Sí do Mhaimeo í

Aoife Murray sings this great Connemara dance song. It’s also sometimes called The Wealthy Widow or The Hag With the Money. And stay tuned after Aoife sings for a great set of hornpipes on the clairseach (Irish harp).

‘Sí do mhaimeo í

‘Sí do mhaimeo í, ‘sí do mhaimeo í
‘Sí do mhaimeo í cailleach an airgid
‘Sí do mhaimeo í ó Bhail’ Iorrais Mhóir í
‘S chuir-feadh sí cóistí ‘r bhóithre Chois Fharraige

‘bhFeicfeása ‘n “steam” ‘ga’l siar Tóin Uí Loing’
‘S na rothaí gh’l timpeall siar óna ceathrúnaí
Caithfeadh sí’nstiúir naoi n-uair’ar a cúl
‘S ní choinneodh sí siúl le cailleach an airgid

[Chorus]

‘Measann tú ‘bpósfa, ‘measann tú ‘bpósfa
‘Measann tú ‘bpósfa cailleach an airgid?
Tá ‘s a’m nach ‘bpósfa, tá ‘s a’m nach ‘bpósfa
Mar tá sé ró-óg ‘gus dólfadh sé’n t-airgead

[Chorus]

‘S gairid go ‘bpósfa, ‘s gairid go ‘bpósfa
‘S gairid go ‘bpósfa beirt ar an mbaile seo
‘S gairid go ‘bpósfa, ‘s gairid go ‘bpósfa
Séan Shéamais Mhóir agus Máire Ní Chathasaigh
[Repeat]

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An Mhaighdean Mhara

A beautiful and heart-wrenching story. Aoife Ní Fhearraigh’s interpretation is just lovely, too. Here’s a bit of background taken from this video clip.

The story of a man marrying a mermaid is common in the oral tradition in Ireland and Northwestern Europe. This version come from the singing of Áine Uí Laoi, Dobhair Láir, Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Dhún na nGall, who learned it from Síle Mhicí Uí Ghallchóir. Síle called the song “Amhrán Thoraí” and knew many more verses to it. The song is a conversation between the Mermaid and her daughter, Máire. The mermaid must leave her family and return to the sea now that she has found her magic cloak or seal skin in some versions.

An Mhaighdean Mhara

Is cosúil gur mheath tú nó gur thréig tú an greann
Tá an sneachta go frasach fá bhéal na trá
Do chúl buí daite is do bhéílín sámh
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh

A mháithrín mhilis duirt Máire bhán
Fá bhruach an chladaigh is fá bhéal na trá
Maighdean mhara mo mháithrín ard
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh

Tá mise tuirseach agus beidh go lá
Mo Mháire bhruinneall is mo Phádraig bán
Ar bharr na dtonnta is fá bhéal na trá
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh

Tá an oíche seo dorcha is tá an ghaoth i ndroch aird
Tá an tseisreach na seasamh is na spéarthaí go hard
Ach ar bharr na dtonnta is fá bhéal na trá
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh

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Tá mo Chleamhnas Déanta

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan sings the Irish song Tá mo Chleamhnas Déanta.

Tá mo chleamhnas ‘a dhéanamh inniu agus inné
‘S ní mó ná go dtaitníonn an bhean udaí liom féin
Ach fuigfidh mé mo dhiaidh í, ‘s rachaidh mé leat féin
Síos fána coillte craobhaigh.

‘Mo chodladh go h-eadarshuth b’aite liom féin
Leabaí luachair a bheith faoi mo thaobh
Buideal brandaí a bheith faoi mo cheann
‘S mo chailín deas óg ‘bheith I mo lámh liom.

Shiúil mise thoir agus shiúil mise thiar
Shiúil mise Corcaigh ‘gus sráideanna Bhaile ‘ Cliath.
Macasamhail mo chailín ní fhaca mise riamh
‘Sí ‘n bhean í a d’fhág mo chroí cráite.

English

A match was a-making here last night
And it isn’t with the girl that I love the best
I’ll leave her behind and I’ll go along with you
Down by the banks of the ocean.

Sleeping to milking-time is my delight
A bed of green rushes underneath my side
A bottle of brandy underneath my head
And a charming young maid in my arms.

I walked east and I walked west
I walked Cork and Dublin’s streets
An equal to my love I didn’t meet
She’s the wee lass that’s left my heart broken.