Thirteen traditional songs in Irish with contemporary guitar accompaniment. Complete texts, translations, and notes supplied.
Includes unlimited streaming of Casadh na n-Amhrán / Turning the Song
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about
In his Irish Popular Songs Edward Walsh states: ‘The author of this beautiful song is unknown, but it would seem that he was a native of the county Kerry, as this is the most popular song in that part of Munster. Tradition attributes it to a young man who fell violently in love with the affianced bride of his own brother.’ George Petrie, dismissing this notion, remarks that ‘tradition is often found to be a check for fanciful inventions’, and prefers O’Curry’s contention that the song was written about the year 1810, by a Kerry schoolmaster named Finneen or Florence Scannell ‘upon some imaginary beauty, for the purpose of exciting the curiosity and hostility of contemporary bards’. P.W. Joyce remarks: ‘The song does not look like the production of an unpractised hand; it is indeed so finished and beautiful that I cannot believe it to be Florence Scannell’s only song.’
In Londubh and Chairn (1927) Máiréad Ní Annagáin relates how she heard a Romanian singer, Constantin Stroescu, of the Paris Opera House, sing a song to the same air in Dublin’s Theatre Royal, claiming it was a Romanian folk song. She wondered ‘what forgotten soldier of fortune among the Wild Geese brought this air to Romania’.
lyrics
Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn cé hÍ
Aréir is mé ag téarnamh um neoin
Ar an dtaobh thall den teora ina mbím,
’Sea do thaobhaigh an spéirbhean im’ chomhair D’fhág taomanach breoite lag sinn.
Do ghéilleas dá méin is dá cló,
Dá bréithre ’s dá beol tanaí binn. Do léimeas fá dhéin dul ’na comhair Is ar Éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí.
Dá ngéillfeadh an spéirbhean dom’ ghlór, Agus ráite mo bheoil a bheith fíor;
Go deimhin duit go ndéanfainn do ghnó, Do léirchur i gcóir is i gcríoch.
Do léifinn go léir stair dom’ stór
’S ba mhéin liom í phógadh óm’ chroí; Do bhéarfainn an chraobh di gan ghó, Is ar Éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí.
Tá spéirbhruinneall mhaorga deas óg Ar an dtaobh thall den teora ’na mbím; Tá féile ’gus daonnacht ina snó
Is deise ’gus meon ins an mhnaoi.
Tá folt aici ar lasadh mar ór,
Go cócánach ómarach buí;
Tá lasadh ’na leacain mar rós
Is ar Éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí.
A shár-fhir, bí páirteach liom féin,
’S mé áireamh dá mb’fhéidir liom scríobh, Bheinn grámhar le bánchnis na gcraobh Dá bhfaghainn áirithe ó éinne cé hí,
Táir cáinte ’s níl cás orm é,
Gur le dánacht do théim leat dá suíomh, Ní foláir go bhfuil cáim ar a scéimh,
Go bhfuil náire ort a léigheadh dúinn cé hí. Is ar Éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí.
---------
For Ireland I’ll Not Tell Her Name
As I strolled last evening
Beyond my boundary fence,
A beautiful woman approached me And left me feeling ill and weak.
I yielded to her features and form,
Her words and her shapely sweet lips; I longed to fly straigth to her side, And for Ireland I’d not tell her name.
If this beauty pays heed to my voice As I utter these words full of truth Be certain I’ll serve you right well, Fulfilling each task to the last;
I’ll please you with story and song,
And with kisses that spring from the heart, Then I’ll make her the love of my life,
But for Ireland I’ll not tell her name.
There’s a beautiful stately young dame The far side of my boundary fence; There is kindness and love in her look She’s an elegant woman of sense.
Her hair falls in waves of gold flame, Her curls are all amber and light
Her cheeks glow like roses in dew, And for Ireland I’ll not tell her name.
My good man, show me some affection, Treat me as one of some account;
I would worship the fair-skinned lady
If someone would reveal who she is. People speak badly of you, but I don’t care; I’d go boldly with you to her domain. There must be a blot on her looks
Since for shame you won’t tell us her name.
Fran O’Rourke is emeritus professor of philosophy. With John Feeley he has given recitals of Irish traditional songs
associated with James Joyce from San Diego to Shanghai.
John is Ireland’s leading classical guitarist. He has performed concerts around the world and recorded many CDs, most recently Bach’s Cello Suites 1-3....more
