The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #34502   Message #466755
Posted By: GUEST,Philippa
20-May-01 - 10:17 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: A Chomaraigh Aoibhinn O
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'A Chomaraigh Aoibhinn O'
even more "fantastic": I got the notes for the Solas album "The Words That Remain" on which Karan Casey sings this song. They give three verses. The first two are as I gave above (the verses sung by Áine uí Cheallaigh) The middle one goes:

Is dathúil brea do chrúacha scéimchruth
A Chumaraigh Aoibhinn Ó
Nuair a lasaid suas le hamharc gréine
A Chumaraigh Aoibhinn Ó
Na faillte 's leacain ar gach taobh diot
Mar bhrata sróil le seolta gléasta
Nuair a scaipeann an drúcht anuas ón spéir ort
A Chumaraigh Aoibhinn Ó

The notes say Karan learned the song from Ann Mulqueen. A translation is given:

SWEET COMERAGHS
(translated from the Irish of Maurus Ó Faoláin by Oisín Ó Siochrú)

My heartfelt blessings on your valleys and mountains
Sweet Comeragh
And on your cheerful people so naturally kind
Sweet Comeragh
On your shining streams and your leafy woodlands
Your honeyed slopes and your gleaming meadows
My heart fill with love for them surely
Sweet Comeragh

Your rugged peaks are a handsome sight
Sweet Comeragh
As the rising sun sets them alight
Sweet Comeragh
Cliffs and steep slopes in every direction
Like satin weave from a magic loom
As the dew drop falls from the heavens high
Sweet Comeragh

I was a while away from your beauty
Sweet Comeragh
Slaving so hard in a foreign land
Sweet Comeragh
Base work it was just to make a living
Far from my home 'neath the shade of your mountains
So I came back to you the flower of the Déise