Lyr Add: Ho-ro-ro 'gur thu mo run [Rathlin]

Subject: Add: MO MHÁIRE ÓG / Ho-ro-ro 'gur thu mo run
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 04:23 PM

A love song from Rathlin Island, published in Éinrí Ó Muirgheasa. "Céad de Cheolta Uladh", published 1915, new edition edited by Br. T. F. Beausang, 1983

MO MHÁIRE ÓG

D'éalaigh m'athair 's d'éag mo mháthair,
Is chan fhuil mo chairdean le fáil;
Ach cad atá mé gan chrodh gan toigh,
A bheith in dtóir ar Mháire Óg.

Loinneog/refrain

Hó-ró-ró 'gur thú mo rún
Thug mé an gaol 's cha b'aithreach liom,
Don níon úd an chúil dualaigh doinn,
Is gur teith liom féin mo Mháire Óg

Chan fhuil duine uasal ó ná barún
Ná fear óg anns na fearann
Nach bhfuil dúil acu le bainis
Gach uile fhear, le Mháire Óg.

Chan fhuil duine sa ghleann úd thall,
Eadar bun 's barr a' ghleann',
Nach bhfuil ag bagairt ar mo cheann
Ar son bheith in dtóir ar Mháire Óg.

Ach ná cuireadh sin ortsa brón
Fad is bhéas mo chuideacht beo,
Coinneoidh mise duitse an lón,
Is má bha seór ann gheobhaidh é dram.

Like Ó Muirgheasa, I am presenting this song as an example of the Gaelic dialect of Rathlin Island, off the north coast of County Antrim, Ireland.

This song and a Rathlin version of Fear a' Bhàta were written down for Ó Muirgheasa by Séamus Ó Griana. "this one was obtained from Maighréad Nic Mhuircheartaigh of Brochlaigh in Rathlin. It will be noted that the vocabulary and idiom savours of Scottish Gaelic, and that they have less of the internal assonance than the average Irish song, yet they have the ready swing and freedom of the Scotch Gaelic songs - a characteristic often sadly lacking in our own. The present inhabitants of Rathlin have much more family relationship with Scotland than with Ireland, and Ireland is held in so little regard by the Rathliners that if there is a wild uncontrollable youth his elders will threaten him. 'My boy, Ireland will be the end of you.' This is a very simple, sincere love song, addressed by a youth to a girl he loved."

Quotation of course from Ó Muirgheasa, who also gave the following vocabulary list
"cairdean = cairde [friends, or relations]
in dtóir ar, seeking after, hankering after
gaol = grá [love, usually in Irish Gaelic 'gaol' means blood relationship]
cha b'aithreach liom, I don't regret it
ó na barún, the ó is merely exclamatory, i.e. ó, chan fhuil [chan eil; níl] duine uasal ná barún...
Coinneoidh mise duitse an lón, I will provide for you
Verse IV. 1. Ná cuireadh, pronounced cuireag, pronounced almost like final d aspirated in Munster
bha=bhí, was"

any information on tune, sound recordings, other versions, etc will be most welcome

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ho-ro-ro 'gur thu mo run [Rathlin]
From: GUEST,Neil Comer
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 06:07 PM

Philippa, Is trua liom go bhfuil an Bráthair Beausang ar shlí na fírinne, cara mór liom agus Gael go héag. D'inis sé dom gur chuala sé an t-amhrán seo uair amháin, ráite ag seanbhean as Oileán Reachrainn (ní cuimhin liom ainm ná áit) Níor ghlac sé leis riamh gur Gháidhlig na hAlban a bhí ann ach gur eascraigh Gaidhlig na hAlban ó Chúige Uladh. Tá a fhios agam nach gcuidíonn sé seo leat ach bhí orm rud inteacht a rá faoi mo sheanchara, Beausang! Dála an scéil: Ní bhím ar an tsuíomh seo go minic agus freagraím scéalta as Gaeilge

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ho-ro-ro 'gur thu mo run [Rathlin]
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 30 Jun 02 - 08:53 AM

Casadh orm an Bráthair Beausang uair nó dhó, ach ní raibh mé ach ag tosnú an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim. Ní raibh a fhios agam faoin am sin go raibh eolas aige ar an amhranaíocht.

Neil has fond memories of his good friend Brother Beausang. The brother told Neil that he himself had heard this song sung by an old woman of Rathlin Island. (for benefit of the non Irish speakers here - though the thread is bound to be of most interest to speakers of Irish and Scottish Gaelic.)
Ma tá deis agat, tabhair súil ar ais ("refresh 30 days" mar shampla)- chuir mise agus daoine eile an-chuid amhrán as Gaeilge/Gàidhlig ar an Chat ar na mallaibh

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ho-ro-ro 'gur thu mo run [Rathlin]
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 05:12 PM

I'm wondering if anyone knows of other versions of this song, in Ireland or in Scotland?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ho-ro-ro 'gur thu mo run [Rathlin]
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 07:43 PM

Havent spent some time on Rathlin with boat engine trouble during the Marching Season, lurking to avoid potential aggro and making music, I can enjoy the comments about the Irish/Scottish mix (though I dont understand the language ). Rathlin is definitely a place unto itself. I go whenever I can.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ho-ro-ro 'gur thu mo run [Rathlin]
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 04:48 PM

For a version sung in Cape Breton see Neil McEwan's songsheets and click on Màiri Óg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ho-ro-ro 'gur thu mo run [Rathlin]
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 12:39 PM

Is this song properly grouped with "Rathlin Island"?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ho-ro-ro 'gur thu mo run [Rathlin]
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 06:33 PM

Joe, I don't think so. It's the Rathlin Island version of a song which is also found in Scotland. It's a love song and not especially about the island. But you can leave it if there is nothing more important to link it with. Maybe Fear a' Bhata should be linked; the Irish version is from Rathlin Island also, as stated in the first message.