Search Results

An Chúileann ~ The Fair Maiden Ag ceiliúradh foghlama na Gaeilge trí sheanamhráin, curtha in eagar ag Risteard Mac Gabhann Ceacht 5: An Chúileann ~ The Fair Maiden Ceann de na hamhráin is cáiliúla i gceolchiste na Gaeilge agus creidtear gur Muiris Ó Dubhagáin, fi le as an Bhinn Bhorb i gContae Th ír Eoghain a chum é sa 17ú Céad. Is ó ‘cúl’ agus ‘fi onn’ a thagann an téarma ‘cúileann’ agus seans go dtagraíonn sé do stíl ghruaige mná a bhí faiseanta san am, díreach mar a thagrófaí inniu don ‘chailín le stíl ghruaige punc’. One of the most celebrated and widely known Irish songs, which is commonly attributed to Muiris Ó Dubhagáin, a poet from Benburb, Co. Tyrone, who lived in the 17th century. The term cúileann is derived from cúl (head of hair) and fionn (blond), and may refer to a distinctive hairstyle of the time, just as a woman nowadays might be referred to as ‘the one with the punk hairstyle’. Téacs an amhráin agus an t-aistriúchán/Text of the song and translation An bhfaca tú an Chúileann ‘s í ag siúl ar na bóithre, Did you see the Fair One walking on the roads, Maidin gheal drúchta ‘s gan smúit ar a bróga? On a bright dew-fi lled day and her shoes spotless? ‘S iomaí ógánach súilghlas ag tnúth lena pósadh, Many a green-eyed lad is hoping to marry her, Ach ní bhfaighidh siad mo rúnsa ar an gcuntas* is dóigh leo. [ *Abair ‘cúntas’] But they’ll not get my love as they imagine. An bhfaca tú mo bhábán lá breá ‘s í ina haonar, Did you see my babe one fi ne day alone, A cúl dualach drithleannach go slinneán síos léi? Her gleaming hair in tresses down to her shoulders? Mil ar an ógbhean is rós breá ina héadan, A lass sweet as honey and a fi ne rose on her brow, ‘S is dóigh le gach spreasán gur leannán leis féin í. And every good-for-nothing thinks she is his darling. An bhfaca tú mo spéirbhean ‘s í taobh leis an toinn, [tonn] Did you see my dream girl sitting beside the sea, Fáinní óir ar a méara ‘s í ag réiteach a cinn? Gold rings on her fi ngers combing her hair? ‘S é dúirt an Paorach, a bhí ina mhaor ar an loing, [long] Said Mister Power, who was steward of the ship, Go mb’fhearr leis aige féin í ná Éire gan roinn. That he’d rather have her than to have Ireland without division. Leagan eile iontach ó Siobhán Armstrong anseo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfbhUptDCrM&list=RDZfbhUptDCrM&start_radio=1

Fáth Mo Bhuartha (The Cause of My Anguish) Ag ceiliúradh foghlama na Gaeilge trí sheanamhráin, curtha in eagar ag Risteard Mac Gabhann Ceacht 4: Fáth Mo Bhuartha ~ The Cause of My Anguish Is minice anois a chluintear an t-amhrán álainn seo mar cheol uirlise ná mar amhrán, agus is trua sin nó tá na véarsaí iontach álainn chomh maith. Tá patrún saibhir ríme go cothrománach ar gach líne agus go hingearach trí gach véarsa, a chuireann diminsean suntasach eile le ceolmhaireacht an amhráin. Tá an saol crua atá i gceist sa mheafar ‘turas na Cruaiche’ ag deireadh an chéad véarsa, ag tagairt don oilithreacht cháiliúil (agus anróiteach) go Cruach Phádraig i gContae Mhaigh Eo. Is é an file as Maigh Eo Riocard Bairéad (1739 – 1810) is mó a luaitear leis an amhrán breá seo. This beautiful song is probably better known now as an instrumental piece at traditional music seisiúin, which is a pity, since the words are also very attractive. There is a rich pattern of vowel rhymes arranged horizontally and vertically throughout each verse, which adds another dimension to the musicality of the composition. The hard life implied in the ‘Cruach journey’ metaphor at the end of the first verse is probably a reference to the famous penitential pilgrimage mountain Cruach Phádraig in County Mayo. The song is attributed in some sources to the Mayo poet Riocard Bairéad (1739 - 1810). Téacs an amhráin agus an t-aistriúchán/Text of the song and translation Is é fáth mo bhuartha nach bhfaighim cead cuarta, The cause of my anguish is that I’m not permitted to visit, Sa ghleanntán uaigneach mar a mbíonn mo ghrá, The lonely glen where dwells my love, Bíonn mil ar luachair ann, im a’s uachtar, There’s honey on rushes there, butter and cream, A’s i dtús an fhuachta bíonn na crainn faoi bhláth, And at the start of the cold (season) the trees are in bloom, Níl gaoth aduaidh ann, níl sneachta crua ann, There’s no north wind there, there’s no hard snow there, Tá caladh a’s cuan ann ag long a’s ag bád, There’s harbour and shelter there for ship and boat, A’s tá tuilleadh bua ann, níl turas na Cruaiche ann And there’s more benefit there, there’s no hard life there, Don té a dhéanfadh suas lena mhuirnín bán. For the man who’d make up to his fair love. Is é dúirt mo stór liom, ó bhí tú óg deas My love said to me, since you were young and pretty, Go ndéanfá foghlaim ar éalú liom, That you would contrive to elope with me, A’s nach mbíonn tráthnóna nó maidin fhómhair, For there isn’t an evening or an autumn morning, Nach tú an réalt eolais a bhíonn ag dul romhainn, That you’re not my guiding star going before us, Ag siúl na móinte a’s na gcoillte cnómhar’, Walking the heathlands and the nut-filled woods, Ní bhíonn orm brón ná duibheagán croí, I’m never in sorrow or heavy of heart, Ach mé bheith pósta le mo mhíle stóirín, If I were just married to my thousand treasures, A’s mo lámh go bródúil ar a brollach mín. And my hand proudly on her gentle breast. Leagan eile iontach ó Eleanor Shanley anseo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kubsvZ_vNAI

It has been a busy time for Colmcille Press authors, whose new books have been making waves in regional and national media this week. Financial journalist Paul Gosling has been writing about the island's readiness for a referendum in The Irish Times and has also featured in an extended interview on Newstalk . Royal Literary Fellow Felicity McCall was interviewed on BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson Show (@40 mins) and also featured in both the Derry Journal and Derry News . McCall will be launching her 'memoir-inspired' short story collection 'What We Did On Our Holidays' at Derry's Central Library on November 15. And barrister Conor Bowman SC was interviewed about his new fiction centred on the Tuam Mother & Baby Home by BBC Radio Ulster’s Sunday Sequence presenter Audrey Carville (@29 mins). 'The Half-Life of Edith Hopkins will be launched in the Law Library, Distillery Building, Church Street, Dublin next Thursday, October 30.