Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann

Subject: RE: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: RunrigFan
Date: 05 Mar 21 - 05:59 PM

O Seathan, o Seathan of the souls,

Hù rù na hur i bhi ò

Own son to my King from Tìr Chonaill

Na bhi hao bhò hao bhi ò an



Oft have I lain beneath thy cloak;

If I did it was not in a homestead,

But in a green hollow in a tree-sheltered field,

Under the slope of the rugged blue peaks,

The wind from the glens with a sough taking

Its fill from the first burgeoning of spring.

Many a glen and ben we traversed,

I was in Islay I was in Mull with you,

I was in the land of the nuns with you,

I was in Ireland, I was in Latium with you,

I traversed Brittany and Burgundy with you,

I traversed the Mainland and the Mearns with you

I traversed the Boyne, I traversed Munster with you,

I heard mass in Cill Chumha with you,

I heard the music of the fairy mansions with you,

I drank a draught from the well of wandering with you.

O brown-haired Seathan, thou gentle hero,

Small is the place in which I would put thee,

Between Brìde and her soft kerchief,

Between a fair virgin and her silken mantle.

But Seathan is in the lonely chamber,

Without drinking of cups or goblets,

Without drinking to music, without kiss from seductive

women,

But strait bands on his shoulders

And looped bands on the bier poles.

I am a sister of Aodh and yellow-haired Brian,

I am a kinswoman of Fionn Mac Cumhaill,

I am the wife of brown haired Seathan the wanderer,

I am a poor, sad, mournful, sorrowful wife.

Subject: RE: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: RunrigFan
Date: 05 Mar 21 - 05:58 PM

From Griogair Labhruidh and Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhride
Guaillibh a Chéile

This song is traditionally sung as a walking song and it was recorded from a few people in the outer isles that style. Despite this, the song’s theme is that of a lament and and it was recorded in this slower more medatitive idiom by both Cathy Ann MacPhee and Mary Smith. In the song a woman laments the death of her lover; Seathan, ‘son of the king of Ireland’, a man who was, according to aural tradition, a kind of rogue. In this story Seathan has been killed by an old hag who despised him called ‘the three horned hag’. The song belongs to a genre of Gaelic folklore called The Cycles of the Kings which differs from the Fenian tales. This version of the song is based on two that were collected in the 19th century in both the Island of Barra and in Morvern (North Argyll) by the prolific folklorist, Alexander Carmicheal.


A’ Sheathain, a’ Sheathain nan anam,

Hù rù na hur i bhi ò

Dhearbh Mhic mo Rìgh à Tìr Chonaill,

Na bhi hao bhò hao bhi ò an


s tric a laigh mi fo t’ earradh; (reapeat chorus)

Ma laigh, cha b’ ann aig a’ bhaile, (reapeat chorus)

Ach lagan uain an cluain a’ bharraich (reapeat chorus)

Fo leth-thaobh nan gorm-bheann corrach, (reapeat chorus)

Gaoth nan Gleann le gaoir a’ gabhail. (reapeat chorus)

Tula-làn dhen nodhas earraich. (reapeat chorus)

’S iomadh gleann is meall a shiubhail sinn, (reapeat chorus)

Bha mi ’n Ìle ’s bha mi ’m Muile leat, (reapeat chorus)

Bha mi ’n tìr nan cailleachan dubha leat, (reapeat chorus)

Bha mi ’n Èirinn bha mi ’n Liutha leat. (reapeat chorus)

Thaisteal mi ’Bhreathann ’s a’ Bhruthann leat, (reapeat chorus)

Thaisteal mi ’Mhòrthìr ’s a’ Mhuthairn leat, (reapeat chorus)

Thaisteal mi ’Bhoinn, thaisteal mi ’Mhumha leat, (reapeat chorus)

Dh’èist mi aifreann ’s a Chìll Chumha leat, (reapeat chorus)

Dh’èist mi ceòl na sìth-bhrugha leat, (reapeat chorus)

Dh’òl mi deoch à tobar an t-siubhail leat. (reapeat chorus)

A’ Sheathain duinn, a shaoì na mine, (reapeat chorus)

’S beag an t-àit an curinn fhìn thu, (reapeat chorus)

Eadar Brìghde ’s a brèid mìn thu, (reapeat chorus)

Eadar òigh ghil ’s a brat sìod’ thu. (reapeat chorus)

Ach tha Seathan san t-seòmar uaigneach, (reapeat chorus)

Gun òl cupa, gun òl cuaiche, (reapeat chorus)

Gun òl ceòil gun phòg bean buairidh, (reapeat chorus)

Gun cheòl cruite gun cheòl cluaise, (reapeat chorus)

Ceanglaichean teann air a ghualainn (reapeat chorus)

Ceanglaichean dul air na fuaintean. (reapeat chorus)

Piuthar dh’Aoidh ’s a Bhrian bhuidhe mi, (reapeat chorus)

Bana-charaid do Fhionn MacCumhail mi, (reapeat chorus)

Cèile Sheathan donn an t-siubhail mi (reapeat chorus)

Bean bhochd chianail thiamhaidh dhubhach mi. (reapeat chorus)

Subject: RE: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: RunrigFan
Date: 23 Feb 21 - 10:26 PM

O Seathan, Seathan, bereft of life
Own son to my king from Donegal

Often have I lain beneath thy cloak
If I did, it was not in a homestead

But in a green hollow in a tree-sheltered field
Under the slope of the rugged blue peaks

The wind from the mountains sweeping over us
The wind from the glens with a loud sounding whine

Many a glen and ben we traversed
I was in Islay and in Uist with you

I was in Sleat of the yellow-haired woman with you
I was in Iona of the nuns with you

I was in the land of birds and eggs with you
I was in Ireland and in Lathium (Province of Munster)

I travelled to Breathann and to Bruthan with you
I travelled to Mòrthir and to Muthairn with you

I listened to a mass in Cill Cumha with you
I drank from the well of the journeying with you

Subject: RE: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: RunrigFan
Date: 23 Feb 21 - 10:15 PM

Christine Primrose from An Turas

A Sheathain a Sheathain gun anam
Hi ri na ho ro (vocables)
Dhearbh mhic mo righ a Tir Chonaill
na hi ho horo hug o ro

Is tric a laigh mi fo t'earradh
na hi ri na ho ro
Ma laigh cha b'ann aig a' bhaile
na hi ho horo hug o ro

Ach lagan uain an cluain a'bharraich
na hi ri na ho ro
Fo leth-taobh nan gormbheann corradh
Na hi ho horo hug o ro

Gaoth nam beann a'taomadh tharrainn
Hiri ha hi ho ro
Gaoth nam gleann le gaoir a' gabhail
Na hi ho horo hug o ro

'S iomadh gleann is meall a shiubhail sinn
Hiri ha hi ho ro
Bha mi'n Ile m'n Uibhist leat
Na hi ho horo hug o ro

Bha mi'n Slèite nam ban buidhe leat
Hi ri ha hi ho ro
Bha mi'n I nan cailleacha dubha leat
Na hi ho horo hug o ro

Bha mi'n tìr nan ian 's nan uighean leat
Hi ri ha hi ho ro
Bha mi'n Èirinn bha mi'n Liutha leat
Na hi ho horo hug o ro

Thaisteil mi Bhreathann 's a Bhhruthan leat
Hi ri ha hi ho ro
Thaisteil mi Mhòrthir 's a Mhuthairm leat
Na hi ho horo hug o ro

Dh'èisd mi aifreann sa Chill Chumha leat
Hi ri ha hi ho ro
Dhòl mi deich a tobar an t-siubhail leat
Hi ri ha hi ho ro

Subject: RE: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: RunrigFan
Date: 23 Feb 21 - 09:49 PM

Hu ru o na hi ho ro x2

Seathan today is dead
Na hi ho, ho ro hug o ro o

Seathan today is dead
Na hi ho, ho ro hug o ro o

A sad tale to the men of Scotland
Na hi ho, ho ro hug o ro

A joyous tale to his pursuer

I and Seathan crossing the mountain

I was weak but Seathan was strong

Many a glen and ben we travelled

I was in Islay and in Uist with you

I was in Iona of the nuns with you

I was in Ireland in the Province of Munster with you

I heard Mass in Cill Chumha with you

You were son of the King of Tir Chonail

Seathan my brightness of the sun

Woe is me that death has caught you

I would not gift you to the gentle Mary

For fear I would lose you myself

Subject: RE: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: RunrigFan
Date: 23 Feb 21 - 09:48 PM

There are variations

Maggie MacInnes

Hu ru o na hi ho ro x

1. Tha Seathan an diugh na mharabhan
Na hi ho, ho ro hug o ro o

Tha Seathan an diugh na mharabhan
Hu ru o na hi ho ro

2. Sgeul ’s olc le fearaibh Alba
Na hi ho, ho ro hug o ro

3. Sgeul ’s aite le luchd an t-sealga

4. Bannsa Seathan a falbh Slèibhte

5. Mise lag ’s easan treubhach

6. ’S iomadh beinn is gleann a shuibhal sinn

7. Bha mi ’n Ile, bha mi ’n Uibhist leat

8. Bha mi ’n I na cailleacha dubha leat

9. Bha mi ’n Eirinn an Coig Mhumha leat

10. Dh’èist mi n’ Aifrionn ’s a Chill Chumha leat

11. Mac mo righ o Thir Chonaill thu

12. Seathan, Seathan mo ghille grèine Seathan,

13. Och dham dheòin gun do ghlachd an t-eug thu

14. Cha gheitinn do Mhoire Mhìnn thu

15. Air eagal ’s an cailinn fhìnn thu

Subject: RE: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Sep 13 - 04:59 AM

Seathan mac righ Eirinn was the son of the 1st Earl of Donegal. I believe he was much maligned by the Tuders, and that elixabeth`s men in Ireland did a propaganda job on him.

Subject: RE: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: GUEST,duine-saor
Date: 17 Dec 03 - 01:43 AM

Found my copies of Seathan - for those that want a copy, E me.

[e-mail]

As I was saying earlier, a song of great antiquity, (perhaps c. 1300 AD or earlier) originally a lament, then a waulking song.

Something like 200 verses, but I have only a handful in Gaelic, plus the Carmina Gadelica English version (which appears to have all or most of the verses.

Most people only sing 2-4 verses these days.

Tioreadh!

S

Subject: RE: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: GUEST,duine-saor
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 02:53 PM

a charaidh,

RE: Seathann - On reconsidering this tune, I may have confused it with another one I have somewhere. After checking my version, and being unable to find the tune I may have confused it with, I decided to post this in the interest of accuracy:

This is reputedly of great antiquity, originally a lament, but also heard as an orain luaidh (waulking song).

There are several collections of variations of it, though I am uncertain if all the verses are recorded anywhere or not.

I have a set of verses to this somewhere. If anyone is interested, I will try to dig them out and transcribe or scan them.

I have only heard it done a few times, as it is getting to be a rarity. I would say any version Flora MacNeill does is going to be worth hearing.

You or others interested may E me at [e-mail].

le gach durachd math,

Seamus

Subject: RE: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: Brían
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 01:53 PM

you can get a smple of the song here: Flora MacNeil

Sorry i don't know more about the song, but someone who does is bound to come along.

Brían

Subject: RE: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: Brían
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 01:27 PM

Well, for starters, here's a link to the lyrics: SEATHAN MAC RIGH EIREANN

Brían

Subject: Origins: Seathan Mac Righ Eireann
From: GUEST,aderyn_du
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 12:56 PM

Could anyone give me origin information on Seathan Mac Righ Eireann (Seathan-Son of the King of Ireland)? Many thanks in advance!

Best,
Andrea