Origin: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile (P Ó Máille)

Subject: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Cailín na gruaige doinne
Date: 23 Jun 00 - 09:29 PM

Hi, Can anybody tell me about this song? It´s one of the most beautifull song I´ve ever heard!

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Brendy
Date: 23 Jun 00 - 09:35 PM

I have the words of it here somewhere, but I know no history of it.

I can post the words tomorrow, if you want, if nobody gets there before me.

B.

Subject: Lyr Add: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile
From: GUEST,Angun
Date: 23 Jun 00 - 09:44 PM

This is the words that I´ve got:

O, a Shliabh geal gCua ná féile is fada uait i gcein mé
I`m Shuí cois cuain imáonair og tréighlag faoi bhrón
Ab tuile bhui ar thaobh diom idir mé`gus tir na chléibhe
Mar a shliabh geal gcua nach gear é mo sceol
Dá mbidhinnse imeasce mo gaolta i sceichin glas na séimbhfear
Nuaír a scaipeann teas na greine ann ón speir ghil gan small
Nú dá mbidhinn ansuid faoin réaltainn nuair thiteann drúcht ar fhear ann
ó, a shliabh geal gcua nár dheirc sín da mb´fheidir i dhail

Mo léan, ná fuaireas tógaint le léann is mórchuid eolais
I ngaodhealuinn uasal cheolmhar ba sheolta mo bhéal
Da threabhainn cuairt thar sáile is do bhearfainn bua thar barr chuagat
Mar a shliabh geal gcua ba bhrea liom thúi ardach i réim
Mo Ghrása thall na Déise idir bhanta gleannta is shleibhte
O snamhas anall thar tréamhuir táim treighleach gan bhri
Ach, O ba thoil le Dia mé ghlaoich as mp shlansa siar og héirinn
Agus slán le sliabh na féile le saor gheann óm`chroi


I don`t know any history, just that I think some person that moved fromn Ireland to Wales wrote it.

And yes, It´s a BEAUTIFUL song. One of my favorites too!

All the best, Angun

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Angun
Date: 23 Jun 00 - 09:49 PM

Sorry!It should be "moved from Ireland to Wales"...not fromn... I´m really tired and I`m going to bed. It´s 03.51 here in Norway now...

God night to all! Angun

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Philipppa
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 12:40 PM

Sliabh Geal gCua na Féile was composed by Pádraig Ó Mileadha of Waterford. He was across in Wales and missing his homeland. I heard Áine Uí Cheallaigh singing this song on a tv programme of seán nós singing from an Rinn.

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 01:24 PM

I was going to ask for music but I guess there isn't any (seán nós)
Roger

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Deirdre
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 03:33 PM

In reply to the request for music, the trad. American band Solas, recorded this song on their first cd, Shanachie Records, no.78002. In the liner notes it says, " Sliabh Geal gCua na Féile was written in 1890 by Pádraig Ó Máille. He was an exile in the coal mines of Wales. This song is a lament, a cry of loneliness and anguish at being exiled from the thing he loved most in the world, Ireland." They also include a translation by Oisín Ó Siochrú.

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 04:08 PM

Thanks for that Deirdrie
Just come back from holiday in Ireland and a lament is just whats needed
Anyway I can play them OK - my fingers get cross threaded on jigs and reels
Roger

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Beachcomber
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 06:39 PM

Yes The song comes from my area of Ireland , in county Waterford to be precise and close to the town of Dungarvan near the mountain, Sliabh gCua which is celebrated in O'Milleadh's song. I think that the very finest recording of it , in the authentic "Sean Nos" style, was by the late Nicholas Tobeen of Ring in county Waterford, on an old Gael Linn Vinyl, I'm not aware of a reissue on CD? anyone?

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Angun
Date: 12 Jul 00 - 04:49 PM

Forgot to mention in my earlier post that I knew the song was from county Waterford. Heard Ciarán Ó Gealbháin sing it once, and that is the best version I`ve heard!

Beachcomber, do you know if it`s possible to get a copy of the recording by Nioclas Toibín?

Angun

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: dulcimer
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 12:01 AM

Surely the printed music or abc is out there somewhere on the Internet!

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: OldPossum
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 02:19 PM

I have never heard anyone singing this, but Derek Bell (who plays the harp with the Chieftains) plays a very beautiful instrumental version of it on the LP "Derek Bell's Musical Ireland" (Claddagh Records CC35). The cover notes are as follows:

Sliabh Geal gCua (Bright Sliabh gCua)
This tiompán solo with harp accompaniment celebrates Sliabh gCua 'of the hospitality' in west Waterford. Brendán Breathnach says the air is a variant of Seán O Duibhir a 'Ghleanna and is the lament of an exile for his native place and its hospitality.

Yours,
OldPossum

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: OldPossum
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 02:57 PM

... and you can listen to a bit of it here ...

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Aideen
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 09:18 AM

Does anyone have a translation of Sliabh Geal gCua in English?

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Rog Peek
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 01:35 PM

The Sliabh gCua Set has five figures and is danced to polkas. It originates from Co. Waterford and was recorded by Connie Ryan, the dance master from Co. Tiperary.
Sliabh gCua Set

Rog

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 02:31 PM

"Yes The song comes from my area of Ireland , in county Waterford to be precise and close to the town of Dungarvan near the mountain, Sliabh gCua which is celebrated in O'Milleadh's song. I think that the very finest recording of it , in the authentic "Sean Nos" style, was by the late Nicholas Tobeen of Ring in county Waterford, on an old Gael Linn Vinyl, I'm not aware of a reissue on CD? anyone?"

Gael Linn recently reissued Nioclas Tóibín's 1977 LP, together with two earlier eps, under the title, Amhráin Aneas. That release, includes Sliabh Geal gCua, and I think, represents Tóibín's entire output for Gael Linn.

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 06:43 PM

I'm not sure where I got this translation from.

Bright, bountiful mount
So far, far away
I sit by the sea
Weak, lonely and sad
The foam-tipped waves
Divide me from my love
Oh bright bountiful mount Cua
How wretched my tale.

If I were there with my people
On the green-clad hills
Warmed by the heat of the sun
In a bright, cloudless sky
Or if I were there on a starry night
As dew falls on the grass
Oh radiant mount Cua
That would be wealth beyond compare.

My sorrow, that I was not raised
With learning and skill
The noble strains of Gaelic
As jewels on my lips
I would travel far
And come back with prizes to you
My splendid mount Cua
I would sing praise to your name.

The Déise is my love
Its plains, valleys and hills
Since I crossed the great ocean
I am lifeless and low
But God willed that I should leave
So I send my blessings home
And bid farewell to the bountiful mountain
With all my soul.

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 03:43 AM

I've a feeling that Brendan Begley might have recorded this in the past few years. I'm also pretty sure it's turned up on a few solo recordings by Irish flute players recently - Harry Bradley, for sure, and also, I think Kevin Crawford. I've a feeling it was also on the "Tin Whistles" recording by Paddy Moloney and Sean Potts. Lovely tune, with or without the words.

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 03:52 AM

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6628

Seamus Begley, not Brendan. Quite a few recordings listed, but mainly played instrumentally as a slow air.

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Thompson
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 03:44 AM

Here's a nice fiddle version: HERE

and harp: HERE

Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: MartinRyan
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 07:29 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Origin: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile (P Ó Máille)
From: GUEST,Naosc
Date: 02 May 10 - 06:15 AM

The poet's name was not Ó Máille.

His name was:

Pádraig Ó Milleadh

Subject: RE: Origin: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile (P Ó Máille)
From: GUEST,Naosc
Date: 02 May 10 - 06:18 AM

Pádraig Ó Milleadh

He had to emigrate there from Sliabh gCua situated in the Comeragh Mountains. He wrote many songs and in this one you can hear the great love he had for Sliabh gCua, his home.

Subject: RE: Origin: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile (P � M�ille)
From: GUEST,schlimmerkerl
Date: 02 May 10 - 06:49 PM

The leadsheet notes are in "Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland", Tomas O'Canainn, Ossian.

Subject: RE: Origin: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile (P Ó Máille)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 22 - 05:58 PM

I was trying to find information on this song and came across this interesting (in my opinion) blog post: https://drmyronevans.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/padraig-o-mileadha-poet-of-eire-wales-1877-1947/