Téir Abhaile Ríu

This week’s song is “Téir Abhaile Riú,” a lively matchmaking ballad whose origins are unclear but may date back to the 18th century, like many Irish folk songs.

Matchmaking was a common practice in Ireland long ago, with fathers or brothers often making marriage arrangements without the consent of their daughters or sisters. Lisdoonvarna, a small town in County Clare, has even hosted a matchmaking festival for over 150 years during the months of August and September.

“Téir Abhaile Riú” tells the story of a young girl named Mary who has been matched with a piper. Translating as “Go home with you, go home with you!” the song features a back-and-forth banter between Mary and her dad as he tells her the match has been made and she is to go off home with herself. Mary defiantly argues her case, and the fast, upbeat tempo of the music and the banter between Mary and her dad suggest she is being teased rather than reprimanded.

The song has been covered by several artists, most notably Clannad with Máire Brennan on lead vocals. Celtic Woman has another version that features English lyrics and gives the song a slightly different context.

I’ve included one of Clannad’s versions, along with another from the folk group Sheebeen, and a children’s choir singing it from John Spillane’s ‘Irish Songs We Learned at School’.

Bain taitneamh astu!