Lyr Req: Rath Cairn Glas na Mi

Subject: Rath Cairn Glas na Mi
From: Jim
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 09:09 AM

Does anyone have the Gaelic lyrics for this song?

Thanks in advance, if you do,

Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rath Cairn Glas na Mi
From: Philippa
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 02:53 PM

They're published in a book called "Cnoc suas é", which should be available from Cló Iar-Chonnachta

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rath Cairn Glas na Mi
From: Philippa
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 07:05 AM

Jim, I've been combing the house for my copy of Croch..., but it seems well and truly lost. The song tells about the government-sponsored settlement of Rath Cairn, County Meath, in the east of Ireland by people from the Conamara Gaeltacht in the west. You can read -in Irish and in English- about the history of Rath Cairn at rathcarn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rath Cairn Glas na Mi
From: Áine
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 10:16 AM

Philippa,

I looked in my copy of Croch Suas, but I couldn't find this song. Could it be under another name? If you can give me the first line, maybe I can find it and help Jim out with the lyrics. Thank you for the link to the Rath Cairn site!

Subject: Lyr Add: Amhrán Ráth Cairn (Ciarán Ó Fathartha)
From: Philippa
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 02:42 PM

Amhrán Ráth Cairn (Ciarán Ó Fathartha)

Nach iomaí píosa a d'fhê adfainn ' scríobh,
Dá mbê inn ábalta ar pheann,
Faoi na smaointe a d'fhág m'intinn,
Is an chuid atá fós ann, Tá an leathchê ad bliain seo curtha a'm dhiom
Faoi mhisneach, brón is brí
Ó thug mê an ruaig bliain 'tríocha cúig,
Go Ráth Cairn Glas na Mí.

Ó maidin Aoine a chaoin na daoine,
Ag fágáil againn slán,
Níorbh ê ár nádúr an áit a fhágáil,
Is an gabháltas ' bhí a' ainn[againn] ann,
Sê De Valera a d'athraigh an scê al,
Mar is fear ê a bhí thar cionn
Mar cheap sê Éire a dhêanamh Gaelach,
Is an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.

O fágadh an baile is chuaigh go Gaillimh,
Is ghlan soir Orán Mór,
Bhí mná le páistí ina mbaclainn fáiscthe,
Ag triall ar Thír na nÓg,
Fuair muid treoir sa mbaile mór,
Le titim drúcht na hoích',
Is bhí ceann scríbe curtha a'ainn dhínn
Ráth Cairn Glas na Mí.

Nach muid a bhí náireach lá arna mhárach,
Ag siúlóid thart faoin tír,
A chur faoi ndeara le Conamara,
Is an áit a mbíodh an spraoi,
Ach chuir mo shúile deoir le dúil,
Is ghlas mê misneach is brí,
Chuir mê dhíom an cumha i mo bhaile nua,
I Ráth Cairn Glas na Mí.

Ó d'imigh lá agus seachtain bhreá,
Is nárbh fhada ann sê mhí
Tógadh talamh ar phócaí folmha,
Is cuireadh rudaí i gcaoi,
Ó thug gach ê inne cabhair dá chêile,
Is mhaolaigh sin ár gcás,
Bhí De Valera ceart an cê ad uair,
Bhí prê amh na Gaeilge ag fás.
Bhí a'ainn fuíoll nuair ' d'fheabhsaigh an saol,
Is bhí an baile ag fáil níos fearr,
Bhí treabhaire is eallach ag gach teaghlach,
Is talamh a bhí thar Barr,
Bhí chuile shórt den ghreann is den spórt,
Le fáil a'ainn chuile lá,
Is le cabhair ár bpócaí tá scoil tógtha
Is áras pobail breá.

O tá go leor le dê anamh fós,
Ach tógfaidh sê roinnt am',
De rê ir a chê ile tógfar sê ipê al,
Is beidh an tAifreann Gaeilge a'ainn ann,
Beidh an mhuintir thiar ag tíocht aniar,
Le sclê ip is spórt is spraoi,
Is beidh fáilte is fê asta roimh gach ê inne,
I Ráth Cairn Glas na Mí.

Tá a leathchê ad bliain seo curtha a'm dhiom,
Is nach ait mar a d'imigh an t-am,
Tá cnámha na glúine a tháinig romhainn,
Faoi shuaimhneas sínte a'ainn ann,
Ach beidh an t-aos óg a thiocfas fós,
Ag inseacht ár scêal faoi,
Is beidh an Ghaeilge bheo le fáil go deo,
I Ráth Cairn Glas na Mí.

in print in Micheál Ó Conghaile, eag {ed}: 'SLAINTE - Deich mbliana de Chló Iar-Chonnachta'. Indreabhán: Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 1995 (as well as - to the best of my memory - in 'Croch Suas É!' - same editor

I like the internal rhymes! The tune is similar to 'Skibbereen', but the tempo is more upbeat.
Aine - your new web design looks nice and I see you added alot of links on your pages (but aren't some songs missing?)

Subject: Amhrán Ráth Cairn
From: Philippa
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 02:46 PM

some corrections - 'barr' shouldn't be capatalised
every time you see an ê, change it to é!
é = e/ =é

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rath Cairn Glas na Mi
From: Jim
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 08:02 AM

Philippa and Aine, Go raibh mile maith agaibh! Bhi me arlorg an amhran sin le fado; bhi na focal a dhith ar cara agam i nAlbain.

When I was in Ireland last year I heard two songs for which I had practically given up hope of finding the words. But perhaps your prodigious resources might help me with these too.

One was a song from the Famine and I remember this line from it: "Mr. Joyce ta an workhouse lan"

The other was called Oganaigh Og- I can remember no lines now.

Not a lot to go on I'm afraid! Ach ta suil agam go mbeidh mi fortunach leibhse.

Slan go foill.

Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rath Cairn Glas na Mi
From: Philippa
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 02:22 PM

the songs are: 1) Johnnie Seoighe (tá an workhouse lán). I think it's in Croch Suas É and on a recording by John Beag O Flaitheartha- though he wouldn't be the only singer who's recorded it and 2)A Óganaigh Óg (I think)which should be on Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin's CD A Stór is a Stóirín.
A bheil Ga\idhlig na h-Alba agad? Chifear dhomh gu bheil thu a' mioscadh an da\ ca\nan ri cheile.

Subject: Johnny Seoighe
From: Philippa
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 02:36 PM

a websearch for Johnny Seoighe shows various sites with playlists and recordings for sale. At Celtic Currents you might be able to hear Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill singing the song on Program CC-H-1. I'll repeat this message on a new thread; it would be better to continue discussion of a different song on its own thread. ARe you seeking the lyrics too, Jim?

Subject: A Ógánaigh Óig
From: Philippa
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 03:10 PM

A Ógánaigh Óig - the Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin CD on which this song is recorded is entitled An Dara Craiceann. I'd given you the title of her children's album. I can get you the lyrics and translation, but not the tune. When I have the lyrics typed out, I'll start a new thread. And I've e-mailed Áine to alert her to your request for Johnny Seoighe. If Áine doesn't have the lyrics, maybe Martin Ryan or Antaine can provide them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rath Cairn Glas na Mi
From: Áine
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 07:42 PM

A Philippa agus Jim,

Tá mé ró-ghnoithach anois direach ag ullmhú dinnéir. Nuair a bheidh sé ite, beidh me ar ais agus leis an t-amhrán. Ceart go leor? Slán go fóill, Áine

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHNNY SEOIGHE
From: Áine
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 09:14 PM

JOHNNY SEOIGHE

Johnny Seoighe tuig mo ghlór is mé a' tíocht le dóchas faoi do dhéin
Mar is tú an réalt eolais is deise lóchrainn as mo shúil ag teampall Dé
Is tú bláth na hóige is deise ghlorthaí dhearc mo shúil ó rugadh mé
Agus as ucht Chríost is tabhair dhom "relief" nó go gcaitear Oíche Nollag féin.
_______
Agus lá arna mhárach fuair mé an páipéar is nach mé bhí sásta agus chuaigh mé 'un siúil
Is ní bhfuair mé freagra bith an lá sin ach mé féin 's mo pháistí bheith amuigh faoin drúcht
Tá mé tuirseach, sciúrtha, feannta, oibrithe, gearrthaí ó neart a' tsiúil
Is a "Mhister Joyce" tá an "workhouse" lán is ní ghlacfar ann isteach níos mó
________
Is nach mór an clú dho bhaile Charna an fhad 's tá an lanúin seo dhul thrí
Mar is deise 's breáichte dreach na mná ná 'n "morning star" nuair a éiríonn sí
Tá 'n bhanríon tinn is í go lag 'na luí is deir dochtúirí go bhfaighidh sí bás
Is é fios a húdair léir mar deir siad liomsa nuair nach bhfuil sí pósta ag "Mister Joyce".
________
A chairde,

Fuair mé an t-amhrán seo ar an cheirnín 'Amhráin ar an Sean-Nós". Casann é ag Colm Ó Caodháin as Carna, Co. na Gaillimhe. Seo daoibh na nótaí (i mBéarla) san leabhar beag a tháinig in éineacht leis an cheirnín:

"A song dating from famine times (aimsir an droch shaoil). When Indian meal was being distributed as relief to the people, a Mr. Joyce (Seoighe) was organising the scheme in the Carna district. A local poet, said to be Tomás Shiúnach, wrote this song in praise of Joyce and his wife, in the hope of getting some extra relief for himself and his family. The song is a mixture of exaggerated praise and pathetic pleading. The last two lines of verse 3 are intriguiing as they suggest that the reason for the Queen's illness is the fact that she is not the wife of the said Mr. Joyce. The singing of Colm Ó Caodháin here is quite unique in that he has several notes which he holds over a number of beats, with one note in each of the three verses being particularly long. These long wailing notes are reminiscent of keening."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rath Cairn Glas na Mi
From: Jim
Date: 27 Aug 99 - 08:50 AM

Go raibh mile math agaibh!

A Philippa, ta an ceartas agad,, go bhuil me ag mioscadh Gaelige agus Gaidhlig na h-Albain. Thosu me ar Gaelige nuair a bhi me nam phaisd ag sgoil na Braithrean Criosdaidh (i nSasuinn!), ach, ar sail sin, chuir me seachad bliadhnaichean ar Gaidhealteachd na h-Alba. Mar sin, is docha go bhuil me nios fluirseache i nGaelige na h-Albain anois, ceart go leor...

Ta tu ceart go ba choir duinn "thread" ur a thosadh ar focal Oganaigh Og agus Johnny Seoighe.

Ta bron orm na rinne me buareach, agus is se sin a chead uair a ta me ag usaid an seirbhis miorbhealteach at ta seo!

Go raigh mile maith agaibh uile a ris!

Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rath Cairn Glas na Mi
From: Philippa
Date: 27 Aug 99 - 09:02 AM

Jim, You're still mixing the two languages or dialects, Jim. It's fascinating to me. Tha mi a' tuigsinn a h-uile rud, co-dhiù. Áine also added the Johnny Seoighe lyrics to its own thread. I hope you found the new thread on which I supplied lyrics for A Ógánaigh Óig.

Subject: Lyr Add: Amhrán Rath Cairn
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 20 May 03 - 12:25 PM

I've started reading bits of a book by Éamon Ó Ciosáin about a radical Irish language newspaper An t-Éireannach which was published in the years 1934-37. One of the three people who founded it was Sorcha Ní Ghuairim (1911-1977) who we know as a singer. There is a chapter in the book about Rath Cairn and a song by another well-known singer, Darach Ó Cathain, is given in the appendix. This is an older and gloomier "Amhrán Rath Cairn" and I think Ciarán Ó Fathartha had it in mind when he composed his own song.

The establishment of a new east-coast Gaeltacht in Co. Meath was controversial. Shop keepers in the west didn't want to loose their customers (though weren't people emigrating anyway?), would people loose their Irish if they moved east?, why should they given land for free?, etc.
But although the families who moved to Rath Cairn had a good start-up package, they were then left to fend for themselves. There was scandal over some selling farms and moving to England. (I may correct or add detail when I read some more, or maybe someone with more knowledge of the subject will add information to this thread).
Rath Cairn has changed, but it has survived as a community which is largely Gaelic speaking and proud to be so.

AMHRÁN RÁTH CAIRN
Darach Ó Cathain

Tá scéala náireach anois ag tarlú anseo i lár na Mí,
Ag díol na h-áite gan cead ón Státa a fuaireadar gan pingin,
'S gur seafoid ghránna ' bheith tarraingt páipéir amach as beainc átha Buí

San am ar tharla go raibh an áit seo faighte 's na taltaí seo le roinnt,
Bhí siad as Carna, as Bun a' Charnáin, as Garomna is Tír 'n Fhia,
Ag rith 's ag gárdáil is iad míshásta, ' faireadh ar TD's,
Nach mór a' fál [feall?] gur tugadh aird ar fhear a' bháinín bhuí.

Lár an Mhárta th'éis bliain is ráithe is ea shocraigh siad ann síos,
Bhí díol trí ráithe de bhia is d'earraí de chuile chineál ní,
Bhí coinnle bána ann 's bagún Spáinneach 'gus tine bhreá romhab [romhaibh] thíos,
Buicéad láidir 'gus miasa bána is iad lán de bainne buí.

Beidh cliú 'gus cáil s' beidh caint go brách ar a bhfuaireadar gan pínn,
Céachtaí 's háraí 'gus barraí adhmaid is deich fichead ins a' mí,
Cuinneog álainn 's í 'stigh ibhfráma, 's bhí'n chuid eile lán de tuí,
'Gus bó fíor-álainn den Shorthorn 's í tál an bhainne buí.

Bhí go leor den dream seo a raibh acab [agaibh] áitiú agus maireachtáil mhaith saoil,
'S ní raibh aon chall dhóib' bheith chomh cráite ag iarraidh dhul go Meath,
Bhídis an-tsásta ag iasc 's ag báirnigh 'gus neart de chuile ní,
Sléibhte álainn, common laidir is féarach bó 'gus laoi

Dá mbeadh a'msa peann is píosa páipéir scríobhfainn é seo síos
Is thabharfainn cáil mhaith ar a' máistir, Seán Ó Coisdealaí,
'Sé aon fhear amháin a throid an cás seo 's ní raibh sásamh 'bith dhó faoi,
Ach go bhfuil go leor den dream seo ' bhfuil acab áitiú bheadh ag maireachtáil.