The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #1277   Message #726495
Posted By: GUEST,Philippa
09-Jun-02 - 09:17 AM
Thread Name: Lyr ADD: Port Lairge / Portlairge
Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Port Lairge
Any musicians present? When you play the air of this song in a session, concert or at a dance; what do you call it?

I have a book of 18th Aisling - Vision Poems by Eoghan Ruadh Ó Súilleabháin with translations by Pat Muldowney (Millstreet, Co Cork: Aubane Historical Society, 2002). Printed beside most of the poems is the name of another (usually well-known) song given as the tune for the Aisling. One tune name given is "Móirín Ní Chuilleanáin". Tunes, provided by Nicholas Carolan of the Irish Traditional Music Archive, are given at the back of the book. I tried playing Móirín Ní Chuilleanáin, thinking it might be connected with "Molly Ní Chuilleanáin", and was surprised to find it was the the tune of Port Lairge.

I am wondering also if the Port Lairge song might derive from a seachrán (see Seachrán Carn tSiadhail thread for an explanation of seachrán poetry.) If so, manuscript or printed example/s of the progenitor would probably be stored somewhere.