Irish Songs Lyrics in Gaelic

Irish Song Lyrics in Gaelic

Mo Ghile Mear

Seán Clárach Mac Domhnaill

Seal da rabhas im' mhaighdean shéimh,
'S anois im' bhaintreach chaite thréith,
Mo chéile ag treabhadh na dtonn go tréan
De bharr na gcnoc is i n-imigcéin.

Curfá
'Sé mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear,
'Sé mo Chaesar, Ghile Mear,
Suan ná séan ní bhfuaireas féin
Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo Ghile Mear.

Bímse buan ar buaidhirt gach ló,
Ag caoi go cruaidh 's ag tuar na ndeór
Mar scaoileadh uaim an buachaill beó
'S ná ríomhtar tuairisc uaidh, mo bhrón.

Ní labhrann cuach go suairc ar nóin
Is níl guth gadhair i gcoillte cnó,
Ná maidin shamhraidh i gcleanntaibh ceoigh
Ó d'imthigh uaim an buachaill beó.

Marcach uasal uaibhreach óg,
Gas gan gruaim is suairce snódh,
Glac is luaimneach, luath i ngleo
Ag teascadh an tslua 's ag tuargain treon.

Seinntear stair ar chlairsigh cheoil
's líontair táinte cárt ar bord
Le hinntinn ard gan chaim, gan cheó
Chun saoghal is sláinte d' fhagháil dom leómhan.

Ghile mear 'sa seal faoi chumha,
's Eire go léir faoi chlócaibh dubha;
Suan ná séan ní bhfuaireas féin.
Ó luaidh i gcéin mo Ghile Mear

Mo Ghile Mearsung by Mary Black, Iarla Ó Lionáird and a host of other great and well-known singers

Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair

Pronsias Ó Maonaigh

Céad slán ag sléibhte maorga Chontae Dhún na nGall
Agus dhá chéad slán ag an
Eireagal ard ina stua os cionn caor is coll;
Nuair a ghluais mise thart le Loch Dhún Lúich’ go ciúin sa ghleann ina luí
I mo dhiaidh bhí gleanntáin ghlas’ Ghaoth Dobhair, is beag nár bhris mo chroí.

Ag taisteal dom amach trí chnoic Ghleann Domhain ’s an Mucais ar mo chúl
Ní miste dom ’ rá le brón ’s le crá gur frasach a shíl mise siúl;
Go Meiriceá siar a bhí mo thriall i bhfad thar an fharraige mhór;
D’fhág mé slán ar feadh seal ag Dún na nGall is ag gleanntáin ghlas’ Ghaoth Dobhair.

Níorbh é mo mhiansa imeacht ariamh ó mo thír bheag dhílis féin
Ach trom lámh Gall, le cluain 's le feall, a thiomáin mé i gnéill
B'é rún mo chroíse pilleadh arís, nuair a dhéanfainn beagán stór
'S deireadh mo shaoil a chaitheamh lem ghaoil, 
fá Ghleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair.

Slán! Slán go fóill, a Dhún na nGall, a chontae shéimh gan smál,
Is do d’fheara breáth’ in am an ghá nár úmhlaigh riamh roimh Ghall;
Tá áit i mo chroí do gach fear is gach mnaoi is gach páiste beag agus mór
Atá beo go buan gan bhuairt gan ghruaim fá ghleanntáin ghlas’ Ghaoth Dobhair.

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, singing
Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair,the
song her father wrote

The Green Glens of Gweedore

Francie Mooney

Farewell to the noble mountains of Donegal
And twice farewell to tall Errigal, arching over rowen and ash tree
When I passed by Dunlewey lake, lying quietly in the glen
Behind me were the little green glens of Gaoth Dobhair, and it nearly broke my heart

Travelling through Glendowan's Hills, and Muckish behind me 
I don't mind saying with sorrow and grief, that tears fell from my eyes
Westward to America was my journey, far across the wide sea
I said farewell for a while to Donegal, and the little green glens of Gaoth Dobhair 

I never wanted to leave my own beloved land
But the foreigner's heavy handed deceit and treachery drove me away
It would be my heart's desire to return again, when I should get a little money
To spend the end of my life with my family, 'round the little green glens of Gaoth Dobhair

Yet farewell, farewell to Donegal, the County fine and fair 
And to your brave men who in time of need, did not ever cower before the foreigner
There's a place in my heart for each man and woman, each child big and small
Who live in peace, without sorrow or grief, in the little green glens of Gaoth Dobhair

Note: Pronsias Ó Maonaigh or Francie Mooney, as he is also known in English, wrote this song about his home region called Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal. The song is one of the popular Irish songs of Ireland and it can be heard in many Irish pubs around the world. Ó Maonaigh by the way is the father of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, the lead singer and musician of the famous group Altan.

Trasna Na dTonnta

Cúrfa
Trasna na dtonnta, dul siar, dul siar,
Slán leis an uaigneas ‘is slán leis an gcian;
Geal é mo chroí, agus geal í an ghrian,
Geal bheith ag filleadh go hÉirinn!

Chonaic mo dhóthain de Thíortha i gcéin,
Ó r agus airgead, saibhreas an tsaoil,
É iríonn an croí ‘nam le breacadh gach lae
‘ S mé druidim le dúthaigh mo mhuintir!

Ar mo thriall siar ó éirigh mo chroí
An aimsir go hálainn is tonnta deas réidh
Stiúradh go díreach go dúthaigh mo chliabh
‘ S bheidh mé in Éirinn amárach!

Muintir an Iarthair ‘siad cairde mo chroí,
Fáilte ‘is féile bheidh romham ar gach taobh.
Ar fhágaint an tsaoil seo, sé ghuidhim ar an Rí
Gur leosan a shinfear i gcill mé.

Trasna na dTonnta, Irish song lyrics
learnt by most kids at school in Ireland

Across the Waves

Chorus
Over the waves, going west, going west!
Good-bye to loneliness and to the distant remoteness;
Bright is my heart and bright is the sun,
Happy to be returning to Ireland!

I saw my fill of countries abroad,
Gold and silver, the wealth of the world,
My heart rises in me with the break of each day,
As I draw closer to the land of my people!

On my journey - oh! my heart rises!
The weather is beautiful and the waves are settled
Steering directly to land of my bosom
And I'll be in Ireland tomorrow!

People of the West, they're the friends of my heart,
Welcome and celebration awaits me on every side.
Leaving this life I pray to the Lord
That it's with them I'll be stretched in the graveyard!

Níl ’na lá

Tá na caoirigh ag ithe an gheamhair
Tá na gamhna ag ól an bhainne
Prátaí síos gan díolachán
'S duine gan mheabhair na raghfá abhaile

Is deas an bhean í Siobhán óg
Gúna nua uirthi aníos ón siopa
Is breathnaím ar mo ghiní óir
'S í a' rince ar an mbord leis an phoc ar buile 

Curfá
Níl 'na lá, tá 'na lá
Níl 'na lá, tá ar maidin
Níl 'na lá, tá 'na lá
Is bean a rá, is í ar fhaga 

Buailim suas, buailim síos
Buailim cleamhan ar bhean a leanna
Cuirim giní óir ar an mbord
Is bím ag ól anseo go maidin

Curfá

Tá mo bhróga i dtigh an óil
Tá mo stocaí i dtigh a' leanna
Tá na coiligh go léir ag glaoch
'S b'éigean domsa 'dhul abhaile

Curfá 

Solas singing their version of
another traditional Irish song Níl 'na lá

Daybreak has not come

The sheep are eating the corn
The calves are drinking the milk
The potatoes are unsold
You senseless man, will you not go home!

Siobhán is a fine young girl 
In her new dress down from the shop 
I gaze at my golden guinea 
Spinning on the table and I'm gone crazy

Chorus
Daybreak has not come, but now it's here
Daybreak has not come, but now it's morning
Daybreak has not come, but now it's with us
She has spoken and I must leave here

Chorus
I go up and I go down
I try my luck with the tavern lady
I throw a guinea on the table
And drink my fill until the morning

Choru

I left my shoes in the house of ale
I left my stockings there as well
The cocks have all begun to crow
And I am forced to leave for home

Chorus

Peigín Leitir Móir

Curfá
Is ó goirm goirm í
Agus goirm í mo stór
Míle grá le m’anam í
‘Sí Peigín Leitir Móir

Curfá
Tá Brid agam ‘s tá Cáit agam
‘ S í Peig an bhean is fearr
Cibé fear a gheobhas í
Nach air a bheas an t-ádh!

Curfá
Chuir mé scéala siar chuici
Go gceannóinn dí bád mór
‘ S é scéal a chuir sí aniar chugam
Go ndéanfadh leathbhád seoil

Curfá
Tá iascairí na Gaillimhe
Ag teacht anoir le cóir
Le solas gealaí gile
Nó go bhfeicfidís an tseoid

Curfá
Éirigh suas a Pheigín
Agus seas ar bharr an aird
Comhair do chuid bullán
Agus féach a’ bhfuil siad ann

Curfá deiridh:
‘ S ó goirm, goirm í
‘ Gus goirm í mo stór
Míle grá le m’anam í
Is gearr go mbeidh sí mór! 

The Dubliners singing the
Irish song Peigín Leitir Móir

Peigín (Little Peig) from Leitir Móir

Chorus:
And oh I love, I love her
And I love my darling
She is the thousand loves of my soul
Is Peigín of Leitir Móir

Chorus
I have Bríd, I have Cáit
But Peig is the best woman
Whoever gets her
On him wll be the luck.

Chorus
I sent her back a message
That I would by her a big boat
The message that came back
Was that a small sailing boat would do.

Chorus
The fishermen of Galway
Are coming back with a fair wind
By the light of the bright moon
To see the jewel.

Chorus
Get up Peigín
And stand at the top of the hillock
Count your bullocks
And see that they are all there

Last Chorus:
And oh I love, I love her
And I love my darling
She is the thousand loves of my soul
Soon she will be big

Note:Leitir Móir is a village in Connemara, Co Galway, Ireland. The song itself was written at the beginning of the 20th Century

Irish Song Lyrics in Gaelic - original version

Bean Pháidín

Curfá
‘Sé an trua ghéar nach mise, nach mise
‘Sé an trua ghéar nach mise bean Pháidín
‘Sé an trua ghéar nach mise, nach mise
‘S an bhean atá aige bheith caillte

Rachainn go Gallaí' go Gallaí'
Is rachainn go Gallaí' le Pháidín
Rachainn go Gallaí' go Gallaí'
Is thiocfainn abhaile sa mbád leis

Curfá
Rachainn go haonach an Chlocháin
Is siar go Béal Á' na Báighe
Bhreathnóinn isteach tríd an bhfuinneog
A' súil is go bhfeicfinn bean Pháidín

Curfá
Go mbristear do chosa, do chosa
Go mbristear do chosa 'bean Pháidín
Go mbristear do chosa, do chosa
Go mbristear do chosa 's do chnámha

Curfá

The Planxty version of this popular Irish song
of jealousy,,Bean Pháidín

English Translation

The Wife of Páidín

Chorus
It's a great pity that I'm not, that I'm not
It's a great pity that I'm not the wife of Páidín
It's a great pity that I'm not, that I'm not
And that woman of his dead

I would go to Galway, to Galway
And I would go to Galway with Páidín
I would go to Galway, to Galway
And I would return in the boat with him

Chorus
I would go to an Clochán
And west by Béal Á' na Báighe
I would look in through the windows
I would spot Páidín's wife

Chorus
May your legs be broken, be broken
May your legs be broken, Páidín's wife
May your legs be broken, be broken
May your legs and your bones be broken

Chorus

Báidín Fheilimí

Curfá
Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Gabhla,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Gabhla,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.

Báidín bídeach, báidín beosach,
Báidín bóidheach, báidín Fheilimí
Báidín díreach, báidín deontach
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Toraí,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Toraí,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.

Curfá
Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.

Curfá
Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí,
É isc ar bord agus Feilimí ann

The traditional Irish Song Báidín Fheilimí is learnt by many kids at school in Ireland

Feidhlim's Little Boat

Chorus
Feidhlim's little boat went to Gola,
Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it,
Feidhlim's little boat went to Gola,
Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it. 

A tiny little boat, a lively little boat,
A buoyant little boat, Feidhlim's little boat,
A straight little boat, a willing little boat,
Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it.
Feidhlim's little boat went to Tory,
Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it,
Feidhlim's little boat went to Tory,
Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it.

Chorus
Feidhlim's little boat crashed on Tory,
Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it,
Feidhlim's little boat crashed on Tory,
Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it.

Chorus
Feidhlim's little boat crashed on Tory,
Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it,
Feidhlim's little boat crashed on Tory,
Fish on board and Feidhlim in it.

An Poc ar Buile

Ar mo ghabáil dom siar chun Droichead Uí Mhórdha
Píce i m' dhóid is mé ag dul i meitheal
Cé chasfaí orm i gcumar ceoidh
Ach pocán crón is é ar buile

Curfá x2
Alliliú puilliliu
Alliliú tá an poc ar buile
Alliliú puilliliu
Alliliú tá an poc ar buile

Ritheamar trasna trí ruilleogach
Is ghluais an comhrac ar fud na muinge
Is treascairt dá bhfuair sé sna turtóga
Is chuas ina ainneoin ar a dhroim le fuinneamh

Curfá x2
Bhí garda mór i mBaile an Róistigh
Is bhailigh fórsaí chun sinn a chlipeadh
Bhuail sé rop dá adhairc sa tóin air
Is dá bhríste nua do dhein sé giobail

Curfá x2

The Famous Irish Song An Poc ar Buile sung by Liam Devally. Still popular and great fun

The Mad Billy Goat

As I set out to old Dromore
With pike in hand to join a meitheal*
Who should I meet but a tan puck goat
And he roaring mad in ferocious mettle

Chorus x2
Alliliú puilliliu
Alliliú the goat is mad
Alliliú puilliliu
Alliliú tá an goat is mad

He chased me over bush and weed
And through the bog the run proceeded
Til he caught his horns in a clump of gorse
And on his back I jumped unheeded

Chorus x2
When the sergeant stood in Rochestown
With a force of guards to apprehend us
The goat, he tore his trousers down
And made rags of his breeches and new suspenders

Chorus x2

Eriskay Love Lilt: Bheir Mí Ó

Curfá
Bheir mí óró, bhean ó
Bheir mí óró, ó bhean í
Bheir mí óró ó hó
Tá mé brónach ‘s tú i m’dhith

‘ S iomaí oíche fliuch is fuar
Thug mé cuairt is mé liom féin
Nó go ráinig mé san áit
Mar a raibh grá geal mó chléibh

Curfá
I mo chláirseach ní raibh ceol
I mo mheoraibh ní raibh brí
Nó gur luaigh tú do rún
‘ S fuair mé eolas ar mo dhán

Curfá

Bheir Mí Ó- a beautiful Irish song by Eamonn Ó Fagáin on the Irish TV channel TG4

Bheir Mí Ó

Chorus
Bheir mí óró, bhean ó
Bheir mí óró, ó bhean í
Bheir mí óró ó hó
I'm sad that you're not with me.

Many wet and chilly nights
I went walking all alone,
Until I reached that place
The love of my heart found home.

Chorus
There's no music in my harp
My fingers knew naught but pain,
Then your kiss, that wondrous barb,
Brought song to my life again.

Chorus

Ó ró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Chorus
Ó ró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,
Ó ró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,
Ó ró, 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.

Chorus
Tá Gráinne Mhaol ag teacht thar sáile,
Ó glaigh armtha léi mar gharda,
Gaeil iad féin is ní Gaill[5] ná Spáinnigh,
Is cuirfidh siad ruaig ar Ghallaibh.

Chorus
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.

Chorus

Ó ró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile, sung in the movie, The Wind that Shakes the Barley

Oh-ro You're welcome home

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 along with her as her guard,
They are Irishmen, not French nor Spanish...
And they will rout the foreigners

Chorus
May it please the King of Miracles that we might see,
Although we may live for a week once after,
Gráinne Mhaol and a thousand warriors...
Dispersing the foreigners

Chorus

Note: One of the most popular and traditional Gaelic songs, it dates from the middle of the 18th Century but was given new lyrics by one of the Irish rebel leaders. Pádraig Pearse in the 20th Century. It is identified as a marching song.