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Lyr Req: Green Fields of Gaoth Dobhair / Gweedore

25 Oct 99 - 09:38 AM (#127744)
Subject: Green Fields of Gweedore, Co. Donegal
From: AKS

Hello it's me again, this time with a question on Irish geography and names of places to be more precise.

As I've understood, the County Donegal in the North West of Ireland has provided our world with numerous splendid tunes, a number of talented musicians and at least two top class bands, among many other things.

One of my (many) favourites is a song titled 'The Green Fields of Gaoth Dobhair' performed by Clannad (on LP Fuaim). I have tried to transcribe the lyrics and come quite far but now I must admit that there's no going further without either a much more detailed map or some 'local' - or otherwise expertise - help, because what I'm missing is quite likely some names of places.

Here's what I have so far:

Green Fields of Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore)

Down past on Lewis'? bonny lakes

one morning I did stray

until I reached sweet Clady banks

where the silvery salmon play

I strolled around through old Bunbeg (An Bun Beag)

and down along the shore

and gazed with admiration on the GFoGD

I visit Magheraclogher

on ??? Heights I stand

beneath me lies the ocean wide

and Maghera Gallen (Gullion?) Strand

those sandy banks so dear to me

those banks I do adore

behind me lies sweet Derrybeg (Doirí Beaga) and the GFoGD

The bonny isle of Gola (Gabla)

and Inishmen? so near

I see the little fishing fleet

as it lies along the peer

I wandered through the grave yard where

those've gone before

that once lived happy and content by the GfoGD

I see sweet Inish ???

and far off Tory Isle (Toraigh)

I view the ocean liners

as they steam along in style

and bore the Irish emigrants

with hearts both sad and sore

as they gazed on own Tyrconnell hills and the GfoGD

I wouldn't be surprised if the story'd be even longer to describe the beauty of one's own landscape and how sad it is to see fellow countrymen having to leave for overseas because there is no way left of making a decent living. I also guess that the song is not very old - twenties-thirties at most, perhaps? Correct me, please.

Additional information appreciated

Arto K S (North Carelia, from where young people of today emigrate to the South of Finland, to the Continental Europe - and even Ireland!)

25 Oct 99 - 11:07 AM (#127769)
Subject: Lyr Add: GREEN FIELDS OF GAOTH DOBHAIR (GWEEDORE)
From: Áine

Dear AKS,
Here is the translation from the Irish of this song by its author, Frankie Mooney:

Farewell to stately mountains of dear old Donegal,
And twice farewell to Erigal hill as it towers o'er ash tree and rowan,
As I passed through the glen by Dunlewey Lake, with water so peaceful and calm,
With an ache in my heart, I was forced to depart, from Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair.

As I journeyed on through Glendowan's Hills, with Muckish to the rear,
With a heart full of pain, I felt no shame, 'twas there that I shed bitter tears,
I was bound for the shores of America, far across the wild raging foam,
I bade farewell for a spell to Donegal, and Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair.

'Twas never my play to travel afar from my own beloved land,
But the intrigue and the guile of the tyrant's hand forced me to leave my home,
'Twas the wish of heart to return again if I could get money in store,
And my days there to end among relations and friends around Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair.

Farewell, farewell to Donegal that County sweet and fair,
And to her brave men when the enemy came never cowered or bowed to the Gall,
I hold in esteem all those women and men and all children big and small
That dwell there in peace, without worry or grief, in Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair.

HTML line breaks added in place of double spacing. --JoeClone, 7-Mar-02.

25 Oct 99 - 05:59 PM (#127906)
Subject: RE: Green Fields of Gweedore, Co. Donegal
From: Freddie Fox

Any chance of a phonetic translation of the names? I always give up at this point because I haven't a clue how they're ptonounced, which for someone who spends a fair amount of time singing Irish music is pretty pathetic.

25 Oct 99 - 11:09 PM (#128016)
Subject: RE: Green Fields of Gweedore, Co. Donegal
From: alison

Hi,

Here's a rough guide to pronounciation of the place names...

Gaotdthdobhair = gweedore, (gwee-door)
Dunlewy = (dun-loo-ee)
Bunbeg =(Bun-beg)
Magheraclougher = (Ma-her-a-clock-her)
Middletown Heights
Macheragallon =(Mack-her-a-gallon)
Derrybeg = (Derry-beg)
Gola = (Go-la)
Inishmean = (In-ish-main)
Inish Oirthir=(in-ish ??owe-er)
Tory =(tore-ee)
tir Chonaill = (cheer con-nell)

Beautiful song, let me know if you want the tune.

slainte

alison

26 Oct 99 - 12:54 AM (#128053)
Subject: Tune Add: GREEN FIELDS OF GAOTH DOBHAIR (GWEEDORE)
From: alison

Here's the tune, I've added a basic tune, and one of my early attempts at a backing track (drums accompaniment etc) at alan's site... you'll find the blue clicky thing at the end of this....

MIDI file: GREEN_~1.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: The green fields of Gaothdobhair
TimeSig: 3/4 24 8
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Key: C
Start
0925 1 57 102 0498 1 60 093 0034 0 57 102 0925 1 57 088 0017 0 60 093 0461 1 60 113 0016 0 57 088 0492 1 62 077 0012 0 60 113 0931 0 62 077 0001 1 64 107 0484 1 69 103 0030 0 64 107 0923 1 64 103 0006 0 69 103 0963 1 62 115 0014 0 64 103 0467 1 60 102 0003 0 62 115 0254 0 60 102 0003 1 57 103 0728 1 59 094 0002 0 57 103 0455 1 57 107 0052 0 59 094 0882 0 57 107 0002 1 55 092 0476 0 55 092 0005 1 57 111 2402 0 57 111 0062 1 64 103 0391 1 69 093 0037 0 64 103 0439 1 69 118 0052 0 69 093 0934 1 62 111 0008 0 69 118 0952 0 62 111 0047 1 64 111 0455 1 65 090 0017 0 64 111 0413 1 67 098 0068 0 65 090 0925 1 64 098 0016 0 67 098 0970 1 62 100 0010 0 64 098 0458 1 60 096 0039 0 62 100 0931 1 57 086 0036 0 60 096 0461 1 60 095 0036 0 57 086 0392 1 62 098 0035 0 60 095 0974 0 62 098 0028 1 64 096 2316 0 64 096 0064 1 64 100 0431 1 69 115 0027 0 64 100 0323 0 69 115 0173 1 69 109 0894 0 69 109 0052 1 62 062 0935 1 64 079 0007 0 62 062 0470 1 65 115 0009 0 64 079 0465 1 67 121 0005 0 65 115 1017 1 64 098 0001 0 67 121 0947 1 62 103 0024 0 64 098 0430 1 60 103 0056 0 62 103 0931 1 57 091 0032 0 60 103 0446 1 60 102 0013 0 57 091 0941 0 60 102 0004 1 62 095 0417 1 64 107 0058 0 62 095 2392 0 64 107 0003 1 57 088 0481 1 60 111 0045 0 57 088 0898 1 57 096 0002 0 60 111 0461 1 60 107 0026 0 57 096 0934 0 60 107 0030 1 62 098 0461 1 64 096 0012 0 62 098 0485 1 69 121 0028 0 64 096 0931 0 69 121 0025 1 64 100 0907 1 62 100 0017 0 64 100 0516 0 62 100 0000 1 60 095 0409 1 57 088 0034 0 60 095 0465 1 59 096 0019 0 57 088 0489 1 57 099 0025 0 59 096 0933 0 57 099 0039 1 55 093 0385 1 57 098 0023 0 55 093 2396 0 57 098
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:The green fields of Gaothdobhair
M:3/4
Q:1/4=100
K:C
A,6|C4A,2|C2D4|E2A4|E4D2|CA,3B,2|A,4G,2|A,6|
-A,17/4E3/2A/4|-A7/4A17/4|D4E2|F7/4G17/4|
E4D2|C4A,2|C2D4|-D/4E23/4|-E4E2|A2A4|D4E2|
F2G4|-G/4E15/4D2|C4A,2|C4D7/4E/4|-E6|E4A,2|
-A,6|C6|-C4A,2|C4D2|E2A4|-A/4E15/4D2|-D/4C3/2A,9/4B,2|
A,17/4G,3/2A,/4|-A,6|A,6||

If you'd rather hear the tune without the hassle of translating try new MIDI site.... I'm just uploading it.. should be there soon......

slainte

alison

26 Oct 99 - 07:04 AM (#128105)
Subject: RE: Green Fields of Gweedore, Co. Donegal
From: AKS

Now I know what signs to look for when I'm off to Donegal ('cause one day I'll be), thank you!! Áine, is that translation of Frankie Mooney a 'singable' one (some lines don't quite rhyme, I think, but otherwise it sounds ok) and if so, then did he also write the version that Clannad does? (y'see I've only a cassette copy of the record without any 'facts' ...) Any idea of what the 'intrigue and guile' refers to? (What happened after 1916, perhaps?)

Does the midtxtmid thing run on winNT, btw?

AKS, Joensuu, Finland

26 Oct 99 - 08:54 AM (#128132)
Subject: RE: Green Fields of Gweedore, Co. Donegal
From: alison

I'm not sure AKS.. but you don't have to use it anymore, there is a much easier way..... you can hear the MIDIs at this MIDI site look under "g".

slainte

alison

26 Oct 99 - 09:23 AM (#128137)
Subject: RE: Green Fields of Gweedore, Co. Donegal
From: Áine

Dear Arto,

I finally found my copy of 'Fuaim' and no, the song I gave by Frankie Mooney is NOT the same one you inquired about. I prefer it to the Clannad song, however. Do you have any CDs or albums by the group Altan? Frankie Mooney is the father of the lead singer in that band, Maighread. She performs it, in Irish, on the CD 'Runaway Sunday.' If you don't have it, get a copy. There are several lovely songs on it.

I apologize for any confusion I brought on you.

-- Áine

26 Oct 99 - 09:36 AM (#128140)
Subject: RE: Green Fields of Gweedore, Co. Donegal
From: alison

Wasn't she married to a "Frankie"?... saw her interviewed on TV and she said that her husband Frankie had died of cancer a few years back.

slainte

alison

26 Oct 99 - 09:49 AM (#128144)
Subject: RE: Green Fields of Gweedore, Co. Donegal
From: Áine

That's right, Alison. Her first husband's name was Frankie Kennedy. She recently got married again, to one of the fellas in the band.

-- Áine

26 Oct 99 - 10:13 AM (#128149)
Subject: RE: Green Fields of Gweedore, Co. Donegal
From: AKS

No harm done, Áine, whatsoever! I have two cassettes of Altan but not the 'Runaway Sunday' - have to buy that someday! You're right, Alison, she (Maighréad Ní Mhaonaigh that is) was married to Frankie Kennedy. (I was on the occasion to hear Altan with FK, when they were performing at the Joensuu Festival of Song in the beginning of 90s.) I think I've seen the same interview sent by the Finnish TV.

greetings AKS

22 Jan 10 - 12:30 PM (#2818633)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Green Fields of Gaoth Dobhair / Gweed
From: GUEST,KH

found this one from   The Johnstons --- from long time ago

my favorite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jZoPA1gPUU

regards
KH

23 Jan 10 - 02:51 AM (#2819170)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Green Fields of Gaoth Dobhair / Gweedore
From: GUEST

Hi there, just jumping in to address some of the confusion: Her name is Mairéad, not Maighread, her father's name was Francie not Frankie.    And yes she was married to Frankie Kennedy.