Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Trad Tuesday - Aird Uí Chuain performed by At First Light



Aird Uí Chuain is one of many emigrant songs for the Irish. It speaks to the longing to return to country Antrim near Cushendun which is where my Irish ancestors came from. Below are the Gaelic and English lyrics.

At First Light is a traditional music Irish band made up of Members: John Mc Sherry (Uilleann Pipes, Low Whistles) Dónal O'Connor (Fiddle, Keyboards) Francis Mc Ilduff (Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, & Bodhrán) and guests Ciara McCrickard (Vocals & Fiddle) Michael McCague (Guitar, Bouzouki) Tony Byrne (Guitar) Rubén Bada (Bouzouki, Guitar, Fiddle).

Aird Uí Chuain

Dá mbeinn féin in Aird Uí Chuain
In aice an tsléibhe atá i bhfad uaim
B’annamh liom gan dul ar cuairt
Go gleann na gcuach Dé Domhnaigh

Is iomaí Nollaig a bhí mé féin
I mBun Abhann Doinne is mé gan chéill
Ag iomáin ar an trá bháin
‘Is mo chamán bán ins mo dhorn liom

Agus och och Éire ‘lig is ó,
Éire lionn dubh (melancholy) agus ó,
‘Sé mo chroí ‘tá trom ‘s bronach.

Nach tuirseach mise anseo liom féin
Nach n-áirim guth coiligh lonndubh nó traon
gealbhán, smaolach, naoscach féin
Is chan aithním féin an Domhnach

‘Sé seo an choraíocht atá buan
Ar a’ tsaol go gcuirfeadh sé cluain
Mheallfadh sé an chaora ón uan –
Agus mheall sé uaimse an óige

Dá mbeadh agam coite is rámh
D’iomairfinn liom ar dhroim a’tsnáimh
‘S mé ag duil le Dia go sroichfinn slán
Is chan aithním féin an Domhnach
English Translation

I wish I were in Ardicoan
Near yon mountain far away.
I would seldom let the Sunday go
From the Cuckoo’s glen across the bay.

It is many a Christmas Day I had
In Cushendun while still a lad;
Hurling on the White Shore Strand
With my good ash hurley in my hand.

And it’s oh dear Ireland, you’re my home!
Far from you I had to roam
And my heart is heavy and alone.

But my heart is weary all alone
And it sends a lonely cry
To the land that sings beyond my dreams
And the lonely Sundays pass me by.

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