Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain

Subject: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 09:00 PM

Has anyone ever come across the lyrics to the Cape Breton Gaelic Puirt song "Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain"? I've seen many a reference to it but not found a word of the lyrics yet.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 12:12 AM

It is not known to me at all. Perhaps George Seto may have something on it. Do you have any more information about the song or what area of Cape Breton it comes from? Where do you see the references?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 12:23 AM

It isn't a Cape Breton song, though it has been recorded by Cape Breton performers (among others). Probably your difficulty in finding it is down to variations in spelling; 'Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain', for example, will return mostly references to the song as performed by Sileas; while 'Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghainn' is how the Barra MacNeils spelled it. 'Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn' gets better results; not in terms of quantity but in that it will locate a text, with translation, at  http://www.geocities.com/area51/zone/6338/puirt7.html. George Seto's website, as it turns out.

It is credited there as 'from the singing of Mrs Annie Arnott, Benbecula'. Although further detail isn't given (and Mrs Arnott didn't belong to Benbecula but to Skye), the lyric was presumably copied from the sleevenotes of Scottish Tradition vol 2: Music from the Western Isles (School of Scottish Studies/Tangent Records TNGM 110, 1971; since re-released on CD by Greentrax: CDTRAX9002, 1992). The record was quite influential and became a source of material for a fair few modern performers; the Bothy Band got 'Fionnghuala' from it, for instance, with the result that a lot of people now think that's an Irish song.

No information is given in the sleevenotes about Mrs Arnott or the recording date, but the following is from Tocher (Edinburgh: School of Scottish Studies, I, 1971, 5):

'Mrs Annie Arnott is a native of Kilmuir, Skye, where she has come back to live after many years in Glasgow. A rich tradition of Gaelic song has survived in Kilmuir until the present day, and Mrs Arnott is one of its foremost exponents. She was first recorded in 1950 by Derick Thomson (now Professor of Celtic in the University of Glasgow) and subsequently by the late Calum MacLean and other members of the School of Scottish Studies.'

Four of her songs (though not this one) are transcribed. One of those, 'Iomaraibh Eutrom', together with a further two, can be heard on Hamish Henderson Collects, Volume 2: Songs, ballads and a story from the School of Scottish Studies Archives (Kyloe Records 110, 2006).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: GUEST,pierre Vilbe
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 08:12 AM

Hello,

I am french and i play this music polpularized in Bretagne by the group Triskell, (album Telenn Vor) but i don't understand the title:
"Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain"!

Could you explain me what it means?

Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 10:30 AM

Pierre, the post just above yours has a link to a page which translates the song. The title means '(Do you) See Ewan's curragh?' A curragh is a small boat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: GUEST,pierre Vilbe
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 03:43 PM

Thank you very much...

I had found the following translation in a Gaelic dictionnary
Curaidh = dinghies, canoes, skiffs and racing boats

but, it sounds not very poetic :(

In french i shall use: frêle esquif.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: GUEST,Juno
Date: 29 Nov 21 - 09:45 AM

This link only has the first verse. She says she is doing another video with the chorus, but I don't know how to find it.

https://learngaelic.scot/littlebylittle/songs/curaigh/index.jsp

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: Felipa
Date: 01 Dec 21 - 03:39 PM

The words that Joy Dunlop teaches in the lesson cited by Juno, are on the page, with translation

O, seallaibh curaigh Eòghainn,
Is còig ràimh fhichead oirre.
Seallaibh curaigh Eòghainn
'S i seachad air a' Rubha Bhàn.

O, seallaibh curaigh Eòghainn,
Is còig ràimh fhichead oirre.
Seallaibh curaigh Eòghainn
'S i seachad air a' Rubha Bhàn.

Oh, look at Ewan's coracle
With twenty-five oars on her.
Look at Ewan's coracle
And she is passing the White Point.

Oh, look at Ewan's coracle
With twenty-five oars on her.
Look at Ewan's coracle

Lyrics, from the singing of Tannas, can also be found on Celtic Lyrics Corner. They appear longer, but it is just three repetitions of the verse and chorus (or A and B parts), and then a further chorus. Mary Jane Lamond is also cited on Celtic Lyrics Corner.

Talitha MacKenzie has no more Gaelic words but added some verses in English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e946q2_V0Ac Owen's Boat
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/mackenzietalitha/owens.htm

There are other videos of the song on youtube; performers include Síleas, Anam Communications (Brian Ó hEadhra, Fiona MacKenzie and children) and the Barra MacNeils and the oddly named Folky MacFolk Face

A group from Plockton (mainland Scotland, not far from the Isle of Skye) singing and signing, words and translation on screen https://vimeo.com/62154264
Associated pronunciation guide, words spoken https://vimeo.com/62168317

Jessica Comeau accompanying herself on mountain dulcimer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svXyOP8nZq8

song teaching video with Màiri McGillivray

Here is another link for the teaching video with Joy Dunlophttps://www.facebook.com/LearnGaelic/videos/420945138877129/ but I think there is more information given in the notes at https://www.learngaelic.scot/littlebylittle/songs/curaigh/index.jsp

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: RunrigFan
Date: 01 Dec 21 - 05:08 PM

Seallaibh curaigh Éoghainn        See Owen's boat
'S coig raimh fichead oirre        There's twenty five oars on her
Seallaibh curaigh Éoghainn        See Owen's boat
'Si seachad aig a Rùdha Bhàn        She's passing by White Point
Seallaibh curaigh Éoghainn        See Owen's boat
'S coig raimh fichead oirre        There's twenty five oars on her
Seallaibh curaigh Éoghainn        See Owen's boat
'Si seachad aig a Rùdha Bhàn        She's passing by White Point
        
Bi Éoghainn, bi Éoghainn        It's Owen, it's Owen
Bi Éoghainn na sgiobair oirr'        It's Owen who'll be skipper on her
Bi Éoghainn, bi Éoghainn        It's Owen, it's Owen
'Si seachad aig a Rùdha Bhàn        She's passing by White Point
Bi Éoghainn, bi Éoghainn        It's Owen, it's Owen
Bi Éoghainn na sgiobair oirr'        It's Owen who'll be skipper on her
Bi Éoghainn, bi Éoghainn        It's Owen, it's Owen
'Si seachad aig a Rùdha Bhàn        She's passing by White Point
        
Seallaibh curaigh Éoghainn        See Owen's boat
'S coig raimh fichead oirre        There's twenty five oars on her
Seallaibh curaigh Éoghainn        See Owen's boat
'Si seachad aig a Rùdha Bhàn        She's passing by White Point
Seallaibh curaigh Éoghainn        See Owen's boat
'S coig raimh fichead oirre        There's twenty five oars on her
Seallaibh curaigh Éoghainn        See Owen's boat
'Si seachad aig a Rùdha Bhàn        She's passing by White Point
        
Bi Éoghainn, bi Éoghainn        It's Owen, it's Owen
Bi Éoghainn na sgiobair oirr'        It's Owen who'll be skipper on her
Bi Éoghainn, bi Éoghainn        It's Owen, it's Owen
'Si seachad aig a Rùdha Bhàn        She's passing by White Point
Bi Éoghainn, bi Éoghainn        It's Owen, it's Owen
Bi Éoghainn na sgiobair oirr'        It's Owen who'll be skipper on her
Bi Éoghainn, bi Éoghainn        It's Owen, it's Owen
'Si seachad aig a Rùdha Bhàn        She's passing by White Point
        
Da thàbh air an fhàraidh        Two spoon-nets in the loft
Tha rud shios a's a' chàraidh        There's something in the fish-trap
Da thàbh air an fhàraidh        Two spoon-nets in the loft
Tha rud aig an fhaóileig        The seagull has a catch
Da thàbh air an fhàraidh        Two spoon-nets in the loft
Tha rud shios a's a' chàraidh        There's something in the fish-trap
Da thàbh air an fhàraidh        Two spoon-nets in the loft
Tha rud aig an fhaóileig        The seagull has a catch
        
Ged tha mi gu' rud agam        Although I'm empty-handed
Tha rud shios a's a chàraidh        There's something in the fish-trap
Ged tha mi gu' rud agam        Although I'm empty-handed
Tha rud aig an fhaóileig        The seagull has a catch
Ged tha mi gu' rud agam        Although I'm empty-handed
Tha rud shios a's a chàraidh        There's something in the fish-trap
Ged tha mi gu' rud agam        Although I'm empty-handed
Tha rud aig an fhaóileig        The seagull has a catch
        
Da thàbh air an fhàraidh        Two spoon-nets in the loft
Tha rud shios a's a' chàraidh        There's something in the fish-trap
Da thàbh air an fhàraidh        Two spoon-nets in the loft
Tha rud aig an fhaóileig        The seagull has a catch
Da thàbh air an fhàraidh        Two spoon-nets in the loft
Tha rud shios a's a' chàraidh        There's something in the fish-trap
Da thàbh air an fhàraidh        Two spoon-nets in the loft
Tha rud aig an fhaóileig        The seagull has a catch
        
Ged tha mi gu' rud agam        Although I'm empty-handed
Tha rud shios a's a chàraidh        There's something in the fish-trap
Ged tha mi gu' rud agam        Although I'm empty-handed
Tha rud aig an fhaóileig        The seagull has a catch
Ged tha mi gu' rud agam        Although I'm empty-handed
Tha rud shios a's a chàraidh        There's something in the fish-trap
Ged tha mi gu' rud agam        Although I'm empty-handed
Tha rud aig an fhaóileig        The seagull has a catch



http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/macinnes/puirt3.htm

From Mairi MacInnes from This Feeling Inside from 1995

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: Felipa
Date: 01 Dec 21 - 09:25 PM

nice to read a couple more verses in the transcription from Máiri MacInnes!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 22 - 04:07 AM

Does anyone have the second verse lyrics sung by Folky MacFolkface?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: RunrigFan
Date: 23 Aug 22 - 07:18 AM

Need the translation now

Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
Is coig ramh fichead oirre.

Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan.
Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
Is coig ramh fichead oirre,
Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan.



Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
Bi Eoghainn na sgiobair oirr'.
Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan.
Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
Bi Eoghainn na sgiobair oirr'.
Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan.



Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
Is coig ramh fichead oirre.
Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan.
Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
Is coig ramh fichead oirre.
Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan.


Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
Bi Eoghainn na sgiobair oirr'.
Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan.
Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
Bi Eoghainn na sgiobair oirr'.
Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan.

?

Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
Bi Eoghainn na sgiobair oirr'.
Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan.
Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
Bi Eoghainn na sgiobair oirr'.
Bi Eoghainn, bi Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan.

?

Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
Is coig ramh fichead oirre.
Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan.
Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
Is coig ramh fichead oirre,
Seallaibh curaigh Eoghainn,
'S i seachad air a Rudha Bhan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: RunrigFan
Date: 23 Aug 22 - 07:19 AM

https://www.folkymacfolkface.com/folky-mac-lyrics

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seallaibh Curaidh Eoghain
From: leeneia
Date: 23 Aug 22 - 02:13 PM

The tune is very nice and can be found at abcnotation.com

Just copy the title from the name of this thread and paste it in the search box to avoid possible misspellings. This would make a nice piece for fiddle, flute, concertina or recorder.