An Londubh is an Céirseach
Singer: Lisa Butler
One of the traditional love songs from the native culture,
Theme: Love.
AN LONDUBH IS AN CHÉIRSEACH (scroll down for translation)
Tá an londubh is an chéirseach, is an fhuiseoigín le chéile,
Is an smóilín binn bréagach ina ndiaidh i ngach aird,
An chuach i measc an méid sin ag seinm dánta is dréachta
Do chúl trom tais na bpéarlaí is do mo chéad míle grá.
Dá mbeinnse i mo smóilín do leanfainn tríd an mhóin í,
Mar is ise bláth na hóige a thógfadh suas mo chroí.
Ó bheinnse ag seinm ceoil dí ó mhaidin go tráthnóna,
Le ceiliúr binn á cealgadh is le móráil dá gnaoi.
Is trua gan mé is mo shiúirín is barr mo láimhe dlúth léi,
Go seinnfinn di go súgach ar cheolchruit go sámh;
A lao, nárbh aoibhinn domsa dá bhfaighinnse cead bheith ag siúl léi,
Is a rún mo chroí, bí ag súil liom le héirí don lá.
The Blackbird and the Song Thrush
The blackbird and the song thrush and the little lark together,
And the sweet voiced little thrush following them every way,
The cuckoo among them playing poems and little ditties
To your damp pearly hair for you are my first love.
Were I a little thrush I'd follow her through the meadow,
For she is the bloom of youth who would lift up my heart.
O I'd be playing music for her from morning to evening,
With a sweet melody celebrating her and praising her looks.
'Tis a pity I'm not her little sister and the top of my hand tight in hers,
That I as if drunk might play for her on a tuneful harp with gentleness;
My darling, wouldn't it be my delight if I'd be allowed to walk beside her,
And, o you love of my heart, be waiting for me as the day is dawning.
From Carlow Streams
Beacon of light
Author: Donal Morrissey
Donal records the value of a true friend in life, the comfort of a loving partner.
Carlow Maid
Theme: love
Location: Carlow county
A light-hearted love song
Carlow Town
Author: Tommy Makem
Singer: Fiach Moriarty
I’ve travelled north, I’ve travelled south, I’ve travelled east and west:
Of all the places I have been, well Carlow is the best.
They treated me so kindly there and tried to make me stay
And though I’ve been a rambling man I’d sell to there today.
Chorus
I wish I was in Carlow Town, Wey, Hey, Carlow Town
I wish I was in Carlow Town, that’s where I’d like to be.
I wish I was in Carlow Town, sitting down in Carlow Town
I wish I was in Carlow Town with a pretty girl on my knee.
There’s pretty girls in Carlow Town, the finest in the land
A Carlow girl could charm the heart and soul of any man.
When I was last in Carlow Town a fair one stole my heart;
When I go back to Carlow Town, we never more will part.
Chorus
There is an inn in Carlow Town where I am going to call;
I’ll buy a drink for everyone and wish good health to all.
We’ll sing and we’ll be happy like the birds upon the tree,
Of all the places I have been it’s Carlow Town for me.
Chorus
Tommy Makem wrote this in the late 1960's; he used travel to Carpenter's bar in Carlow to help raise funds for the victims of the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland.
Thanks to the Makem Centre for accessing the melody
Eileen a Run
Author: Carroll O'Daly
Singers: Clara Hutchinson, Fiach Moriarty
Theme: Love
Do sheolfainn féin i gamhna leat, Eibhlín a Rúin
Do sheolfainn féin i gamhna leat, Eibhlín a Rúin
Do sheolfainn féin i gamhna leat, síos go Tír Amhlaidh leat
Le súil go mbéinn i gcleamhnas, Eibhlín a Rúin
Céad míle fáílte rómhat, Eibhlín a Rúin
Céad míle fáílte rómhat, Eibhlín a Rúin
Céad míle fáílte rómhat, fáílte 'gus fiche rómhat
Naoi gcéad míle fáílte rómhat, Eibhlín a Rúin
An dtiocfaidh no'n bhfanfaidh tú, Eibhlín a Rúin?
An dtiocfaidh no'n bhfanfaidh tú, Eibhlín a Rúin?
Tiocfaidh mé, 's ní fhanfaidh mé, Tiocfaidh mé, 's ní fhanfaidh mé
Tiocfaidh mé, 's ní fhanfaidh mé, 's Eibhlín a Rúin.
Do sheolfainn féin i gamhna leat, Eibhlín a Rúin
Do sheolfainn féin i gamhna leat, Eibhlín a Rúin
Do sheolfainn féin i gamhna leat, síos go Tír Amhlaidh leat
Le súil go mbéinn i gcleamhnas, Eibhlín a Rúin
Location: South , especiall mount Leinster area.
One of the loveliest old Irish love songs, and from Carlow!
Many versions of the song have been written over the centuries; this is one of the loveliest .
Fate of Cahir Ruadh
Author: P.J. McCall
Theme: Local event, local character
Location: Blackstairs
The poem narrates the story of a highwayman's attempt to kidnap a girl, her rescue by her true love and the subsequent death of the highwayman after a pursuit by the people.
Goodbye to Carlow Town
Author: S. McCarthy
Singer: Damien Brett
Theme: patriotic hero, love
Location: Carlow town
Sean McCarthy (Shanagolden) wrote this after a sojourn in Carlow. It tells the sad love story of a widow with young son whose father died in the fight for freedom.
The second text is Sean's own telling of the context for his song.
Goodbye to Carlow Town
Themes: Love, patriotism, hero. Ballad about Carlow town in which a woman's lover dies in the fight for Ireland's liberty. Written by S. McCarthy
Town, hero, love
Sung by Damien Brett
From Carlow Streams
Richard Breen
Ballad books
English
Grá Faoi Bhláth
Author: Aine Durkin
Singer: Lisa Butler
Theme: Love
Theme: Love across three generations. Written for the Pan Celtic competition by Aine Durkin and sung by Lisa Butler.
Grá Faoi Bhláth - Love Blossoms
Grá Faoi Bhláth
Nuair a chonaic mise thusa, scaipna scamaill romham
Leathbhádóir os mo chomhair amach, ar léinseach chiúin
Chas rotha mór an tsaoil, is rug orm athrú treo,
Grá síoraí ‘s é ag seoladh liom, go deo na ndeor.
Curfá
Ó thit mé i ngrá i ngrá i ngrá
i ngach preabadhcroí bhígrá faoi bhláth
‘cuma cén chaoi cén lá cén fáth
ar bhealaí an tsaoil bíonn grá le fáil
Nuair a tháinig páiste chugainn, thosaigh clann ag fás,
Craoibhínúr ar chrann ár ngrá, is é faoi bhláth,
Borradh eile i mo chroí, beatha nua álainn í,
Fréamhaithe go buan i ngort ár nginealaigh
Curfá…Ó thit muid i ngrá i ngrá i ngrá…
Bhí muid sona, bhí muid sásta, ‘sin tháinig tú,
Páistín ag ár bpáiste fhéin, i bpreab na súl,
Réalt a’lonrúromhainn, a gealadh bealach úr,
Ar rotha mór ár gcroí, ghlac tusa stiúir.
Curfá…Ó thit muid i ngrá i ngrá i ngrá…
Tá nithe ann nach dtuigeann muid, sin mar atá,
An tráthúlacht ‘s’n ghreim chomh docht i gcúrsaí grá,
Tá taisce ar an tslí, roimh an mbochtán, roimh an rí,
Níl luach ná lá i ndán do ghrá, go dtéann tú thríd.
Curfá Deireanach
Ag titim i ngrá i ngrá i ngrá, i ngach preabadh croí beidh grá le fáil,
Cuma cén chaoi, cén lá, cén fáth, ar bhealaí an tsaoil beidh grá faoi bhláth.
© Áine Durkin
When you appeared, the fog all cleared, and I could see
That calmer waters lay ahead, where I should be,
Shifting winds that blew steered my heart to you,
We held the helm of harmony, it got us through.
Chorus
I fell in love in love in love,
My heart beating free as love unfurled,
Life is a whirlwind in a world,
Where love blossoms free at every turn.
A child arrived, and ‘we’ became not two but three,
Another branch upon our tree of family,
Joy innate so strong, when new life comes along,
A deep-root starts within the heart, where love belongs.
Chorus
And, we fell in love in love in love/Our hearts beating free as love unfurled...
Our children grew, like years they flew, then you arrived,
Such precious news, this gift of you, child of our child,
Happy hearts renewed ‘n elation they once knew,
Ever pleasures, endless treasures, found in you.
Chorus
We fell in love in love in love/ Our hearts beating free…
So, where is love, when will it come, what year, what day?
Coincidence or providence, it’s hard to say,
Treasure’s there for sure, no matter rich or poor,
Love’s all around, and can be found where it finds you.
Chorus
Falling in love in love in love, all hearts will be free when love unfurls,
Life is a whirlwind in a world, where love blossoms free at every turn.
© Áine Durkin
Grá Faoi Bhláth
Love song
Love song, sung by Lisa Butler
From Carlow Streams
Richard Breen
Recording