Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)

Subject: Two Conneelys
From: Alison
Date: 09 Jul 97 - 07:01 AM

Hi

Heard Christy Moore doing this song about two fisherman who die at sea called "The two Conneelys". ANyone out there know the lyrics? I'd also be grateful for a translation of the gaelic in the chorus.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TWO CONNEELYS (Christy Moore)
From: alison
Date: 12 Jul 97 - 12:14 AM

Hi

Managed to transcribe this myself off a video. Anyone any ideas about the lyrics with a "?", I know the area he's singing about, (well vaguely) but I can't think off anywhere called "Sing's chair."

The Gaelic bit I've done phonetically. If anyone can do it properly, or add a translation, I'd be grateful.

THE TWO CONNEELYS
Christy Moore

Bm              Em                     Bm
Near the Atlantic's seething swell
              Em                      Bm
Hear the lonesome chapel bell,
                        C                               Bm
God save their souls and mind them well.
    C/Am Bm                 Em
The two fishermen Conneely.

Yesterday at half past four,
They pushed their curragh from the shore.
One took the net while one took the oar.
The two fishermen Conneely.

From Connor's Fort and from Sings chair (?)
Towards Inishmore and Inisheer,
They scan the sea in silent prayer
As they go searching their labours.

De ye leeve bar teese cara-bra,
Boch-may har-nash har bor-am tra,
Gan-may-ef san-ha sas-ta harn yav,
Der moss fish-or-man Conneely

(Instrumental)

Throw(?) the seaweed on the hill,
Sow potatoes in the drill.
Try to understand God's will
And the loss of the two Conneelys

Repeat 1st verse

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Two Conneelys
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 18 Jul 97 - 07:51 AM

Alison

Having just had a week of songs/tunes at the Willy CLancy Festival in Clare, I went to Inishmaan in the Aran Islands to recover. I sat in Synge's Chair! Its a view- point over the sound between Inishmaan and Inishmore, the next Island.The playwright J M Synge is supposed to have loved the spot when he stayed on the island years ago.

Connor's fort is a "dun" or stone fort of early christian (?) origin.

Regards

Subject: RE: Two Conneelys
From: ALison
Date: 18 Jul 97 - 11:23 PM

Hi

Martin, long time no see, (or should that be hear/read!)

Thanks very much.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: Two Conneeleys - info? words?
From: GUEST,Ian HP
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 03:08 PM

Anybody know the background to this song? Author or trad.? Words? Where I can find it?

Subject: RE: Two Conneeleys - info? words?
From: MartinRyan
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 04:49 PM

Any more info? Singer? Type? A few words? We'll try!

Regards

Subject: RE: Two Conneeleys - info? words?
From: Mbo
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 05:13 PM

Hi! "The Two Conneelys" is a VERY cool song, and can be found on the album "King Puck" from 1993 by Christy Moore. I heard this song sung by Christie not to long ago on The Thistle & Shamrock. Unfortunetly, I can't find any info about the song, author, et al. I didn't tape it when I heard it (I know, bad idea) so I can't write out the words, and noone on the net seems to have it either. I'll keep looking though...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Two Conneeleys - info? words?
From: Áine
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 05:25 PM

Someone correct me if I'm wrong; but, I believe that' a song by(?) Christy Moore and Micháel Ó Suilleabháin that can be found on the King Puck album/cd. Unfortunately, I don't know the words, though.

-- Áine

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TWO CONNEELEYS
From: Den
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 08:08 PM

Christy sys he was on the island of Inis Maan when the two conneeleys were lost off Inis Iarr

The Two Conneeleys

Hear the Atlantic seethe and swell
And hear the lonely chapel bell
God save their souls and mind them well
Tomas and Sean Conneeley

Yesterday at half past four
They pushed their currach from the shore
One took the net while one took the oar
The two fisherman conneeley

From Conor's fort and from Synge's chair
Towards Inis Mor and Inis Iarr
They scout the sea in silent prayer
As they go searching for their neighbours

Dia diob a beiir iascairi brea
nac mbeid ar ais ar barr an tra
Go mbeid sib sona sasta ar neam
Tomas agus Sean o' Congaile

(I'm not sure if I have my Irish spelling right here maybe Aine could help)

Draw the seaweed up the hill
And sow potatoes in the drill
Try to understand God's will
And the loss of the two Conneeleys

Hear the Atlantic seethe and swell
And hear the lonely chapel bell
God save their souls and mind them well
Tomas and Sean Conneeley

C. Moore and W. Page
Hope this helps. Den

Subject: RE: Two Conneeleys - info? words?
From: alison
Date: 22 Apr 00 - 09:30 AM

Here's an earlier thread where I did the gaelic bit phonetically and Martin Ryan gave an explanation of some of the place names....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Two Conneelys
From: GUEST,Crazy Eddie
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 09:26 AM

I've never heard the song, so I'm only going on the phonetic version, but I think caught some of it. This is just a "best guess tho'. No guarantees.

De ye leeve bar teese cara - bra, = Dia libh beirt, cara brach = God with you both, good friends Boch-may har-nash har bor-am tra, = XXXX-XXX arnais thar bar an tra = XXXX-XXX back over the beach?? *doubtful* Gan-may-ef san-ha sas-ta harn yav, =XXX-XXX-XX sona sasta ar neamh = XXX-XXX-XX happy and contented in heaven

XXX means I have no idea.

Hope someone who knows the song can assist! Eddie :o)

Subject: RE: Two Conneelys
From: Áine
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 10:51 AM

Dear alison,

Here are the Irish words and the English translation you're looking for:

Dia libh a bheirt iascairí bhreátha
Nach mbeidh ar ais ar barr na trá
Go raibh sibh sona sásta ar neamh
Tomás is Seán Ó Conghaile

God be with you two fine fishermen
Who will not be back at the top of the strand
May you have peace and happiness in Heaven
Tomás and Seán Conneely

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Two Conneelys
From: Callie
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 11:18 AM

Many thanks Aine - you've helped me tremendously. Callie

Subject: RE: Two Conneelys
From: alison
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 08:58 PM

Thanks Aine.... I knew you'd know it..

go raibh mi/le maith agat

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Two Conneelys
From: Áine
Date: 01 Jun 00 - 09:56 PM

Tá fáilte romhaibh mo chairde. You're welcome, my friends.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Two Conneelys
From: GUEST,Glendan
Date: 15 Dec 04 - 09:32 PM

anyone have the REAL lyrics? not the translation? i did a search for "na conghailí", which im pretty sure is the title, but i couldnt find anything~_~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: Alice
Date: 12 Mar 05 - 09:38 PM

Just heard this lovely song sung by Christy Moore on Thistle and Shamrock. Any more info about it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneeleys
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 10:26 PM

I could trace this song only so far as to the Ragus CD 'An Seo' which is found here:

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6340719/a/Ragus:+An+Seo.htm

The Thistles and Shamrocks playlist

(http://thistleradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=44&Itemid=91)

of October Second, where I heard the song, lists it as: Rights of Man/The Two Conneeleys...by Fergal O'Murchu, Maurice Lennon, Gary Roche and friends from Ragus an seo (Gael Linn)
Sorry I can't help more

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneeleys
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 07:29 AM

I was on the Island of Inis Meain when the Conneeley brothers were lost out of Inis Iarr..I began to write the lyric that very day and sent it to Wally Page who wrote the beautiful melody. I recorded it in the 90s on an album called King Puck. It has been covered a few times and has, on occasion, been credited as 'Traditional'. While it is gratifying to have one's song covered by another singer I found it heartwarming to have the song so credited.Christy Moore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneeleys
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 09:29 AM

Thank you, Sir!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: GUEST,Callie
Date: 28 May 11 - 06:15 AM

Thank you Christy. beautiful song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: David Ingerson
Date: 01 Mar 15 - 11:06 PM

Brendan Begley has recorded a simple and wrenching version of this song on his newest album, Fé Scáth (In the Shadow). One reason the song is so powerful is its simplicity, both in terms of economy of words and also the juxtaposition of the simple, everyday images.

Which brings me to my question. Every word and image in the song adds to its overall strength, except--for me--the word "neighbours." I can make little sense of the line "as they go searching for their neighbors." My first impression was that their neighbours might have been lost at sea and the Conneeleys were searching for them. But that's highly unlikely--you search on the shore for people who have been lost at sea. Maybe shoals of fish are their neighbours? Maybe they are fishing for the community and their neighbours?

Can anyone help me with this?

Cheers,

David

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 04:00 AM

From Conor's fort and from Synge's chair
Towards Inis Mor and Inis Iarr
They scout the sea in silent prayer
As they go searching for their neighbours


The whole verse refers to the people of Inishmaan on the lookout for the two Conneely men, their neighbours.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: GUEST,Fergie sans cookie
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 10:31 AM

Christy Moore was on holiday with his family on the island of Inis Meain when two brothers from a neighbouring island Inis Iarr were lost and drowned from their small fishing boat. When the alarm was raised the people of Inis Meain began searching the seashore to see if the bodies of the brothers had washed up on their island. Christy and his family were involved in the search and they witnessed the sorrow and grief of the gentle people of Inis Meain as they searched the remote and lonely places of the island for the bodies of the brothers. There is much intermarriage between the two communities and ties of family and neighbourlyness run deep. Christy wrote the words and some of the air to this seemingly simple song, but as a frequent visitor and friend to the people of Inis Meain I can attest that he captured the mood and feeling of the incident to perfection.

Christy Moore is a very gentle and caring person and although he was on holiday with his family at the time of this incident he organised and performed a free concert for the islanders. The occasion of the concert is well remembered on Inis Meain and Christy's generosity and kind-hearted gesture will never be forgotten by the proud inhabitants of that beautiful and sacred little island.

Fergus Russell

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 11:30 AM

Thanks, Fergus.

Martin

P.s. We'll be there for the first week of June this year, if you're about.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: GUEST,Beachcomber
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 12:05 PM

It is customary, among the fishing communities, everywhere around the Irish coast, to gather and search , both at sea and on the shoreline, for those recently drowned. I'm sure that the same tradition exists in all communities but, as I belong to a small one on the Co.Waterford coast and have, several times in my 75 years had the sad duty of engaging in such a search, I can speak from experience also. Two young friends of mine were the victims on one of those tragic occasions and fishermen from the neighbouring counties as well as some from farther on were well represented in both the search parties and the funeral corteges.
That is the traditional way and it prevails and it is good, both for those who involve themselves and for the bereaved families. There must be many, many similar songs from all around Ireland and, indeed, all around the world, where tragedy occurs.
Good man Christy Moore, he knows about community.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: David Ingerson
Date: 02 Mar 15 - 07:47 PM

GRMA, Peter, Fergie, and Beachcomber. And nice to see your presence, Martin. I'm sure you would have set me straight, too.

Obviously, I had totally misinterpreted the point of view of that verse, thinking that it was the brothers who were doing the "searching." The lyrics are even more dense that I'd thought!

The more I think about it, the more I realize that Christy has successfully reflected the old style of Irish song, full of images and emotion but very thin on the actual story narration.

Is láidir an amhrán é sin.

Cheers,

David

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 03 Mar 15 - 09:47 AM

If I were singing the verse about the searchers, I would change 'they' to 'we.'

From Conor's fort and from Synge's chair
Towards Inis Mor and Inis Iarr
We scout the sea in silent prayer;
We're searching for our neighbours.
==========

Long ago I read that some branch of the United Nations says that deep-sea fisherman is the most dangerous job in the world. I'm now in favor of farmed fish.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: David Ingerson
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 12:47 AM

Good suggesstion, Leeneia. Thanks.

One other slight variation in Brendan's version. He sings, "They scour the sea..."

Cheers,

David

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 03:24 AM

A small point: the smallest of the Aran Islands is called Inis Oirr, in Irish, and Inishere in English.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 06:42 AM

Yes, sorry. I cut and pasted that verse from way up the thread without checking. But surely Inisheer is the more common form in English, isn't it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Two Conneelys (Christy Moore)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 06:55 AM

Oops! You're right, of course, Peter. A case of the pedant putting his foot in it! ;>)>

Regards