Origin: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile (P Ó Máille)

23 Jun 00 - 09:29 PM (#246815)
Subject: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Cailín na gruaige doinne

Hi, Can anybody tell me about this song? It´s one of the most beautifull song I´ve ever heard!

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23 Jun 00 - 09:35 PM (#246820)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Brendy

I have the words of it here somewhere, but I know no history of it.

I can post the words tomorrow, if you want, if nobody gets there before me.

B.

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23 Jun 00 - 09:44 PM (#246824)
Subject: Lyr Add: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile
From: GUEST,Angun

This is the words that I´ve got:

O, a Shliabh geal gCua ná féile is fada uait i gcein mé
I`m Shuí cois cuain imáonair og tréighlag faoi bhrón
Ab tuile bhui ar thaobh diom idir mé`gus tir na chléibhe
Mar a shliabh geal gcua nach gear é mo sceol
Dá mbidhinnse imeasce mo gaolta i sceichin glas na séimbhfear
Nuaír a scaipeann teas na greine ann ón speir ghil gan small
Nú dá mbidhinn ansuid faoin réaltainn nuair thiteann drúcht ar fhear ann
ó, a shliabh geal gcua nár dheirc sín da mb´fheidir i dhail

Mo léan, ná fuaireas tógaint le léann is mórchuid eolais
I ngaodhealuinn uasal cheolmhar ba sheolta mo bhéal
Da threabhainn cuairt thar sáile is do bhearfainn bua thar barr chuagat
Mar a shliabh geal gcua ba bhrea liom thúi ardach i réim
Mo Ghrása thall na Déise idir bhanta gleannta is shleibhte
O snamhas anall thar tréamhuir táim treighleach gan bhri
Ach, O ba thoil le Dia mé ghlaoich as mp shlansa siar og héirinn
Agus slán le sliabh na féile le saor gheann óm`chroi


I don`t know any history, just that I think some person that moved fromn Ireland to Wales wrote it.

And yes, It´s a BEAUTIFUL song. One of my favorites too!

All the best, Angun

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23 Jun 00 - 09:49 PM (#246827)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Angun

Sorry!It should be "moved from Ireland to Wales"...not fromn... I´m really tired and I`m going to bed. It´s 03.51 here in Norway now...

God night to all! Angun

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09 Jul 00 - 01:24 PM (#254577)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Roger in Sheffield

I was going to ask for music but I guess there isn't any (seán nós)
Roger

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09 Jul 00 - 03:33 PM (#254645)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Deirdre

In reply to the request for music, the trad. American band Solas, recorded this song on their first cd, Shanachie Records, no.78002. In the liner notes it says, " Sliabh Geal gCua na Féile was written in 1890 by Pádraig Ó Máille. He was an exile in the coal mines of Wales. This song is a lament, a cry of loneliness and anguish at being exiled from the thing he loved most in the world, Ireland." They also include a translation by Oisín Ó Siochrú.

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09 Jul 00 - 04:08 PM (#254661)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Roger in Sheffield

Thanks for that Deirdrie
Just come back from holiday in Ireland and a lament is just whats needed
Anyway I can play them OK - my fingers get cross threaded on jigs and reels
Roger

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09 Jul 00 - 06:39 PM (#254731)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Beachcomber

Yes The song comes from my area of Ireland , in county Waterford to be precise and close to the town of Dungarvan near the mountain, Sliabh gCua which is celebrated in O'Milleadh's song. I think that the very finest recording of it , in the authentic "Sean Nos" style, was by the late Nicholas Tobeen of Ring in county Waterford, on an old Gael Linn Vinyl, I'm not aware of a reissue on CD? anyone?

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12 Jul 00 - 04:49 PM (#256642)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Angun

Forgot to mention in my earlier post that I knew the song was from county Waterford. Heard Ciarán Ó Gealbháin sing it once, and that is the best version I`ve heard!

Beachcomber, do you know if it`s possible to get a copy of the recording by Nioclas Toibín?

Angun

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25 Sep 02 - 12:01 AM (#790734)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: dulcimer

Surely the printed music or abc is out there somewhere on the Internet!

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25 Sep 02 - 02:19 PM (#791154)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: OldPossum

I have never heard anyone singing this, but Derek Bell (who plays the harp with the Chieftains) plays a very beautiful instrumental version of it on the LP "Derek Bell's Musical Ireland" (Claddagh Records CC35). The cover notes are as follows:

Sliabh Geal gCua (Bright Sliabh gCua)
This tiompán solo with harp accompaniment celebrates Sliabh gCua 'of the hospitality' in west Waterford. Brendán Breathnach says the air is a variant of Seán O Duibhir a 'Ghleanna and is the lament of an exile for his native place and its hospitality.

Yours,
OldPossum

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25 Sep 02 - 02:57 PM (#791186)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: OldPossum

... and you can listen to a bit of it here ...

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22 Oct 08 - 09:18 AM (#2472672)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Aideen

Does anyone have a translation of Sliabh Geal gCua in English?

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22 Oct 08 - 01:35 PM (#2472927)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Rog Peek

The Sliabh gCua Set has five figures and is danced to polkas. It originates from Co. Waterford and was recorded by Connie Ryan, the dance master from Co. Tiperary.
Sliabh gCua Set

Rog

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22 Oct 08 - 02:31 PM (#2472986)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Fred McCormick

"Yes The song comes from my area of Ireland , in county Waterford to be precise and close to the town of Dungarvan near the mountain, Sliabh gCua which is celebrated in O'Milleadh's song. I think that the very finest recording of it , in the authentic "Sean Nos" style, was by the late Nicholas Tobeen of Ring in county Waterford, on an old Gael Linn Vinyl, I'm not aware of a reissue on CD? anyone?"

Gael Linn recently reissued Nioclas Tóibín's 1977 LP, together with two earlier eps, under the title, Amhráin Aneas. That release, includes Sliabh Geal gCua, and I think, represents Tóibín's entire output for Gael Linn.

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22 Oct 08 - 06:43 PM (#2473200)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,Donal

I'm not sure where I got this translation from.

Bright, bountiful mount
So far, far away
I sit by the sea
Weak, lonely and sad
The foam-tipped waves
Divide me from my love
Oh bright bountiful mount Cua
How wretched my tale.

If I were there with my people
On the green-clad hills
Warmed by the heat of the sun
In a bright, cloudless sky
Or if I were there on a starry night
As dew falls on the grass
Oh radiant mount Cua
That would be wealth beyond compare.

My sorrow, that I was not raised
With learning and skill
The noble strains of Gaelic
As jewels on my lips
I would travel far
And come back with prizes to you
My splendid mount Cua
I would sing praise to your name.

The Déise is my love
Its plains, valleys and hills
Since I crossed the great ocean
I am lifeless and low
But God willed that I should leave
So I send my blessings home
And bid farewell to the bountiful mountain
With all my soul.

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23 Oct 08 - 03:43 AM (#2473456)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,kenny

I've a feeling that Brendan Begley might have recorded this in the past few years. I'm also pretty sure it's turned up on a few solo recordings by Irish flute players recently - Harry Bradley, for sure, and also, I think Kevin Crawford. I've a feeling it was also on the "Tin Whistles" recording by Paddy Moloney and Sean Potts. Lovely tune, with or without the words.

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23 Oct 08 - 03:52 AM (#2473459)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: GUEST,kenny

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6628

Seamus Begley, not Brendan. Quite a few recordings listed, but mainly played instrumentally as a slow air.

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24 Oct 08 - 03:44 AM (#2474531)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: Thompson

Here's a nice fiddle version: HERE

and harp: HERE

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16 Mar 10 - 07:29 PM (#2865642)
Subject: RE: Sliabh geal gCua
From: MartinRyan

Refresh

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02 May 10 - 06:15 AM (#2898467)
Subject: RE: Origin: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile (P Ó Máille)
From: GUEST,Naosc

The poet's name was not Ó Máille.

His name was:

Pádraig Ó Milleadh

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02 May 10 - 06:18 AM (#2898468)
Subject: RE: Origin: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile (P Ó Máille)
From: GUEST,Naosc

Pádraig Ó Milleadh

He had to emigrate there from Sliabh gCua situated in the Comeragh Mountains. He wrote many songs and in this one you can hear the great love he had for Sliabh gCua, his home.

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02 May 10 - 06:49 PM (#2898782)
Subject: RE: Origin: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile (P � M�ille)
From: GUEST,schlimmerkerl

The leadsheet notes are in "Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland", Tomas O'Canainn, Ossian.

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16 Apr 22 - 05:58 PM (#4139300)
Subject: RE: Origin: Sliabh Geal gCua na Feile (P Ó Máille)
From: GUEST

I was trying to find information on this song and came across this interesting (in my opinion) blog post: https://drmyronevans.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/padraig-o-mileadha-poet-of-eire-wales-1877-1947/

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