The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #25635   Message #1204194
Posted By: Fear Faire
10-Jun-04 - 05:45 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Baidin Fheilimi & Lullin the Littlin
Subject: RE: Lyrics Req: Baidin Fheilimi & Lullin the Littl
A few little things about BF there:

Bóideach should read "bóidheach".
Direach should read "díreach".

Feilimí is a little problematic. Usual modern spelling is Féilimí giving a long /e:/ sound to the first stressed syllable. This song was usually sung with a diphthong in that position derived from a previous spelling Feidhlimidh sounding like the diphthong in bye, tie, guy in English.

I think Gabhla is rendered Góla on more modern maps representing the long /o:/ sound which developed for that phoneme in Donegal Irish. Toraigh is also sung with that long /o:/ sound in this song although it can be said with a short vowel in common speech. Beosach and deontach also have the long /o:/ sound to complete the pattern.

Isn't this one of a number of Scottish Gaelic songs given an Irish version in the last hundred years or so?