irish song

Ó Dheara, ‘Sheanduine

/ David Wood / Leave a comment

A clever little song about a young woman who marries an old man, thinking he’ll be dead soon enough. What ensues is something completely different. The video is from a performance by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh with Danú. There’s also a clever animation of the song with Seamus Beagley singing in the Anam an Amhráin video series, which is where the still frame above comes from.

Ó Dheara, ‘Sheanduine

Comhairle a fuaireasa amuigh ar an mbóthar
Ó rógaire sagairt an seanduine a phósadh
Ach ba chuma leis siúd ach go méadóinn a phóca
Is go mbeinn fad a mhairfinn ag brath ar na comharsainn

Curfá:
Ó dheara ‘sheanduine, leatsa ní gheobhadsa
Ó dheara ‘sheanduine, loscadh is dó ort
Ó dheara ‘sheanduine, leatsa ní gheobhadsa
Is dá mbeinnse i mbéal dorais ná beirimse beo ort

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Lonely Irish Maid/Blackwaterside

/ David Wood / 1 Comment

Rita Gallagher of County Donegal is a multiple winner of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann‘s English singing competition. Rita is considered by many to be one of the best living singers in the tradition. Here she sings another “As I Roved Out” song. This one goes under many names, but most frequently “Blackwaterside” and “Lonely/Bonnie/Lovely Irish Maid.”

Lonely Irish Maid/Blackwaterside

As I roved out one morning fair,
Bright and early as I strayed,
It being in the merry month of May
As the birds sang in each glade.
The sun it shone so merrily
And billowing with pride,
Where primroses and daisies there,
Down by Blackwaterside

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Eileen Óg (The Pride of Petravore)

/ David Wood / 2 Comments

Here’s another of the late 19th, early 20th century classics. Percy French wrote the words, supposedly set to a traditional tune, although I have not found any indication of what that original tune was. Here Cathy Jordan and friends sing Eileen Óg for a LiveTrad webcast.

*Óg = young
*Petravore is a town name made up by Percy French

Eileen Óg

Eileen Óg an’ that the darlin’s name is
Through the Barony her features they were famous
If we loved her then who was there to blame us
For wasn’t she the Pride of Petravore?
But her beauty made us all so shy
Not a man could look her in the eye
Boys, Oh boys, sure that’s the reason why
We’re in mournin’ for the Pride of Petravore

Chorus:
Eileen Óg me heart is growin’ grey
Ever since the day you wandered far away
Eileen Óg there’s good fish in the say
But there’s none of them like the Pride of Petravore

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