Séamus Ó Beaglaíoch, it is a Munster song from the 18th century, attributed by some to the Béara poet, Seán Ó Coileáin. It must surely be one of the most passionate love-songs in any language.
Castar leagan eile anso timpeall do Mháirín de Barra, ach is ó amhránaíocht Nioclás Tóibín a d’fhoghlaimíos é seo.

Mo Scéal Féin

Daniel — Sat, 04 Sep 2004 00:06:00 +0000

Cé gur i mBaile Átha Chliath a rugadh ‘is a tógadh mé (sa chuid is mó), ba dheachair dom dúchas Chorca Dhuibhne a sheachaint. Chaitheamar gach aon samhradh i gCeann Trá, an áit inar saolaíodh m’athair, agus chuas chun cónaí ann sna hochtódaí ar feadh roinnt blianta. Cheapas ar dtús gur ó thaobh mo mháthar, áfach, a thánaigh féith an cheoil chugam. Amhránaí binn is ea í agus ba cheoltóirí a muintir i gCo. Na Mí – bhíodh banna ceoil acu don teideal "The Heather Breeze". Ach fuaireas amach gurbh amhránaithe agus ceoltóirí iad muintir m’athar leis, cé go rabhas ró-óg len iad a chloisint. Ar ndóigh, bhailigh mo shean-uncail Pádraig (An Seabhac) amhráin don leabhar "Londubh an Chairn" agus chum sé amhrán cáiliúil don teideal "Beir mo Dhúthracht". Bhíos im dhéagóir nuair a chuala an Clár Bog Déil don chéad uair ar an gcéirnín "An Ciarraíoch Mallaithe" agus sheol sé sin i dtreo amhráin na háite mé. Táim fíor-bhuíoch dos na hamhránaithe ar fad go bhfuaireas amhráin uathu ón am sin i leith.

Credits

Daniel — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:04:00 +0000

Steve Cooney: Guitars, percussion.

Máire Breatnach: Fiddle, viola, keyboards.

David James: Cello.

Breandán Ó Beaglaoíoch: Button Accordion.

Producer: Steve Cooney.

Sound Engineering: Pearse Dunne.

Original CD graphics: Johan Hofsteenge

Photographs: Colm Henry.

Web consulting: Daniel Dunne, holisto.com.