Geaftai Bhaile Bhui

Subject: Geaftaí Bhaile Bhuí
From: Conán
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 04:40 PM

This well-known Donegal song has this reference in its title to a town which does not exist in the county. Does anyone know if such a place exists; or is it the Irish Brigadoon ?

Subject: RE: Geaftaí Bhaile Bhuí
From: Áine
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 05:50 PM

A Chonáin,

This was recently discussed on the IRTRAD-L list. Here's the URL for the explanatory message there:

http://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9911&L=irtrad-l&F=&S=&P=29552

I hope that works, I don't know how to do a 'blue clicky thingy.'

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Miscellaneous
From: Philippa
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 06:35 PM

Áine, I had a quick look at your link and I think the Conán's da had a big part in the discussion!
I'll e-mail you clickable link instructions, though they are given in several threads here and on the help forum! --Philippa

Subject: RE: Geaftaí Bhaile Bhuí
From: Áine
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 06:49 PM

Go raibh céad míle maith agat, a chara chóir!

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Geaftaí Bhaile Bhuí
From: Áine
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 10:27 AM

After searching some more in the IRTRAD-L archives, I found a couple of messages in re this song. This is my first attempt at doing blue clicky thingies, so please be patient if they don't work. And thank you, Philippa, for sending me the instructions!! Any screwup on my part now cannot be blamed on you!

Click here


OR

/Click here

Subject: RE: Geaftaí Bhaile Atha Buí
From: Philippa
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 05:23 PM

In "Where Songs do Thunder" (Belfast: Appletree, 1991) Paddy Tunney calls the song Geaftaí Bhaile Atha Buí, and his translation of it The Banks of Ballaghbuoy.

The theory that the song refers to Athboy, Co Meath is as good as any.

Subject: Tune Add: Geaftaí Bhaile Bhuí
From: alison
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 09:38 PM

Thanks to a Philippa for the dots.... the tune can be heard at Mudcat MIDIs

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Geaftaí Bhaile Bhuí
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 06:51 PM

In "Traditional Songs of the North of Ireland", compiled by Liam Ó Conchubhair & Derek Bell (Dublin: Wolfhound Press, 1999). Geaftaí Bhaile Bhuí is translated as "The Gates of Athboy"

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 04:15 AM

I am sure I once read somewhere that the tune referred to Galway - the yellow town.

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: Paddy Plastique
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 11:55 AM

Isn't there a village anglicised as Ballyboy in Co. Monaghan - bringing us a bit closer to Donegal ?

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: Declan
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 12:01 PM

Paddy,

I think that's Balllybay (Baile Béithe) where my grandfather came from (sorry from whence my grandfather came).

Ath Bui is literally The Yellow Ford. Wasn't there a battle of the Yellow Ford? Some of the O'Neills were involved so it might have been in Tyrone ?

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: Willie-O
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 09:45 AM

I'm still wondering about this. Our fiddle orchestra plays the tune and I would like to find English (or Gaelic) lyrics.

Galway?
Athboy?
Ballyboy?
Banks of Ballaghbuoy?

Search engines draw a few references to obscure (to me) songbooks, but I'm hoping to find lyrics online.

If there's lyrics that are anywhere near as good as the tune, I want 'em!

W-O

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: Emma B
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 01:41 PM

Willie O, There are four verses in Ceolta Gael (Sean Og agus Manus O Baoill, pub Mercier press) Unfortunately my Irish doesn't stretch to a full translation but if there are any volunteers out there I will post them.

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: Willie-O
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 05:47 PM

Thanks Emma. There sure are a lot of different stories and speculations relating to this tune. Sounds like there is already a translation entitled "Banks of Ballaghbuoy", by the late Paddy Tunney.

If you post the Gaelic, maybe Aine can interpret it...

W-O

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: Willie-O
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 09:08 AM

Refresh. Still hoping for English or Gaelic lyrics. Anyone?

W-O

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: Felipa
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 05:39 PM

and Liam Ó Conchubhair translated the song as "The Gates of Athboy" (see 21 Nov 2002 message)
There's a website with all the Ceolta Gael lyrics given (no translations), so you should be able to find words on-line
I like the tune better than the lyrics, so can anyone suggest another song (preferably in Irish) to sing to this air

Subject: RE: Geaftaí Bhaile Bhuí
From: Felipa
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 06:37 PM

re the Ceolta Gael lyrics, see www.angelfire.com/ri/domhan/clarg02.html

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: Willie-O
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 09:30 PM

Hmm, thanks Felipa, progress is being made!

This clicky should work: www.angelfire.com/ri/domhan/clarg02.html

OK Houston, we have Gaelic. En anglais qu'est-ce que c'est?

I hate to reveal the depth of my ignorance, but it's necessary. I have no idea in hell how to pronounce any of that. Any Gaelic-conversant types there care to phoneticize a verse or two, let alone translate?

W-O

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: GUEST,anne!!!!!!
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 09:01 AM

just thought i'd say ut could be about a small enough town called Athboy in county meath hope that solves the cutriosity

~~~~anne!!!!

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: GUEST,anne!!!!!!
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 09:02 AM

its in ireland leinster to be precise
~~~~~anne!!!!

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: Declan
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 03:10 PM

If its about Athboy then the title should be Geaftai Bhaile Ath Bhui. Baile Bhui on its own just means the yellow town.

I doubt if Athboy was ever a big enough place to be a walled town, but that might not be too relevant to the discussion.

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: GUEST,máirtín
Date: 14 Feb 13 - 12:24 AM

Buí or yellowness is associated with sex. Ath Buí is a generic term for a red light district.

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: MartinRyan
Date: 14 Feb 13 - 03:27 AM

Seafóid! Fáilte go Mudcat, a Mháirtín!

Máirtín Eile.

Regards

p.s. My namesake's last post is nonsense - lest there be any doubt!

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 13 - 12:00 PM

GRMA, a Mháirtín.

Why is it nonsense?
I know I didn't offer any evidence but in the context of the song it certainly make sense.
I learned this interpretation from the Donegal sean-nós singer Gearóidín Neidí Frainc.
Either way, I think we are all agreed that it is a beautiful song and well worth exploring both for its musical and linguistic lineage.

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 04 Apr 21 - 06:38 AM

Correction! Pardon me Martins!

It would appear as though Máirtín Uimhir a 1 (Máirtín #1) finished that conversation relating to Máirtín Uimhir a Dó's comment (Máirtín #2 aka MartinRyan). Innit?

Cé Gearóidín Neidí Frainc a Mháirtín #1? An sin Gearóidín Bhreathnach?

Buíochas agus beir bua,
Bríd

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: GUEST,#
Date: 04 Apr 21 - 10:12 AM

Maybe this link will be of help.

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: Felipa
Date: 04 Apr 21 - 04:00 PM

yes, Gearóidin Neidi Franc is Gearóidín B(h)reathnach. Neidi Franc are patronyms (father, grandfather), Nic Grianna her family surname, Breathnach her married name

Subject: RE: Geaftai Bhaile Bhui
From: Felipa
Date: 04 Apr 21 - 04:43 PM

The lyrics from the Angelfire link above (I had to add a missing line to verses three and four, and have added another verse at the end)

A man courts a woman, but she goes home still a maiden.


GEAFTAÍ BHAILE BUÍ

Ag geaftaí Bhaile Buí a rinne mise an gníomh
a bhí amaideach baoth-déanta.
Éalú le mnaoi seal tamaill ins an oíche
ar neamhchead a raibh faoi na spéarthaí.
Bhí mé lag gan bhrí, gan mhisneach in mo chroí
is í agam ar mhín-shléibhe;
Bhí an codladh dhá mo chloí agus b'éigin domsa luí
agus d'imigh sí ina fíormhaighdean.

'Gabhail a luí don ghréin faoin am seo aréir,
Ó,nach agamsa bhí an scéal buartha.
Ba é a shamhailt domsa an té a shínfí ins an chré
Ó, is a Mhuire nach mé an trua.
Is é déarfadh mo chairde, an méid acu a bhí i láthair:
"Altaigh leis na mná, a bhuachaill."
Is an méid a ngoilfeadh orthu mo chás, goilfead siad a sá
fá mo chroí a bheith in mo lár ina ghual dubh.

Dá mbeinnse thall sa Spáinn i mo luí ar leaba an bháis
agus cluinimse do dháil in Éirinn,
D’éireochainn go sáimh leis an bhradán ar an tsnámh
I nduibheagán i lár na hÉirne,
Focal ar bith mná ní chreidfidh mé go bráth
Mura bhfaighidh mise scríofa i mBéarla é.
Gur chaith mé naoi lá ag cleasaíocht leis an bhás
ag dúil go bhfaidhinn spás ar éigin.

Is agamsa atá an mháistreás is measa i gcríocha Fáil
cé gur soineanta clár a héadain.
Chuirfeadh sí mo chás i bhfad agus i ngearr
agus b'fhurasta ár gcás a réiteach.
An madadh rua bheith sách, an chaora dhubh ar fáil
Is ní chluinfi mé go brách ag eileamh,
Agus m'fhocal duit, s Sheáin, go bhfuil ealaíon ins na mná
agus codail féin go sámh ina n-éagmais.

A Mhuire agus a Rí, nach mairg a bíos
I dtoiseach an tsaoil le pléisiúr,
’S a ghiorracht agus a bíos an tinneas do do chloí,
’S do do tharraingt ar na críocha déanach’,
Níl sé ar an domhan ní ar bith och ó,
Is peacaí agus is mó dá ndéantar
Ná an mhaighdean dheas óg a mhealladh le do phóig
Agus a fágáil faoi bhrón ’na dhiaidh sin.

see also https://www.learnceol.com/collection/geafta%C3%AD.html