Lyr Add: SEAN-DUN NA NGALL

Subject: SEAN-DUN NA NGALL
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 21 May 02 - 07:39 AM

SEAN DÚN NA NGALL

Is grá geal mo chroí thú,
'Thír Chonaill, a stór,
'do luí mar bheadh seod ghlas san fharraige mhór;
Ó gráim thú i gconaí go moch is go mall,
Agus molfaidh mé a choíche thú,
A Shean-Dún na nGall.

Níl contae in éirinn níos deise ná thú,
Níl daoine sa domhan níos fearr cáil is cliú
Ná tá i dTír Chonaill abhus agus thall.
Ó! Bláth bán ár dtíre thú,
A Shean-Dún na nGall.

Tá teanga ár sinsear á labhairt ann go fóill,
Comh milis binn blasta le hamhrán nó ceol,
Na n-aingeal sna Flaithis gan smachtú gan smál,
Ó! Gráim go deo thú,
A Shean-Dún na nGall.

A fairly simple song in praise of County Donegal, Ireland and quite well known in that county. Requested by Ciarili. I'll do a quick rough translation.

Dear old Tír Chonaill, you are the love of my heart
Lying like a green jewel in the great ocean
I love you always, early and late
And I will always praise you, old Donegal

There is no county in Ireland lovelier than you,
No people in the world more famed near and far
Than in Tír Chonaill [Tirconnell]
You are the fair flower of our country, old Donegal

The language of our forebearers is still spoken there
As sweet and melodious as song or music of
The angels in heaven, without blemish,
I will love you forever, old Donegal.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: SEAN-DUN NA NGALL
From: GUEST
Date: 21 May 02 - 08:01 AM

Obviously, the composer of the song didn't have to drive the Letterkenny road from Gweedore on a regular basis!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: SEAN-DUN NA NGALL
From: Jimmy C
Date: 21 May 02 - 10:59 AM

Phillipa, Go raibh mile mait agat. I learned this song when a student at the Gaeltacht in Meenacladdy. That was 45 years ago, I forgot the words and only little snippets would come back now and again. Many thanks.

Guest, I drove around Donegal just last week,(12th and 13th May) from Letterkenny to Church Hill, also visited Falcaragh and other places, It's true that some roads are not great but most are a damn sight better than they used to be. The mountain drive from Church Hill to Bloody Foreland is well paved and almost 90% finished, but still awesome scenery.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: SEAN-DUN NA NGALL
From: GUEST
Date: 21 May 02 - 11:05 AM

I agree, the roads are much better. And there are now Audi dealerships to serve the tourist as well. But the roads are still quite precarious even when well paved.

Especially after pub closing time, when the Donegal motto is "One for the road, one for the ditch"

Very awesome scenery, especially around Bloody Foreland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: SEAN-DUN NA NGALL
From: MMario
Date: 28 May 02 - 11:08 AM

X:1
T:SEAN DÚN NA NGALL
I:abc2nwc
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:D
z4A2|F2D3D|d2A2(F A)|G (E E2)C2|D4
(D E)|F2G2A2|d2f3e|d (A A2)^G|A4
(D E)|F2G2A2|d2f3e|d2A2F2|G4
A B|=c c B3A|B B A3G|F2D2D2|D4z2
w:Is grá geal mo chroí thú,'Thír_ Cho-naill,_ a stór,
w:'do_ luí mar bheadh seod ghlas san fhar-rai_-ge mhór;
w:Ó_ gráim thú i gco-naí go moch is go mall,
w:A-gus mol-faidh mé a choí-che thú,A Shean-Dún na nGall.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: SEAN-DUN NA NGALL
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 28 May 02 - 04:42 PM

thanks Mario. Sheet music can be found in Ó hUrmoltaigh. Ceolta Uladh 4 and in Ó Baoighil, et al Cnusacht de Cheoltaibh Uladh. both out of print.