A Glens Song, 'Airde Cuain'

Áirde Cuain

(Éist leis)

Dá mbeinn féin in Airde Cuain,
in aice an tsléibhe úd atá i bhfad uaim
B'annamh liom gan dul ar cuairt
go Gleann na gCuach de Domhnaigh

Cúrfa:
Agus och, och, Éire uilig is ó,
Éire lionn dubh agus ó
Is é mo chroí atá trom is bronach.

Is iomaí Nollaig a bhí mé féin
i mBun Abhann Doinne is mé gan chéill
ag iomáint ar an Trá Bhán
is mo chamán bán i mo dhorn liom

Cúrfa

Nach tuirseach mise anseo liom féin
nach n-airím guth coiligh, londubh nó traon,
gealbhán, smólach, naoscach féin
is chan aithním féin an Domhnach.

Cúrfa

Is é seo an choraíocht atá buan
is ar an tsaol seo go gcuirfeadh sé cluain
Mheallfadh sé an chaora ón uan
agus mheall sé uaimse an óige.

Cúrfa

Muna mbeadh agam féin ach coite is rámh
le go n-iomróinn ar an tsnámh
ag dúil le Dia go sroichfinn slán
is go bhfaighinnse bás in Éirinn.

Cúrfa

A Rathlin Song, Mo Mháire Óg

MO MHÁIRE ÓG

D'éalaigh m'athair 's d'éag mo mháthair,
Is chan fhuil mo chairdean le fáil;
Ach cad atá mé gan chrodh gan toigh,
A bheith in dtóir ar Mháire Óg.

[seisd]
Hó-ró-ró 'gur thú mo rún
Thug mé an gaol 's cha b'aithreach liom,
Don níon úd an chúil dualaigh doinn,
Is gur teith liom féin mo Mháire Óg

Chan fhuil duine uasal ó ná barún
Ná fear óg anns na fearann
Nach bhfuil dúil acu le bainis
Gach uile fhear, le Máire Óg.

Chan fhuil duine sa ghleann úd thall,
Eadar bun 's barr a' ghleann',
Nach bhfuil ag bagairt ar mo cheann
Ar son bheith in dtóir ar Mháire Óg.

Ach ná cuireadh sin ortsa brón
Fad is bhéas mo chuideacht beo,
Coinneoidh mise duitse an lón,
Is má bha seór ann gheobhaidh sé dram.

Dialects of Rathlin Irish

'Dialects' of Rathlin? on one wee Island?

In fact yes. We can (simplifing somewhat) state that Rathlin Irish can be sub divided into two sub-dialects, that of the Upper End and that of the Lower End. 

There were a few pronouncation differences, even a few minor grammar differences, but for now lets concentrate on vocabulary.

It is said that the Upper End is somewhat more 'Irish' and the Lower End somewhat more 'Scottish'.

For instance In the Lower End for 'away' one would say 'ar folbh' whilst in the Upper End people would say 'ar shiúbhail.'

In the Lower End people would say 'Gabh sin' for take that whilst the Upper End people say 'Glac sin'.

To get is 'a fháil' in the Upper End but 'a fháin' in the Lower.This distinction in áil / ain in the verbal endings is a common feature.

Ceart gos leor? as the Lower End folk say, ceart go leor as those on the Upper End say.

More of this in the future.

Tobar an Dualchais

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/

Díreach ag cur in iúl mu'n suíomh seo, Tobar an Dualchais, chan fheil aon Ghaedhilg Cheann Tíre ná Arann ann ach tá go leor Gaedhilg Íle is Diúra ann - cosail go leor le Gaedhilg Reachraidh.

Ceartúcháin

Ar an drochuair, tá roinnt botúin ann in 'Dhá Scéal Reachlann agus Eile' sa leagan caighdeánaithe.

l. 2, líne 10, 'is fhearr,' 'is fearr' is ceart dó a bheith ann.
l. 2, líne 12, 'bonnóg beag,' 'bonnóg bheag' is ceart dó a bheith ann.
l. 11, líne 11, 'a bhuailfeadh é,' 'a bhuailfeadh sé' is ceart dó a bheith ann.
l. 19, líne 7, 'scrog,' 'gréim' is ceart dó a bheith ann.
l. 20, líne 3, 'd'oscail é,' 'd'oscail sé' is ceart dó a bheith ann.
l. 20, líne 7, 'Chaoch é,' chaoch sé' is ceart dó a bheith ann.
l. 20, líne 8, 'thug é,' 'thug sé' is ceart dó a bheith ann.

Ulster Gaelic Voices

Anyone interested in Antrim Irish will be pleased to know that texts and recordings of the dialect are now available in the new book, Ulster Gaelic Voices.

Here is the discription from the publisher's website.

"Ulster Gaelic Voices / Bailiúchán Doegen                                                                                                                                                                  Ulster Gaelic Voices presents a unique record of 1930s native speakers from the lost Gaeltachts of Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Derry, Louth and Tyrone, as well as recordings of renowned storytellers from the Donegal Gaeltacht. The recordings provide a fascinating insight into the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of another day - its folklore, myth, legend and song. Each recording is accompanied by a transcription, an English translation and a brief introduction.

Is beag rud atá chomh híogair le guth duine; iompraíonn sé ceol, scéalta agus mianta na ndaoine. Bheir na guthanna sa bhailiúchán tábhachtach seo léargas dúinn ar bhlas agus chiútaí cainte na Gaeilge fud fad Chúige Uladh. Beidh siad ina ndíol spéise go háirithe acu siúd ar suim leo canúintí oirthear Uladh. Tá léargas luachmhar ann ní amháin ar shaibhreas teanga ach ar chomharthaí sóirt mheath teanga chomh maith. Tá réimse leathan ábhair ann ón traidisiúin béil a bhéas ina acmhainn luachmhar ag scoláirí teanga agus béaloidis.

Ulster Gaelic Voices, Bailiúchán Doegen 1931, Róise Ní Bhaoill, ISBN 978-0-9555081-1-0, 366pp, Praghas/Price GBP 22"

Here is an interview from Nuacht 24 with the author Róise Ní Bhaoill.

Records of Glens Irish available on line

The Doegen Records of Irish dialects are available online.

"This digital archive of Irish dialect recordings made during 1928-31 comprises an important collection of early Irish language recordings of folktales, songs and other material. It includes recordings from many regions of Ireland where traditional Irish dialects have disappeared since the time the recordings were made."

Wilhelm Doegen, under whose supervision the records were made, more can be found out about him here

There are six recordings of Glens Irish in the collection. They can  found here.


Unfortuately there is no Rathlin material on them as there was an outbreak of flu on the Island the weekend in which they were recording in Belfast.

Still, there is some very good material from the Glens to be found.

This story is my personal favorite, it is the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. 

Listen to it here, the speaker is Brian Mac Amhlaoibh of Glenn Airimh. 

Bha[1] an dís mac ag an duine áirid. Dúirt an duine ab óige aca le a athair, "A athair, A athair. Tabhair, tabhair damh mo chuid. Tá mé ag dul ar shiubhal." Agus roinn seisean eatorr', a mhaoin eatorr'. Chuaigh sé ar shiubhal. Agus bhí sé cúig bliana déag ar shiubhal nuair a tháinig sé ar ais. Agus char aith-, cha rabh aithne ag a athair air. Dúirt sé le a athair, "Mise do mhac a bhí caillte." Agus nuair a chluin a athair sin chuaigh sé amach agus scairt sé ar a chuid lucht seirbhísigh a theacht isteach. "Seo mo mhac a bhí caillte. Tháinig fo réir. Tabhraibh[2] isteach an lao biata. Marbhaibh é. Ithibh, ólaibh agus bíbh go súgach."

A certain man had two sons. The youngest one said to his father, "Father! Father! Give me my inheritance. I am leaving." And [the father] divided his wealth between them. [The son] left. And he was gone fifteen years when he returned. And his father did not recognise him. And he said to his father, "I am your son who was lost." And when his father heard that, he went out and called for his servants to come in. "This is my son who was lost. He has returned willingly (?). Bring in the fatted calf. Kill it. Eat, drink and be merry."