Mo Ghile Mear
Amhrán na Seachtaine – Song of the Week
“Mo Ghile Mear”
If ever there was a modern song borne out of old Mo Ghile Mear is it. There are as many versions and translations of this song as there are singers. In short, it’s a love song in the tradition of Irish Love songs where nothing is as it seems. The lover often stands for Ireland, in this case lamenting Bonnie Prince Charlie’s exile.
Originally written by Seán “Clárach” Mac Domhnaill (1691-1754), the modern lyrics draw from several of his songs/poems and the song was once again rewritten and rearranged in the ’70s by Dónal Ó Liatháin (1934–2008) and set to a traditional air.
I’ve included three versions with lyrics, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Mary Black, and the Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, and as you can see, while the lament is basically the same each rendition includes some different verses.
Digital downloads of Amhrán na Seachtaine songs with translations and pronunciation guides are now available here:
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Additionally, there are videos with pronunciation guides for each song on the @GaeilgegoDeo YouTube channel.
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Bain taitneamh as! – Enjoy!
Mo Ghile Mear
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Seal da rabhas im’ mhaighdean shéimh,
‘S anois im’ bhaintreach chaite thréith,
Mo chéile ag treabhadh na dtonn go tréan
De bharr na gcnoc is imigéin
Cúrfá
’Sé mo laoch mo ghile mear
’Sé mo Shaesar, ghile mear,
Suan ná séan, Ní fhuaras fhéin
Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo ghile mear.
Bímse buan ar buairt gach ló,
Ag caoi go crua is ag tuar na ndeor
Mar scaoileadh uaim an buachaill beo<
Is ná ríomhtar tuairisc uaidh, mo bhrón.
Cúrfá
Ach seinntear stair ar chlairsigh cheoil
is líontair táinte cárt ar bord
le hintinn ard gan chaim, gan cheo
chun saoghal is sláinte d’ fháil dom leon.
Cúrfá
Ghile mear ‘sa seal faoi chumha
‘S Éire go léir faoi chlócaibh dubha
Suan ná séan, Ní fhuaras fhéin
Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo ghile mear.
Once I was gentle maiden, but now I’m a spent, worn-out widow,
my consort strongly plowing the waves,
over the hills and far away.
Chorus
My dashing darling is my hero
My dashing darling is my Caesar
Sleep nor good fortune, I have had neither
Since my dashing darling went far away
I am perpetually worried every day
Wailing heavily and shedding tears
Since my lively boy was released from me
And there is no word of him, alas
Chorus
History is played on musical harps
And quarts are filled ón the table
With high spirits without fault or cloud
To find life and good health form y lion
Chorus
My hero in a period of mourning
All Ireland under a back cloak
Sleep nor good fortune, I have had neither
Since my dashing darling went far away
Mary Black
Chorus
’Sé mo laoch mo ghile mear
’Sé mo Shaesar, ghile mear,
Ní fhuaras féin aon tsuan ná séan,
Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo ghile mear.
Bímse buan ar buairt gach ló,
Ag caoi go crua is ag tuar na ndeor
Mar scaoileadh uaim an buachaill beo
Is ná ríomhtar tuairisc uaidh, mo bhrón.
Curfá
Ní haoibhinn cuach ba suairc ar neoin,
Táid fíorchoin uaisle ar uatha spóirt,
Táid saoithe ‘s suadha i mbuairt ‘s i mbrón
Ó scaoileadh uainn an buachaill beo
Curfá
Ní mhaoifad féin cé hé mo stór
Tá insint scéal ina dhiaidh go leor
Ach guím chuigh m’aon mhic Dé na gcomhacht
Go dtéigh mo laoch gan baol beo
Chorus
My dashing darling is my hero
My dashing darling is my Caesar
I have had neither sleep nor good fortune
Since my dashing darling went far away
I am perpetually worried every day
Wailing heavily and shedding tears
Since my lively boy was released from me
And there is no word of him, alas
Chorus
The delight of the cheerful cuckoo at noon is gone
The affable nobility are not bothered with sport
The learned and cultured are worried and sad
Since the lively lad was taken from us.
Chorus
I won’t reveal who my love is
Lots of stories are told about him
But I pray to the son of God of all power
That my love will go without harm
The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
Cúrfá
‘Sé mo laoch, mo ghile mear,
‘sé mo chaesar, gile mear,
ní bhfuaireas fhéin aon suan ná séan
ó chuaigh i gcéin mo ghile mear.
Bímse buan ar buairt gach ló,
ag caoi go cruaidh ‘s ag tuar na ndeór
mar scaoileadh uaim an buachaill beó
‘s ná ríomhtar tuairisc uaidh, mo bhrón.
Cúrfá
Ní haoibhinn cuach ba suairc ar neoin,
Táid fíorchoin uaisle ar uatha spóirt,
Táid saoithe ‘s suadha i mbuairt ‘s i mbrón
Ó scaoileadh uainn an buachaill beo.
Cúrfá
Is cosúil é le hAonghus Óg,
Le Lughaidh Mac Chéin na mbéimeann mór,
Le Cú Raoi, ardmhac Dáire an óir,
Taoiseach Éireann tréan ar tóir.
Cúrfá
Le Conall Cearnach bhearnadh poirt,
Le Fearghas fiúntach fionn Mac Róigh
Le Conchubhar cáidhmhac Náis na nós,
Taoiseach aoibhinn Chraoibhe an cheoil.
Cúrfá
Chorus
My dashing darling is my hero
My dashing darling is my Caesar
I have had neither sleep nor good fortune
Since my dashing darling went far away
I am perpetually worried every day
Wailing heavily and shedding tears
Since my lively boy was released from me
And there is no word of him, alas
Chorus
The delight of the cheerful cuckoo at noon is gone
The affable nobility are not bothered with sport
The learned and cultured are worried and sad
Since the lively lad was taken from us.
Chorus
He is like Young Aonghus
Like Lughaidh Mac Chéin of the great blows
Like Cú Raoi, great son of Dáire of the gold
Leader of Éire strong in pursuit
Chorus
Like Conall Cearnach who breached defenses
Like worthy fair-haired Feargas Mac Róigh
Like Conchubhar venerable son of Nás of the tradition
The pleasant chieftain of the musical Branch
Chorus
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