Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag

Subject: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Sabine
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 06:25 AM

Hi, among dozens of tapes I found a copy from a group named "sheevón" called "emotions". On this is a great song "raithi neach a bhean bheg". Sounds like a walking-song from Scotland (walking the tweed, I mean...). I can't find the lyrics.

Maybe someone could help again.Thx.

Sabine

p.s.: don't care about the missing fadas *eg*

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Noreen
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 06:43 AM

Don't think it's a waulking song, and I thought it was Irish- it's on an LP I had of a group with Tomás O Canainn- blowed if I can think of the details at the moment.

Subject: Lyr Add: RAITHINEACH A BHEAN BHEAG
From: Big Mick
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 08:43 AM

It's Irish. Here are the lyrics.

RAITHINEACH A BHEAN BHEAG

Do chuireas mo ghearrchaile go Barra n hAoine
Ag iarraidh staimpí nó cácaí mílse,
Nuair a tháinig sí abhaile ní bhlaisfeadh fear an tí é,
Taithineach a bhean bheag déanfaimid arís é.
Raithineach a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag,
Raithineach a bhean bheag, staimpí agus im air,
Raithineach a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag,
Raithineach a bhean bheag is déanfaimid an císte

Tá tigh mór fairsing i mBarra na hAoine;
Bíonn bean acu á ghlanadh is bean eile acu á scríobadh,
Bean eile acu á fháscadh os cionn corcáin ar a dícheall
Is seanbhean ar a corraghiob á leathadh ar an ngríosaigh.

Nuair a ghluaiseann Máire, Siún agus Síle,
Nóra agus Cáit is sásta a bhíd siad,
An juga ar an gclár is a cháirt dá líonadh,
Is mo cheol go brách sibh, a mhná cois Aoine.
Raithineach srl.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Big Mick
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 09:01 AM

And with the fada's no less. **grin**

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 09:05 AM

Do you have a translation and tune, by any chance?

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Sabine
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 11:37 AM

Thank you!

I was not quite sure whether Irish or not but I was able to understand some words. So the possibility that its Irish was quite great.

Thanks again.

Malcom, sorry, the only version I have got is on tape by a group named

Sheevón

The title of the CD is "Emotions". It is a German group. Maybe you'll find it on the net. I will have a look.

Sabine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 12:16 PM

I asked not for myself, particularly, but for others who may want to know more.  The Irish text I had found already, but Mick beat me to posting it.  It was recorded by the Chieftains as Rachamíd a Bhean Bheag, and by Séan Ó Ríada and Ceoltóirí Cualann as Raithineach a Bhean Bheag.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 02:05 PM

a tune of the same name is in 'learn to play the tin whistle',part 1, Armagh pipers club.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Sabine
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 03:59 PM

Malcom: I'm sorry, but no idea. Tried to find it on the web but without success :o(

Sabine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: GUEST,Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 05:59 PM

I assume the group with Tomás Ó Cánainn would have been Na Filí, though I don't know which album of theirs the song would have been on.

Slaynt mie,

Bobby Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Big Mick
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 07:40 PM

I will scan and email the music to THE FAIR ONE and have her post the MIDI of the tune. Perhaps we can get Philippa or Áine to do a translation. My skills are not at the level they should be for a good translation.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Noreen
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 08:17 PM

No Bobby Bob, wasn't na Filí, I'd have remembered that- I think this was pre-na Filí- a loose, session-type format. Can picture the cover...

Subject: Tune Add: RAITHINEACH A BHEAN BHEAG
From: MMario
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 01:15 PM

X:1
T:Raithineach a bhean bheag
N:from philippa
I:abc2nwc
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Bb
z6zB|B B A2G G G F|B2B A c2d d|
w:Do chuir-eas mo ghearr-chai-le go Bar-ra n hAoi-ne Ag
B2A2G2G F|G2G2G2G G/2 G/2|
w:iarr-aidh staim-pí nó cá-caí míl-se,Nuair a
B B A A (G G G) F|B B A A B2c2|
w:tháin-ig sí a-bhaile__ ní bhlais-feadh fear an tí é,
d d c c B2F2|G G G G G2G z|
w:Raith-in-each a bhean bheag déan-fai-mid a-rís é.
D G G G G2A G|F2F D F2F2|
w:Raith-in-each a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag,
D G G G G2G2|A A A F G2G2|
w:Raith-in-each a bhean bheag, staim-pí a-gus im air,
D G G G G2A G|F2F D F2F2|
w:Raith-in-each a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag,
D G G G G2G G|A B A F G2G z
w:Raith-in-each a bhean bheag is déan-fai-mid an cís-te

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Declan
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 05:17 AM

Just for future reference this thread also refers to the same song, although it would not be obvious from the titles.

I think there's already a link from that thread back to this one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: winterchild
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 05:32 AM

I followed the link; I think I've heard the Chieftains version, but I never would have guessed that it's all about potato-cakes!

WinterC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 11:41 AM

my source for the tune is Mánus Ó Baoill, "Ceolta Gael2". Cork: Mercier, 1986. I didn't transcribe it myself, just sent a scan to MMario. gracie, MMario

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: GUEST,dnishuilleabhain
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 04:33 PM

Hi! This song comes from a parish in South Kerry called Dromid, Barr na Haoine which is mentioned in the song is the an area where the Inny River Rises, Aoine is the Irish for Inny.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: GUEST,Eilis
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 05:41 PM

I heard it sung this week by a girl from Dromid, called Roisin Ryan. She was sensational! If you're quick you can hear her in The Echoes of Erin concert tour in Haringey Irish Centre in London on Sat,5th March. Excellent concert, full of star performers!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: RunrigFan
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 06:07 PM

sample from Bevel Jenny

http://www.beveljenny.com/tracks/raithneach.html

Click media-player or real player

Notice how they spell it Raithneach A Bhean Bheag? My gaelic is sketchy, but bheag means big I believe

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: MartinRyan
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 06:18 PM

'Fraid not - beag means small

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: RunrigFan
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 06:22 PM

I remember now, beag is small and Mór is big ;)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: Snuffy
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 02:16 AM

So a lambeg is a little drum?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 03:38 AM

No - it's a little lam! ;>)

It's a placename - Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithi neach, a bhean bheg
From: RunrigFan
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 04:22 AM

Its a drum as well :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Lighter
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 10:11 AM

OK, but what does the title mean?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 01:17 PM

Little Queenly Woman ?
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Felipa
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 01:46 PM

I think Raithnineach is a version of Raithneach - bracken or fern
bracken oh little woman? (perhaps asking for kindling for fire to make the potato bread (steampaí)? Raithineach could also refer to a place name derived from the plant name.

the other version of the chorus, Rachaimid a bhean bheag, would mean "let's go, oh little woman"

There are several versions of the song, different verses.

Another recording to look out for is Seán Corcoran (group "Cran")

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Felipa
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 01:54 PM

yes, it makes sense in the context of the lines that the singer is calling for the "little woman" to gather foliage to assist with making the potato bread (steampaí or the sweet cake (caca milis)

I've read that the song can have sexual inuendo. (but just about everything can if your mind is that way inclined at the time!)

here is another transcription

https://muscrai.wordpress.com/2016/03/26/amhran-an-steampai/

"Béile isea an Steampaí a deintear as siúcra agus prátaí sceite; 'Boxty' mar a deirtear sa Bhéarla. Chanadh Seán Ó Liatháin agus Diarmuidín Maidhcí an t-amhrán so le Ceoltóirí Laighean."
(steampaí or boxty is a dish made with sugar and potatoes. Seán Ó Liatháin and Diramuidín Maidhcí sing this song with Ceoltóirí Laighean [group associated with Seán O Riada])

Amhrán an Steampaí

Is anall o Shasana a tháinig an steampaí
Is thíos i gCorcaigh a cuireadh an slacht air
Do bhí siúcire a dhothain ann is bolmacaí brandaí
'S an té a bheadh á ithe sin, ba mhire ná an stail é

Cúrfá
Is raithineach, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag
Raithineach, a bhean bheag, is deinimís an chíste
Raithineach, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag
Raithineach, a bhean bheag is deinimis arís é

Ar mo ghabháil ó thuaidh dom tri Bharra na h-Ínse
Cé 'chasfaí orm ach an triúr bhan chríonna
Bhi duine acu dá fhuineadh, agus duine acu dá scríoba
Agus duine acu dá scagadh trí thóin an t-seana bhríste

Is raithineach a bhean bheag…

Scilling so ló bhí do chócaire an steampaí
Do bheadh agus coróin, dá ndeinidís i gceart é
Ach do dheinidís a múin air, 's do chimilidís a más dó
'S ina thaobh an slí 'na dheintí é, do bhris sé amach ionam

Is raithineach a bhean bheag…

'Sé an t-athair Donnacadh an dochtúr díochta
An sagart is fearr a tháinig sa tír seo
Do chuirfeadh sé a mhallacht ar lucht steampaí scríobadh
Le h-eagla fiacla na seana bhan chríona

Is raithineach a bhean bheag…

Do chuireas-sa mo chailín-se isteach so shteamer
Ag lorg graiteara chun an steampaí a scríobadh
Ach bhí an nglas ar an ndoras is an eochair age Síle
Seachanaigh an steampaí le heagla na síoltha

Is raithineach a bhean bheag….

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Lighter
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 04:54 PM

Another site tentatively suggests that "Raithineach" is the genitive form of "Raithin," a place name, and that the title might mean "Little (or Dear) Woman of Raheen (in Co. Wexford)."

True? Or malarkey?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Felipa
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 07:06 PM

Lighter, I think it's possible (though I think genitive isnt the correct grammatical in this instance), The spelling would then be Ráithín.
Raithin (with no diacritical marks) and Ráithíneach don't really sound that similar. I don't know why none of the lyric transcriptions I've seen of the song have í rather than i. Do you hear ratchinach or ratcheenach (transliteration)?

Ráithín ia the diminutive form of ráth - an earthen ring fort
There are a lot of places with the name Ráithín in them
http://www.logainm.ie/ga/s?txt=gls:127-r%c3%a1ith%c3%adn

and we can form words with "ach" to say that someone is from a place, for example "Conallach", a native of Tír Chonaill (Donegal)
And as I said before there are also place names based on the plant name raithin, as in Cúil Raithin (no mark, no een sound)

What Jim Carroll is thinking of would be Rioghnach or Ríonach, a woman's name, which means queen-like.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Felipa
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 08:38 PM

on the other thread (link in Declan's post 23 Jan 2003)there is a suggestion that raithineach is a mistake for "rachainn leat" meaning "I would go with you"

As I mentioned earlier, the Chieftain's version is "rachaimid" - we will go - however I havent heard that recording, and I saw lyrics about Ford econoline so maybe it is a joke, the little van (bhean is pronounced rather like the word "van")

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Lighter
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 09:04 PM

Felipa, Fionan Mac Coluim seems to sing "rakhinoakh." (Rural dialect?) The title of the cut is "Raithineach a Bhean Bheag." (Can't do diacritics on my keyboard.)

The Chieftains' version is called "Rachamid...." Don't know what that should sound like.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: michaelr
Date: 24 Oct 16 - 10:38 PM

I think it's "Riding a bean bag".

(Coat gotten)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Felipa
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 08:37 PM

Nicheal, you know Bhean doesnt rhyme with bean. It sounds like van, sort of between van and venn
Rachinach would be a better transliteration than what I wrote previously
for raithineach

when searching for the song, look also for Amhrán an Steampaí (or Staimpí)

youtube - as sung by Sean Corcoran

a bit of Dutch http://www.ronanbrowne.com/cran/CRAN_MUSIC/Home/Entries/2014/11/17_AMHRAN_A_STAIMPI_(Staimpi-lied).html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jan 17 - 04:49 PM

My favorite Irish band, Screaming Orphans, is going to be singing it on their new upcoming album. It/they are amazing and that is one of my favorite songs that they sing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Thompson
Date: 04 Jan 17 - 02:48 AM

Quick 'n' dirty rough translation:

My aul' wan went to Barra na hAoine
Looking for stamps or sweet cakes
When she came home, the man of the house didn't taste it
The little woman made it again.
We'll go, little woman, little woman, little woman,
We'll go, little woman, stamps and butter on it,
We'll go, little woman, little woman, little woman,
We'll go, little woman, and we'll make the cake.

Do chuireas mo ghearrchaile go Barra n hAoine
Ag iarraidh staimpí nó cácaí mílse,
Nuair a tháinig sí abhaile ní bhlaisfeadh fear an tí é,
Taithineach a bhean bheag déanfaimid arís é.
Raithineach a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag,
Raithineach a bhean bheag, staimpí agus im air,
Raithineach a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag,
Raithineach a bhean bheag is déanfaimid an císte

There's a big spacious house in Barra na hAoine
A woman there cleans and another woman scrubs
Another woman doing her best with pots and pans
And an old woman… [doing something or other with the embers]


Tá tigh mór fairsing i mBarra na hAoine;
Bíonn bean acu á ghlanadh is bean eile acu á scríobadh,
Bean eile acu á fháscadh os cionn corcáin ar a dícheall
Is seanbhean ar a corraghiob á leathadh ar an ngríosaigh.

When Máire, Siún and Síle move
Nóra and Cáait are the most satisfied
The judg on the table and its [something] filling
And my music forever to you, women of Aoine.

Nuair a ghluaiseann Máire, Siún agus Síle,
Nóra agus Cáit is sásta a bhíd siad,
An juga ar an gclár is a cháirt dá líonadh,
Is mo cheol go brách sibh, a mhná cois Aoine.
Raithineach srl.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Thompson
Date: 04 Jan 17 - 12:56 PM

Oops, gearrchaile shouldn't be oul' wan, it should be my short wan, and it's the jug on the table, not judg. And in the last verse, the old woman is down on her hunkers strewing the embers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Thompson
Date: 04 Jan 17 - 01:06 PM

Second-last verse, even.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Thompson
Date: 05 Jan 17 - 12:40 PM

Nice version by Sean Corcoran and Desi Wilson of the band Cran, played on Geantraí in 2012 here by the way, under the name Stampaí

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Felipa
Date: 06 Jan 17 - 07:53 AM

Thompson's link leads to the same video as the link I gave as "Sean Corcoran" on 25 Oct. 2016

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: Thompson
Date: 06 Jan 17 - 10:28 AM

Ah, thanks, Felipa, my eye glided over that.

Incidentally, I can't find any translation for 'raithineach' except 'fern', but the word doesn't make any sense in the context.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Raithineach a Bhean Bheag
From: GUEST,Julie
Date: 22 Jun 23 - 12:48 AM

Does anyone have the lyrics to the version Seán Ó Sé sang with Ceoltóirí Chualann on the album Ding Dong back in the ‘60s? The first two verses are pretty much the same as the version provided here but the rest are very different.

Here is a link to the song on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/DCHEQ0KjG4I

Thanks!