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
Donal O’Sullivan states as ‘quite certain’ that the air known as ‘Carolan’s Dream’ did not originate with Carolan. Edward Bunting attributed it to William Connellan. Carolan supposedly said he would rather have composed it than any air he had written. He probably modified it, which explains why it bears his unmistakable style. Tomás Ó Máille included ‘Móuda Ní Dhúbhda’ in Amhráin Chearbhalláin (1916). Donal O’Sullivan however asserts that it is not written by Carolan but some time later by an unknown poet to what had become a popular tune. Ó Máille suggests that ‘Sign na Gréine’ was the name of a tavern where Móuda lived and that Súsaí Bán was her mother.
lyrics
Móuda Ní Dhúbhda
’Sí Móuda Ní Dhúbhda an planda maiseach, múinte, Is meabhlach a súile ’gus a gáire,
’Sí bláth na n-úlla cumhra í, ’sna gcnó ’tá milis dúinte, Is fada mise i gcumhaidh dá grá-sa.
Mo léan! gan mé is tú amuigh i gCúige Mumhan Na gcoillte dubh dorcha fásaigh,
Sheinnfinnse tiúin duit ar bharr mo fhliút,
Ba bhinne ná na cuacha ar na fálta.
Má théann tú ag iarraidh céile téirigh go Sign na Gréine, Is gheobhaidh tú scéimh gach áille,
Gheo’ tú féirín ó Shúsaí Bhán, Inín Shéamais,
Maighre na gruaige báine,
’Sí finne gile gléigeal ná’n eala ar an Éirne,
A leaca dhearg shéimh ’s a bráid gheal,
Ar an taobh so de mhala shléibhe tá sáith an rí de chéile, Gur cailleadh na céadta dá grá-sa.
Tá Búrcaigh is Brúnaigh, ní áirím clann Mhaolrúanaidh, Muintir Chúige Mumhan ag cur slán leat,
Lucht fearainn is dúiche, iarlaí ’s diúicí,
’San méid sin ag caoi de do ghrá-sa,
Dá bhfaighinnse ó Rí na nDúl cead amhairc ar an gcúilinn, Rachainn ar mo ghlúine g’Droichead Átha,
Is buaidh na gcúig chúige le maise’s le múineadh,
’Sgur ag Móuda Ní Dhúbhda atá sé.
Tá bunadh chóige Laighean ar cuairt fá do dhéinse,
A mhaighdean, go meidhreach amárach,
Mar ’tá Eústásaigh is Mac Murchadha na méith-mhart, ’San méid sin uile i ngrá leat.
Go leor de Mhuintir Chuileannáin ó shléibhte Dhún Dealgan, ’Sní áirím na fir chalma ón Triúchainn, ’S a bhfuil ó Shliabh na Céise go Droichead Lios na nGearaltach, Ag tarraingt ar Mhóuda Ní Dhúbhda.
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Carolan’s Dream
Maud O’Dowd is a pleasant, well-mannered young woman,
Her eyes and her smile are beguiling.
She’s the flower of the fragrant apples and the sweet-shelled nut. And I’m a long time pining for her love.
My grief that you and I are not abroad in Munster Of the dank dark wild woods.
A tune I’d play for you on the tip of my flute,
Far sweeter than the cuckoos on the hedges.
If you’re looking for a wife, go to the Sign of the Sun, And you’ll find the beauty of all beauties;
You’ll get a present from fair Susie, Seamus’s daughter, A fair-haired beauty (of renown).
There’s less fair white brightness on the swan on Lough Erne Than on her rose-red cheeks and white neck.
On this side of the hill there’s a woman fit for a king,
For whose love hundreds have died.
There are Burkes and Brownes, not to mention the Mulrooneys, The people of Munster bidding you farewell,
Landed people, country folk, earls and dukes,
And all of them weeping for love of you.
If the God of Nature let me look upon your beauty,
I’d travel as far as Drogheda on my knees,
For the five provinces’ champion for beauty and deportment Belongs to Maud O’Dowd.
The people of Leinster will be out on your tracks, Young lady, all merriment tomorrow,
For the Eustaces and Murphys, the fat-cattle people, And all that crowd are in love with you.
Hordes of Cullinanes from the Dundalk Mountains Not to mention the warriors from Truagh,
And all from Slievenakesh to Fitzgeralds Bridge Will be closing in on Maud O’Dowd.
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
