Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba

Subject: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: Áine
Date: 17 Dec 01 - 09:06 PM

'Bí Meidhreach, a Bhanba' by Prionsias Ó Ceallaigh -- does anyone know this song? I saw it on a list of songs performed by the Dublin Choir. Any info would be appreciated.

Le meas is mise Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Dec 01 - 06:05 PM

Aine, my first thought when I saw the title, was "Let's ask Aine"---grin. What is the translation? That might help a little bit.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: Áine
Date: 19 Dec 01 - 03:57 PM

Hi Sorcha,

My best guess is 'Be Merry, Ireland' -- 'Banba' being an ancient name for Ireland.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: Áine
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 10:04 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 20 Dec 01 - 10:10 AM

It's listed in "Ceol ár Sinsear" by An t-ath Breathnach - who published several books of songs in the first half of the last century. I don't think I have the book but may be able to get a look at a copy over the holiday period if nobody turns up the words.

Regards

p.s.Ó Ceallaigh published a setting in four parts - not sure if he composed the tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: Áine
Date: 21 Dec 01 - 11:15 AM

A Mhairtin,

Go raibh maith agat, a chara. Do you know if the Dublin Choir has a recording available with this song on it?

Nollaig shona dhuit, Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 04:50 AM

I knew someone named Prionsias O Ceallaigh who spoke Irish and was involved in a choir, but I never heard of him composing. I could ask other people who knew him. How early in the last century, Martin?

Subject: Lyr Add: BI MEADHRACH FEASDA, a BHANBA
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 05:51 AM

BI MEADHRACH FEASDA, a BHANBA
Bi meadh-rach feas-da, a Bhan-a-ba'n aoil-chnis, do
A' caoi le fad-a, a Bhan-a-ba, taoi-se, de
Ta'n la ag eas-gairtar mhaith-ibh na tir-e, 'Sbeidh
Bi'n Ghaedhil-ge teang-a cheart flath-a 'gus riogh-na
?'Si'n Ghaedhil-ge teang-a na mull-ach 's na min-chnoc, na

Chlann ce chaill-ead-ar teang-a a sin-sear;
Bhar gur shlad-ad-ar Gall-a do mhin-chnuic; ach
Feis-ean' ac-u'n gach cath-air id riogh-acht-sa
Tuatha De Dan-ann is clann-a maith mi-leadh; an
Rath, na bhfear-ann, na gcar-n, gcoill-te, na

Ta le seal-ad d'a cas adh a-ris ort, ag
'se do mharbh a's do lag-aig do chroidhe 'nnat do
Ceol binn le rann-aibh da spreag-adh ar phiop-a 's ar
Te nar thaith-ig i, geall-aim om chroidhe dhuit, ar
mbeann, na n-abhan ag-us ealt-ain na craoibh-e, 's ni

Conn-radh ac-fuinn-each neart-mhar na gaoidhil-ge,
Chlann ag labh-airt i dteang-ain do naimh-de
Chlair-seach leath-an 'bhi seal-ad ad righ-bhrog.
Stair na sean-a so labh-airt nar chuibhe dho
Thuig-feadh sas-an-ach dad-amh d'a mbinn ghuth

Curfa:
Rai-thi-neach a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag,
Rai-thi-neach a bhean bheag, teang-a na gaoidhil-ge,
Rai-thi-neach a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag, a bhean bheag,
Rai-thi-neach a bhean bheag, cas-fi-mid a-ris i.

Áine, this is a transcription from the old Gaelic of Ceol ar Sinsear. Please excuse any errors , since the text was very difficult to read. -- Donal

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From:
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 07:08 AM

Thank you, Donal

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: Áine
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 08:56 AM

Go raibh míle maith agat, a Dhonal!

Le meas, Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: Áine
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 11:59 AM

Just refreshing this thread to ask if anyone knows of a recording of this song that I could find.

Buíochas, Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: GUEST,Mise
Date: 05 Jan 02 - 07:10 PM

I certainly recognise the chorus. Is this the same as Raitineach a bhean bheag which was recorded either by the Chieftains or by Ceoltóirí Chulainn with Seán Ó Sé (Ó Riada sa Gaiety)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: Noreen
Date: 06 Jan 02 - 06:06 AM

If it is the same song, as Mise says (the chorus appears the same) it was recorded by Ceoltoiri Laighean (I think that is the correct spelling) in the 70s, perhaps- group included Tomas O Cannain and other luminaries.

There has been another thread in the last year mentioning that song- might be hard to find with various spellings, though.

Noreen

Subject: Lyr Add: RAITHNEACH A BHEAN BHEAG
From: Áine
Date: 06 Jan 02 - 10:12 AM

I found this thread, where Big Mick gave us the lyrics to Raithneach a Bhean Bheag:

RAITHNEACH 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.

The chorus is definitely the same, although the verses are quite different from Bí Meidhreach, a Bhanba. Is there anyone who's heard both songs who could tell us how they compare?

Le meas, Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 06 Jan 02 - 05:38 PM

Philippa

Breathnach's books (both Irish and English) were published in the first half of the 20 C. I'm away from library at the moment and can't check dates.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bi Meidhreach, a Bhanba
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 28 Nov 03 - 07:48 AM

Sheet music for this song is published by An Gúm in Dublin
To order, see www.cuplafocal.ie or www.litriocht.com ; these outfits are stockists for An Gúm.

Prionsias Ó Ceallaigh (1909-76) worked as an inspector for the Irish Dept of Education and was founder of a young people's choir in Dublin, "Cantairí Óga Áth Cliath". After his death, the Dept. of Education published a collection of his choral arrangements under the title Fáilte Uí Cheallaigh