Imeall (2009)

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
We don’t seem to have many love songs, from a woman’s perspective in the gaelic tradition here in Ireland. An exception is the wonderful Dónal Óg, which is also found in the Scots Gaelic tradition. I have borrowed the first line from that beautiful song ……”You are the seed of the young men”!

Ís beag amhrán grá ó phár mná scríobhta i dtradisiúin na hÉireann. Sampla iontach amháin nó Dónal Óg…ceann de amhráin mhóra na Gaeilge. Is ón amhrán seo a ghoid mé an chead líne….”Is tú pór na bhfear óg”!

Mairéad – Vocals / Fiddle
Manus – Bouzouki / Programming / Backing Vocals
Jim Higgins – Percussion
Graham Henderson – Keyboards
Translated to English – Tristan Rosenstock

Lyrics

My youthful young man

You’re the choice of young men I met along the way,
And you melted the ice that covered my heart away,
You enchanted my mind with your sweet words and mouth
And I gave you affection my youthful young man.

You lit up my day with the brightness of your eyes
And you pierced my heart with pangs of desire
Where are you at night?
Where are you by day?
Will I ever know my pleasant young man?

Here’s light and good health to you my youthful young man,
Long life and wealth to you my youthful young man,
I wish you everything, O I wish you each wish
I wish you prosperity
From the centre of my heart.

A local song which I learned from my father at school. I have changed the rhythm slightly. It tells the story of a heart broken young man whose love is promised to someone else and wishes to kidnap her with the help of the King’s soldiers.

Amhrán a d’fhoghlaim mé ó m’athair ar scoil. Tá’n fear óg croí bhriste cionas go bhfuil a ghrá geal le fear eile a phósadh agus ba mhaith leis í a Thógailt ar shiúil le cuidiú gardaí ‘n rí.

Mairéad – Vocals
Manus – Bouzouki / Guitar / Backing Vocals
Jim Higgins – Percussion
Michael Mc Goldrick – Uilleann Pipes
Graham Henderson – Keyboards
Translated to English by – Tristan Rosenstock

Lyrics

Rachaidh mise suas le gardaí an Rí
Agus bhéarfaidh mise anuas ar lámh liom í.
Nach mise a chuirfeadh cluain ar a bánchneas mín
Agus bhéarfaidh mé go Tuaifín í grá chroí.

Curfá:
Tógaigí suas ar ghruaimhín an iomaire í
lasadh ina grua agus bua gach duine léi.
A ghiolla, atá gan ghruaim a chuirfeadh cluain ar an iomataí
nach é mo scéal truaí mar luaíodh mise leat?

Níl mise tinn agus níl mé slán.
Is ró-mhór m’osna is ní fhéadaim a rá,
nuair a smaoiním ar an tráth úd a bhí mé is tú, a ghrá,
guala ar ghualainn agus lámh ar lámh.

Curfá x2

Galar cloíte choíche an grá.
Is mairg ar a mbíonn d’oíche nó lá.
Cé gur crua an rud an snaidhm is nach scaoiltear é go bráth
Ó, is a chomrádaí dílis, go dtéigh tú slá.

Curfá

—

The King’s Guards

I will go up with the King’s Guards/
And I’ll take her by the hand down with me/
It is me who’d seduce her gentle fair skin/
And I’ll take her to Tuaifín, the love of my heart.

Chorus:
Take her up to the edge of the ridge/
Her cheeks flushed and she able to win anyone over/
The lad who is without dejection who seduces too many/
‘Tis my sad tale that I wasn’t promised to you.

I am not ill and I am not hale/
‘Tis too great my sigh I cannot describe/
When I think of the time when you and I were in love/
Shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand

Chorus

A sorry everlasting disease is love/
Woe to him who suffers from it by night or by day/
Though the tie is strong and never is released/
O my dear comrade may you go safely

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Trad. Arr. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh / Ann Björg Lien
Two local mazurkas which I learned from my father, Francie. The Mazurka originated in Poland but became a very popular dance in London in the 19th century and travelled to Ireland through the English soldiers.

Dhá mhazurka a fuair mé ó m’athair, Francie. Deirtear go dtáinig an damhsa seo ón Phólainn o thús agus go raibh siad mar rinncí coitianta i Londain ag tús an 19ú céad.Tháinig siad go h-Éireann le arm na Breataine.

Mairéad – Hardanger Fiddle
Ann Björg Lien – Hardanger Fiddle

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Trad. Arr., Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh / Ann Björg Lien
A song of unrequieted love, where the young man’s message to his loved one to meet at a secret location, is intervened and concealed by her parents…heartbreaking stuff. My friend AnnBjorg Lien, from Norway accompanies me with her hardanger fiddle on this track which gives it a melachonic atmosphere.

Amhrán a fuair mé ó Annie agus Cití Eoghain Éamainn ó Dhobhar , Gaoth Dobhair. Is iad san a choinigh na h-amhráin beo sa taobh seo tíre agus a mbuíochas sin daoife.

Mairéad – Vocals
Ann Björg Lien – Hardanger Fiddle

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
A piece of music which I composed in memory of my father.

Seo píosa ceoil a chum mé i gcuimhne m’athair.

Mairéad – Fiddle
Tim Edey – Guitar

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
I heard these lovely highlands from an archive recording of the late Micky Doherty of the famous Donegal fiddling clan. The reel I composed many years ago for my band members in Altan. It was Tim Edey’s idea to put the reel with these highlands….thanks to Tim and Jim for the brilliant session in Budapest and for coming to record with me in Donegal!

Chuala mé an chead dhá highland ó sean taifeadadh de chuid Micky Doherty. Chum me an ríl The Red Crow do mo chuid cairde agus comh cheoltóirí sa banna Altan.

Mairéad – Fiddle
Jim Higgins – Percussion
Tim Edey – Guitar

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
A lullaby which I composed for my daughter Nia.

Seo amhrán a chum mé do mo níon Nia….suantraí le comhairle do girseach bheag ghálanta!

Mairéad – Vocals
Manus – Bouzouki / Guitar / Programming / Backing Vocals
Jim Higgins – Percussion
Translated to English by – Tristan Rosenstock

Lyrics

My Daughter, O

Come walk with me, my daughter O
Over the sand dunes of Tráigh Bhán*
And make castles of gold, my daughter O
From the smooth sand and bright shells.

May your journey be easy, my daughter O,
Through this life that lies ahead of you
And follow your desire, my daughter O,
For protection will be there for you.

My daughter O, óró X 3
May you go safely each night and day.

O set your sail, my daughter O,
Out to Gola on a magical boat
On the crest of waves, my daughter O,
Until the moon shines over you.

O go to sleep, my daughter O,
On a warm bed of white silk,
Lie down peacefully, my daughter O,
And listen to the sweet songs of the birds.

May you go safely, my daughter O,
Without worry or gloom
Each day and night,
And remember your mark, my daughter O,
On the smooth sand of Tráigh Bhán.

*Tráigh Bhán – White Strand

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Trad. Arr. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh / Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill
This is Robert Cinnamond, late of Glenavy Co.Antrim, version of this big Ulster love song.
The Dobbin in question, was a Leonard Dobbin, a man of influence in Armagh city at the beginning of the 19th Century.

Seo amhrán a chuala mé ó taifead de chuid Robert Cinnamond ó Chó. Aontroma.

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Two tunes which I composed on the hardanger fiddle. The first tune is for my daughter Nia and her wee friends and neighbours Gráinne and Róise Ní Dhomhnaill, as they insisted on dancing while I composed it. The second jig is for my mother Kitty…..where we learned all the dances!

Dhá phort a chum me ar m’fhideal hardanger. Is do Nia agus a cuid cairde Gráinne agus Róise Ní Dhomhnaill a chum mé an chead phort mar go raibh fonn damhsa orthu agus mé a chumadh. Is do mo mháthair, Cití Rua a chum me an dara ceann….bean an damhsa!

Mairéad – Hardanger Fiddle
Manus – Bouzouki / Guitar
Dónal Lunny – Bodhrán

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Trad. Arr. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh / Jim Higgins
The slow air Meillte Cheann Dubhráin, is derived from another Ulster song; The Blue Hills of Antrim, Teileann fiddler, the late Con Cassidy is the source of the second highland and I got the last reel The Four Mile Stone from an old recording of the New York based Larry Redigan.

Sean ainm ar Rann na Feirste, Meillte Cheann Dubhráin a chum an file Séamas Mac Grianna. Is fonn The Blue Hills of Antrim atá leis. Is ó Chon Ó Casaide, fidleoir Theileann a fuair mé an Highland.
D’fhoghlaim mé an ríl ó shean taifeadadh de chuid Larry Redigan.

Mairéad – Fiddle
Jim Higgins – Bodhrán

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Trad. Arr. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh / Manus Lunny
This is a song which I got in Cead de Cheoltaibh Uladh which I never heard anyone sing!

Seo amhrán a d’fhoghlaim mé ó Chéad de Cheoltaibh Uladh. Níor chuala mé aon nduine a rá ariamh!

Mairéad – Vocals
Manus – Bouzouki / Guitar / Backing Vocals
Jim Higgins – Percussion
Translated to English by – Tristan Rosenstock

Lyrics

Fair Nelly

Oh Fair Nelly my darling, and Fair Neillí my dear,
If you would come with me to the pleasant wood of nuts
I’d give you the pleasures of the big town which would lift your heart
And riding in carriages through the roads of Ballyboy.

‘Tis a pity I’m not in Monaghan and me a cloth merchant,
With my Fair Neillí by my side, I long for that day,
If she paid the bar bill I’d hit the counter myself
And I’d spend the tab on my fair curly-haired one.

I’ll go over to Flanders and abandon my family,
Over to the East Indies and my love will cease
You won’t see me anymore oh gentle, handsone girl,
And other men will be kissing my fair-haired flower

I’ll cut a rod of rowan with a turn on top of it
And I’ll tie my Fair Neillí tighly to its centre
There is not a knot that I’d tie that would ever be released
And my gentle comrade I bid you farewell

I’m a long time in this town, a year and three days
The likes of my Neillí I could not hope to find
When I’d call for a strong drink, Neillí would pay the bill
And I’d swim Loch Erne with my fair, gentle handsome girl

Oh dear woman of the house my heart is dying with thirst
Oh landlady, my darling, bring a fine filled quart to me
Here’s a golden guinea on the counter for you to pay for the damage
While I drink to the health of my sweet lass and her fair hair.

One Sunday afternoon a disaster befell me.
My young girl was married before I could get there
All the doctors of Ireland would not cure my case
You, most sweet, have betrayed me, oh pearl of the fair hair.

If I had a long white pipe ‘tis tobaco I’d put in it
A bottle of whiskey and a barrel full of ale
If I had toe-bits on my heels or soles on the bottom
I’d be each Sunday evening in the place where she’d be found

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Trad. Arr. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh / Manus Lunny
The poet Art Mac Cumhaidh is lamenting the fact that the famous Ulster chieftains the O’Neill’s are all in Spain, after the Flight of the Earls, 1607.

Caoineadh é seo, cionas go bhfuil an ceannceathrú a bhí ag Clann Ui Néill I gCaislán na Glasdromainne I gCoille Dhúin Réimhe in oir-dheiscirt Ard Mhacha tréighte agus scriosta san 18ú Céad. Comhrá idir and file Art Mac Cumhaidh agus smaolach atá san amhrán seo ag cuir síos mar atá Clann Uí Néill sa Spáinn…. in diaidh Teitheadh na n’Iarlaí.

Mairéad – Vocals
Manus – Bouzouki / Guitar / Programming
Michael Mc Goldrick – Flute
Graham Henderson – Keyboards
Translated to English by – Tristan Rosenstock

Lyrics

By the Banks of Dunreavey

By the banks of Dunreavey in day’s solitude
Lovely were her flower-white limbs
I heard the roaring of the waves of Ireland,
And sounds up high in the sky,
The elements in pain and their backs together
And the face of the sun concealed,
And the choicest of birds proclaiming the news
With sorrow that the Jackdaws had died.

Once the bird heard me mentioning the seed of Niall
With sorrow he flew away
His wings were spread down to the grass
And he hit his sides in despair
Saying that my story is sorrowful and foolish
Since they were put under secure headstones
And if I looked myself under that same tomb,
I’d only find clay and bones.

Eoghan Rua, my woe for you to be in the earth,
You who would put the foreign mercenary to flight,
And noble, gifted Feidhlim was taken away by force
To Leinster where he would die.
Lord Iveagh and the noble Irish,
Death has powdered their bones,
And where will their likes be found again to serve
Since they were laid out in earth and in coffins.

O dear thrush, you see yourself that the Gaels of this place have been overthrown,
Try to leap and loop in the air and get a better standing abroad,
If you don’t get a branch of the O’Neill family
In the powerful lands of Spain,
And tell the one who survives death
That the fated white-castle has been captured.

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Trad. Arr. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh / Manus Lunny
I learned this unusual version of The Pigeon on the gate from my late friend and fiddle James Byrne from Glencolmkill, whom I’d like to remember here.

The second tune was learned from Belfast fiddlers Dermot Diamaond and Andy Dixon on their trips to Gaoth Dobhair and the last reel in this selection I got from Dublin born fiddler Oliver Browne, now living in Pittsburgh, PA.

Is ó James Byrne, sean chara agus sár fhidleoir a fuair me an leagan neamhghnáth den chead ríl. Ar an droch uair cailleadh James roimh domh an taifeadadh seo a chríochnú agus bá mhaith liom é a chuimhniú anseo.

Is ó fidleoirí Bheal Feirste Dermot Diamond agus Andy Dixon a d’fhoghlaim me an dara ríl agus fuair me an rí deireanach ó Oliver Browne, fidleoir ar dóigh ó Bhaile Átha Claith ach atá ag cuir faoi anois I bPittsburgh, PA i Meiriceá.

Mairéad – Fiddle
Manus – Bouzouki
Jim Higgins – Bodhrán
Tim Edey – Guitar

Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Trad. Arr. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh / Manus Lunny & ‘Imeall’ written by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
This is a Breton tune which I learned many years ago from my good friends Pierre Crepillon and Patrick Molard. I wrote the Imeall verse over it!

Seo ceol damhsa ón Bhriotáin a d’fhoghlaim me ó mó chairde Pierre Crepillon agus Patrick Molard.
Seo amhrán beag a tháinig liom lá, a théann leis…Imeall.

Mairéad – Fiddle / Vocals
Manus – Bouzouki / Guitar
Jim Higgins – Percussion
Michael Mc Goldrick – Flute
Graham Henderson – Keyboards
Lyrics Translated by – Tristan Rosenstock