Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please

Subject: Lyr Add: COIS ABHAINN NA SEAD
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 11:31 AM

I have another version from Eilís Ní Shúilleabháin in the TG4 Song Archive. The words don't match well in either version. Such is the folk process. The most important version is whatever the singer is singing. I may be challenged to tweak outNollaig Casey's version.

COIS ABHANN NA SÉAD

Cois abhann na séad ar uair roimh a' lae, 's mé ag imeacht fé dhéin mo shláinte,
Mar a mbídís caora 'gus cnó buí ar ghéagaibh is mil bheach 'na shlaod ar bhánta.
Do labhradar na h-éin, do lasadar na spéartha, bhí an fharraige 'na caor- luisne lán suas,
Do mhúscail an ghrian a bhí le sealad mór fé chiach agus d'éirigh an t-iasc 'na lán rith.

Ansúd ar dtúis ar imeallaibh ciúise coille cumhra sea tharla
An fhinne-bhean fhionn gur bhinne liom a tiúin ná an fidil, an fliúit ná 'n cláirseach.
Ba bhreá deas a súil, a mala caol cumtha, a leaca bhí mar chúr na trá amuigh
Ba ghile í ar a píb ná an eala ar an linn is do líon mo chroí le grá dhi.

Nuair a dhearcas í ansiúd mar a bhí an ainnir ba chaoine 's ba bhreátha,
Bhí scáil na gcaor 'na leacain réidh agus fátha bhí 'na gáire.
Dob é an chom slím do lagaigh mé im chroí le taitneamh dá cló 's dá gáire,
Ó bhaitheas go bonn bhí a ciabh léi go trom is a cúl buí go casta fáinneach.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 14 - 12:25 AM

We should also acknowledge the presence of the great Steve Cooney on guitar.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: michaelr
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 06:09 PM

Thank you, Jim.

Subject: Lyr Add: COIS ABHAINN NA SEAD
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 07:23 PM

Sorry about the slips earlier - never post after a late night!
Just scanned down the notes to 'The River of Gems' from The World Library of Folk and Primitive Music (Ireland)
Jim Carroll

COIS ABHAINN NA SEAD
(By the River of Gems)
Sung by Maire Keohane / Maire Mi Cheochain,
Coolea, Co. Cork.

The three songs that follow are all light love songs sung by young women who have learned their blás (idiomatic style) from the same group of old folk singers in the same area. Mary Keohane, aged 25, is by far the most educated, self-conscious and impassioned of the singers. She sings an aisling (dream) poem in which the bard recounts his meeting with a
woman of heavenly beauty, who, at the end of the poem, is discovered to be "troubled Ireland" [a reference to wars and dispossession],

'S annsud ar dtuis dom ar imeall ciumhaise
Coille cumhrtha tharla
An (t-)fhinne-bhean fhionn ba bhinne i ar a tiuin
Na an fidil, an fliuit 's an chlairseach.
Ba bhreagh glas e a s'il, a mala caol cumtha,
A teaca bhi mar chubhar na tragha amuigh;
Ba ghile f ar a pib na an eala ar a' linn,
Agus lionadh mo chroidhe le gradh dhi.

Nuair a dhearcas-sa i anns 'd mar a bhi,
An ainnir ba chiuine breagtitha,
Go raibh scail na gcaor 'na leacain reidh
Agus fatha bhinn 'na g-ire,
Meadhon an chuim do laguigh me im'chroidhe istigh
Le taitneamh d'a clodh is d'a gaire;
O bhathas go bonn bhi a ciabh lei go trom
Is a culbui go casta tainneach.)

Translation:
And it was there at the edge of a fragrant forest
That I met for the first time this fair woman
Whose song is sweeter than the fiddle, the flute or the harp.
Her glance was fresh and clear,
Her eyebrows narrow and shapely,
Her cheek like the foam on the beach,
Her neck whiter than a swan on a pool;
And my heart was filled with love for her.

(When I found there the quietest loveliest lass
With the shine of a bright berry on her smooth cheek,
And a sweet note of music in her laugh.
My heart turned over inside me
At the sight of her slender waist and her smile;
And her hair hanging down from her head to her foot,
Thick and golden and rich with ringlets.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: michaelr
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 05:43 PM

You guys are awesome! Thanks a bunch.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 03:52 PM

That's it, Peter, I'm sure. I have no recollection of hearing it sung before, oddly enough. Nollaig is from Cork, if I remember rightly - though I keep hearing Rinn-like sounds in her Irish!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 03:51 PM

Ok, the recording of Maire Ní C. made by Séamus Ennis can be found on Alan Lomax's World Library of Folk and Primitive Music: Ireland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 03:44 PM

Séamus Ennis collected a version of the song he called 'By the River of Gems' from Maire Ní Chrochain in Cuil Aodha. I think I have some more information, if I can find it, and seem to recall hearing a recording of her singing it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 03:43 PM

Click here

Wonder what all that's about? ;>)>
Definitely the same song.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 03:26 PM

OK. Got it! It's a version of a song usually known as "Cois Abhann na Séad" (i.e. By the River of Jewels). She replaces the opening words with "Ag Dún na Séad.." i.e. At The Fort of Jewels i.e. Baltimore.

I've found a set of words - differing no doubt from Nollaig's version but that's life - complete with translation and will post them shortly.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: michaelr
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 02:20 PM

Thanks Martin, I gathered that about the place. I'm interested in the origin and meaning of the song - it's a very nice air.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 03:07 AM

@michaelr

Do you mean of the place name or the song?

As mentioned earlier, "Dún na Séad" literally means "Fort of the Jewels" and strictly refers to a castle built (late medieval? I'd need to check) by the O'Driscoll clan who were lords of the area, levying taxes on trade and shipping. It's still there - in fact I think it was at least partially restored and occupied in recent times. The name presumably reflects legendary wealth.

"Baltimore" is a more recent name for the area, associated with English settlers (though it too probably has Irish language roots). The American one came later!

I'm not familiar with the song itself - and don't have the patience to transcribe it - but will have a look for a print version when I have a chance.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: michaelr
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 06:34 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: michaelr
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 02:00 PM

Well done, Joe! Thanks a lot.

Does anyone know origins or meaning?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 03:31 AM

Incidentally, pronunciation is roughly

doon-nuh-shade (stress last syllable)

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 03:30 AM

You do indeed - I made out "Dún na Séad" in an early line on first listening! It's the Irish name for Baltimore in West Cork. I used to spend a week or two every year teaching sailing there, many years ago. Beautiful place.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Oct 14 - 02:48 AM

So, I think it's Nollaig Casey singing "Dun Na Sead (Fort of the Jewels)" - it's on her 1995 Causeway album.
Do I win a prize?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: michaelr
Date: 25 Oct 14 - 03:37 PM

Anyone recognize the song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 05:19 AM

Isn't it - sorry, shouldn't post too early in the morning.
You are right about Mise Eire of course - where's me cornflakes!!
Enjoy Knockroughry - wish we were there
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: MartinRyan
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 04:34 AM

Hi Jim

O'Riada used a version of the Roisin Dubh air (featuring French horn) in sound track to Mise Éire, rather than Playboy, IIRC. It's not the song posted by the OP, of course.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 04:29 AM

"Róisín Dubh" (pronounced Ro-sheen dove or Ro-sheen doo, meaning "Black Rose"), written in the 16th century, is one of Ireland's most famous political songs. It is based on an older love-lyric which referred to the poet's beloved rather than, as here, being a metaphor for Ireland. The intimate tone of the original carries over into the political song. It is often attributed to Antoine Ó Raifteiri, but almost certainly predates him.
Originally translated from Irish by James Clarence Mangan, this translation is credited toPádraig Pearse.
The song is named after Róisín Dubh, probably one of the daughters of Aodh Mór Ó Néill, earl of Tyrone in the late 16th Century. The song is reputed to have originated in the camps of Aodh Rua Ó Domhnaill.
Try it without the backing
I seem to remember it was used very effectively by O'Riarda as the theme music for the historic Abbey Theatre production of 'Playboy of the Western World'
Jim Carroll

Roisin Dubh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: MartinRyan
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 04:22 AM

Can't place it at the moment. Appears to be a love song (possibly an aisling or vision type). Maybe Waterford dialect. I'll check a few people.

Regards

p.s. Have to say, I think the synth accompaniment is pretty dreadful! ;>)>

Subject: Lyr Req: Irish Song ID please
From: michaelr
Date: 23 Oct 14 - 08:38 PM

Nollaig Casey is known for her brilliant fiddle playing, but she's also a gifted singer, as evidenced in this video from 1996's Sult concert series.

Can someone please identify the song and what it is about?

TIA,
Michael