Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde

Subject: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 09:17 AM

I'm looking for the origins of this widely recorded song- it is cited as Trad but I suspect it was composed by Seán Tuama, according to my research it appears in print in a book by him called An Chóisir Cheoil.

I can't find out whether this is a collection of original works by Sean, a collection of traditional songs, or a mixture. Sean Tuama did compose hymns in Gaelic so it may well be the latter, but it would be nice to know for sure.

Odd if it is composed rather than trad, as this has been recorded by quite a few artists and incorrectly attributed.

If anyone speaks Irish gaelic or has a copy of volume V of An Chóisir Cheoil they might be able to help me out and solve this mystery!

Thanks, Corwen

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: GUEST,999
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 10:19 AM

Don't know if this will help at all. (Attributions of songs on the internet are done in a very slip-shod manner.)

https://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0111&L=old-irish-l&F=P&P=1121

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 10:42 AM

Thanks for that, I had already found that link which is how I knew about the link to Sean Tuama, but thanks for looking.

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 11:33 AM

Note that what the reference says is that Ó Tuama was first to publish the song in a book he edited. Nothing so far to suggest he wrote it.

I don't have a copy of An Cóisir Cheoil but will make some enquiries.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 11:52 AM

I think it says it first appears in print in An Cóisir Cheoil, as far as I can tell.

As you say there is nothing to suggest he wrote it, but nothing to suggest he didn't either and its nice to be sure! Many thanks for your efforts!

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 31 Dec 11 - 01:42 PM

Yes - "i gcló" literally means "in print". Sense is "published".

Any reason to think Ó Tuama wrote it? He was sufficiently well known that the ascription would be likely to be public knowledge - especially to people like Padraigín ní hUallacháin who, IIRC, is mentioned as having recorded the song.


Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 01:49 PM

reasons to think hew wrote it? Well I don't know whether the book it is published in is a book of collected trad songs or also includes his own work, plus he wrote similar songs. I also know how frequently composed works get attributed to 'Trad', I can only imagine this is even more common when they are published initially in a language not spoken by many of the people who perform the song.

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 04:48 PM

Not a problem - I should be able to check the original (a pamphlet rather than book, I think) over the next few weeks.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 06:46 PM

An Chóisir Cheoil was a set of ten small pamphlets edited by Ó Tuama and published by An Claisceadal Cois Life. I have a copy of one of the set (No. 7) in a 1962 reprint (no mention of the original date).

They consist of sets of songs in Irish with musical notation - both staff and tonic solfa. Probably intended for schools? In the copy I have, some - but not all - songs have brief notes by O Tuama on sources, where known. In this instance, there is nothing to suggest he wrote any of them.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: MartinRyan
Date: 01 Jan 12 - 07:06 PM

For an addition to the HEAnet reference given above:

Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: GUEST,John Gillen
Date: 25 Nov 14 - 05:04 PM

While Seán Óg Ó Tuama was the first to publish the music of 'Gabhaim Molta Brighde' (and it is likely that he composed the tune), the words were written in 1902, in London, England, by Tomás Ó Flannghaile. Known in English as Thomas Flannery, he was born in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, in 1846. At the age of seven, his family moved to England, where he spent the rest of his life, working mainly as an teacher of English. He was active from an early age in the Irish language literary revival; in 1879 he translated one of Walt Whitman's poems into Irish.

For those who read Irish, a biographical article about Tomás Ó Flannghaile is available on the excellent ainm.ie website:

http://www.ainm.ie/Bio.aspx?ID=73

Subject: Lyr add: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: Felipa
Date: 10 Jan 22 - 06:55 PM

GABHAIM MOLTA BRIDE

Gabhaim molta Bríde
Ionmhain í le hÉireann
Ionmhain le gach tír í
Molaimis go léir í         
                         
Lóchrann geal na Laighneach
‘Soilsiú feadh na tire
Ceann ar óghaibh Éireann
Ceann na mban ar míne         
        
Tig an gheimhreadh dian dubh
Gearradh lena ghéire
Ach ar Lá ‘le Bríde
Gar dúinn Earrach Éireann

TRANSLATION

I praise Brigid
Beloved in Ireland
Beloved in all countries
Let us all praise her

The bright torch of Leinster
Shining throughout the country
The pride of Irish youth
The pride of our gentle women

The severe dark winter comes
Cutting with its sharpness
But on Brigid’s Day
Spring is near to Ireland

recording by Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dNRPcPpeI4

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: Felipa
Date: 30 Jan 23 - 04:59 PM

another source of information about Tomás Ó Flannagh>aile, author of "Gabhaim Molta Brighde" and also "Dóchas Linn Naomh Pádraig", a hymn to St Patrick:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~oflannery/bio/bioTOF18461916.htm

another spelling of Ionmhain in verse 1 is ionúin but I'd say ionmhain represents the pronunciation better, at least in Ulster and Connacht dialects.
Bríde is the modern spelling of Brighde

Subject: RE: Origins: Gabhaim Molta Brighde
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 11 Aug 23 - 01:56 PM

While Seán Óg Ó Tuama was the first to publish the music of 'Gabhaim Molta Brighde' (and it is likely that he composed the tune), the words were written in 1902, in London, England, by Tomás Ó Flannghaile.

Half trad:
Lyrics are new as above. It stayed a poem for about fifty years or so.

Somewhere around mid-century, not sure on the exact year, Seán Óg Ó Tuama set the words to existing plainsong based on the centuries old hymn Ave Maris Stella.