Óró ‘Sé do Bheatha ‘Bhaile
Amhrán na Seachtaine – Song of the Week
“Óró ‘Sé do ‘Bheatha Bhaile“
Óró ‘Sé do Bheatha ‘Bhaile is a traditional Irish victory song with several variations. Oró translates basicallly as Oho! and ‘Sé do Bheatha ‘Bhaile means welcome home. The original marching tune celebrated Bonny Prince Charles and the Jacobite risings while the modern version penned by Pádraic Pearse early in the 20th Century celebrates the Pirate Queen Gráinne Mhaol.
Gráinne Mhaol, Gráinne Ní Mháille or Grace O’Malley, was an Irish pirate during the 16th century. She was known as The Pirate Queen for her relentless siege of English ships along the western seaboard of Ireland.
Read more about Gráinne Mhaol’s exploits :
Grace Ó Malley Pirate Queen
Grace O’Malley: 12 fascinating facts about Ireland’s fearless Pirate Queen
Subsequent to the changes made by Pádraic Pearse to the lyrics, the song became a popular rebel song, often sung by the Volunteers during the 1916 Rising, and it is still a favorite today.
Below is a beautiful rendition by Paul Brady and Iarla Ó Lionáird, followed by Orla Ní Fhinneadha teaching it ón Cúl 4 ar Scoil and a version by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh.
Digital downloads of Amhrán na Seachtaine songs with translations and pronunciation guides are now available here:
Gaeilge go Deo Digital Downloads and Courses
Additionally, there are videos with pronunciation guides for each song on the @GaeilgegoDeo YouTube channel.
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Bain taitneamh as! – Enjoy!
Paul Brady and Iarla Ó Lionáird
Óró 'Sé do Bheatha 'Bhaile
Curfá:
Óró, sé do bheatha ‘bhaile,
Óró, sé do bheatha ‘bhaile,
Óró, sé do bheatha ‘bhaile
Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.
‘Sé do bheatha, a bhean ba léanmhar,
Do b’ é ár gcreach tú bheith i ngéibheann,
Do dhúiche bhreá i seilbh méirleach,
Is tú díolta leis na Gallaibh.
Curfá
Tá Gráinne Mhaol ag teacht thar sáile,
Óglaigh armtha léi mar gharda,
Gaeil iad féin is ní Gaill ná Spáinnigh,
Is cuirfidh siad ruaig ar Ghallaibh.
Curfá
A bhuí le Rí na bhFeart go bhfeiceam,
Mura mbeam beo ina dhiaidh ach seachtain,
Gráinne Mhaol agus míle gaiscíoch,
Ag fógairt fáin ar Ghallaibh.
Curfá
Chorus:
Oh-ro You’re welcome home,
Oh-ro You’re welcome home,
Oh-ro You’re welcome home…
Now that summer’s coming!
Welcome oh woman who was so afflicted,
It was our ruin that you were in bondage,
Our fine land in the possession of thieves…
And you sold to the foreigners!
Chorus
Gráinne O’Malley is coming over the sea,
Armed warriors with her as her guard,
They are Gaels, not invaders nor Spanish…
And they will rout the foreigners!
Chorus
May it please the King of Miracles that we might see,
Although we may only live for a week afterwards,
Gráinne Mhaol and a thousand warriors…
Driving away the foreigners!
Chorus
Orla Ní Fhinneadha
Orla will teach us how to sing ‘Óró, sé do Bheatha ‘Bhaile’, in which Gráinne O’Malley is mentioned.
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as. I hope you enjoy it.
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