I love hearing these kinds of songs outside. It makes me think that that's the way they would've been sung in ancient times with the soft sound of wind in the background, it's perfect.
I had to learn a few verses of this as a poem in the early 1950s. We were never told it was also a great folk song. No wonder compulsory Irish failed to work for most people.
This is so wonderful now after so many years away from Ireland.
At least learning it as a poem helped me to find it now as a great love song..
Thegrubber: Not all English people are anti-American. I'm certainly not; one of my brother-in-laws is American and I've known him from the age of 13. Therefore I know that most Americans are not like the stereotypical image that people have of them. I've always found Americans to be warm and friendly and one of the few countries whose people seem to genuinely quite like us!
Padraig: Thanks for that. I also know that a lot of English people can be ignorant too. Like you said, intelligent people learn to disregard those who are ignorant. English people who slag off the Irish probably secretly wish they were Irish too!
@BigBossCat Personally, I don't care if "they" like us or not. I live next door to them, have many relatives and friends who are American, and i general I find them to be very helpful,warm and understanding
Padraig: This is a beautiful song, and when she was explaining its meaning, it brought a tear to my eye. I've always liked her voice and Irish music, even tho I'm English. I know that Irish people don't like us English, but I would beg them not to blame the current generation for what our forefathers did in previous centuries. BTW, my great-grandfather was Irish, not sure from where. My grandmother's name was Mary Eileen Magdalene Moran, and I'd say that was a pretty Irish name!
BigBossCat, I agree with what your saying, but, to put things in perspective, would you take the same stance with Americans; not all of us are like the steriotype, yet, we all get treated as so in your country, regardless.
Thank you for your generous comment. Moran is very widespread in Co Mayo. It is a mistake to think that all Irish people dislike all English people. There are good and bad among all peoples and intelligent people learn to distinguish. Úna Bhán is a beautiful song.
Hi, nice singer!!! I'm a simple brazilian man -- but a person from a great Country!!! And, with my hot and romantic brazilian heart, I want you know that I admire very much the folk, history and culture of your Country!!! And, about your voice, I don't need speak very much things... but, only, that you sing very well... My compliments, sweet and beautiful ireland, celtic singer!!! Bye!!!
Pádraig1935----- You are no doubt right. I will not argue with you as you are older than I am. But I cannot find Gaelige in any dictionary. Why not?!
And the broad and slender consonants reminds me of the rule which at school that I will never forget, concerning vowels this time, "leathan le leathan agus caol le caol", which proves very useful whwn in doubt about the spelling. Unfortunately, it doesn't help me with Gaelige, which I have seen in my travels but always thought it was a mistake.
Saanoog Thanks. It is great seeing respect for age among the young! You've never seen it because it is never written, only sometimes spoken. That's the nature of 'epenthetic' vowels in phonetics. Unlike in English, consonants in Irish have two sounds, 'broad' and 'slender'. This is how one identifies the native speaker pronouncing 'lá breá' - the 'L' is pronounced like the American 'law' not the English 'law'. English english has only slender 'l' sounds. Same goes for the other consonants.
guys (an aside) concerning the english language...i heard our man from navan t tiernan say a "serious" truth recently (even if the late late crowd hate him) "the irish spirit cant be enshackled in the english language, thats why we swear so much"! it made me laugh in how we sometimes articulate "colourfully" but write beautifully
By the way also the "i" between the l and the g in 'Gaelige' is called the epenthetic vowel and is not generally written down, the "e" preceding the 'l' and anteceding the 'g' ensuring that the consonants 'l' & 'g' are pronounced as 'slender' (as opposed to 'broad') consonants. Exciting stuff!
I'd just like to point something out to those of you like things Irish, that 'Gaelic' is ann adjective and should only be used as such. The Irish language is 'Gaelige', not Gaelic. So we don't sing or speak in Gaelic. We sing or speak 'as (pronounced 'oss') Gaelige' or 'in Irish'. Irish people rarely refer to the language as Gaelige except for teachers or native speakers.
Thank you. The reason I use the term 'Gaelic' instead of 'Irish' is that in some countries I found 'speaking (singing) in Irish' meant singing with an Irish brogue or pronounced Irish accent.
it is one of the big songs of the sean-nós tradition, but Mary had an operatically trained voice, so it sounds a little like opera. Back in the day, it was astonishing that she sang in Irish at all; this was before it was considered cool
Is Una Bhan her name or the name of the song? I can't understand which is which because Una is a name but Bhan (ban) is white unless her name is Una white? Please tell me, she is beautiful.
The singer is Mary O'Hara. The name of the song is Úna Bhán and later on in the interview O'Hara explains the story behind the song - a famous medieval Gaelic poem. In Gaelic Bhán means "white' but it also means "fair" or 'beautiful' or 'dear one'. For example, 'mo mhaicín bán' means 'my beloved son'.
I love hearing these kinds of songs outside. It makes me think that that's the way they would've been sung in ancient times with the soft sound of wind in the background, it's perfect.
teery59 9 months ago
Fantastic voice, marvellous clip, 500000000000000000000°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°, ole viva la musica, joselito
joselitomarjarino 11 months ago
I had to learn a few verses of this as a poem in the early 1950s. We were never told it was also a great folk song. No wonder compulsory Irish failed to work for most people.
This is so wonderful now after so many years away from Ireland.
At least learning it as a poem helped me to find it now as a great love song..
muisire 1 year ago
this is not far from arabic andalusian singing which is still celebrated in Morocco and Algeria.
alec00618 1 year ago
i have a version with mary mclaughlin, you should hear THAT. unfortunately i lost the YT url, can someone help me to find this clip again?
@indieWalrus: you cannot be proud to be of irish blood. you can only be proud of something you achieved yourself. or do you mean you are happy to be?
friederich66 1 year ago
Umm, time to move on. Nice song but only of sentimental value in a modern multi ethnic country. Forwards not backwards.
Ancupola 2 years ago
fantastic
OccasionalBella 2 years ago
Proud of Ireland, and proud to be Irish, This is what we as Irish people, and people of Irish decent must preserve..x
jlhenney 2 years ago 7
amen, i'm proud to be of irish descent. i could listen to sean nos singing for hours.
IndieWalrus 2 years ago
Wonderful Paddy, thanks for posting this.
FerghusClydelover 2 years ago
Thegrubber: Not all English people are anti-American. I'm certainly not; one of my brother-in-laws is American and I've known him from the age of 13. Therefore I know that most Americans are not like the stereotypical image that people have of them. I've always found Americans to be warm and friendly and one of the few countries whose people seem to genuinely quite like us!
BigBossCat 2 years ago 2
Padraig: Thanks for that. I also know that a lot of English people can be ignorant too. Like you said, intelligent people learn to disregard those who are ignorant. English people who slag off the Irish probably secretly wish they were Irish too!
BigBossCat 2 years ago
@BigBossCat Personally, I don't care if "they" like us or not. I live next door to them, have many relatives and friends who are American, and i general I find them to be very helpful,warm and understanding
anascal 1 year ago
what a beautiful voice. you just don't hear that kind of singing anymore...how sad that is.
socalghosthunter 2 years ago
Padraig: This is a beautiful song, and when she was explaining its meaning, it brought a tear to my eye. I've always liked her voice and Irish music, even tho I'm English. I know that Irish people don't like us English, but I would beg them not to blame the current generation for what our forefathers did in previous centuries. BTW, my great-grandfather was Irish, not sure from where. My grandmother's name was Mary Eileen Magdalene Moran, and I'd say that was a pretty Irish name!
BigBossCat 2 years ago
Absolutely beautiful song; a treasure.
BigBossCat, I agree with what your saying, but, to put things in perspective, would you take the same stance with Americans; not all of us are like the steriotype, yet, we all get treated as so in your country, regardless.
thegrubber 2 years ago
Ricardo, we are all Irish. Everyone with soul is connected.
yeahbyme 2 years ago 2
Thank you for your generous comment. Moran is very widespread in Co Mayo. It is a mistake to think that all Irish people dislike all English people. There are good and bad among all peoples and intelligent people learn to distinguish. Úna Bhán is a beautiful song.
padraig1935 2 years ago 2
@yeahbyme We're all Dogs. Anyone made up of atoms is connected.
csno1 1 year ago
Hi, nice singer!!! I'm a simple brazilian man -- but a person from a great Country!!! And, with my hot and romantic brazilian heart, I want you know that I admire very much the folk, history and culture of your Country!!! And, about your voice, I don't need speak very much things... but, only, that you sing very well... My compliments, sweet and beautiful ireland, celtic singer!!! Bye!!!
ricardobrasile 2 years ago 6
dayum niggah she got game
killernaval 2 years ago
@killernaval lol - I bet you wish you were a niggah!
csno1 1 year ago
she has a voice lika a bird
Seelenstriptease 2 years ago 3
'Caitin Bán' = white little cat (or dear little cat). 'Cailin Bán = firhaired girl (or a beloved girl)
padraig1935 3 years ago
she has a serious way of talking and the description just got me off guard,, wow... a story teller.. a seanacai!!!
dookie2kie 3 years ago
really beautiful!!!
thanks!
Vicente
Gealach74 3 years ago
I sing in irish also [:
ArggProductions 3 years ago
what a beautiful, classy, happy woman!
amerenio 3 years ago
Pádraig1935----- You are no doubt right. I will not argue with you as you are older than I am. But I cannot find Gaelige in any dictionary. Why not?!
And the broad and slender consonants reminds me of the rule which at school that I will never forget, concerning vowels this time, "leathan le leathan agus caol le caol", which proves very useful whwn in doubt about the spelling. Unfortunately, it doesn't help me with Gaelige, which I have seen in my travels but always thought it was a mistake.
Seanoooog 3 years ago
Saanoog Thanks. It is great seeing respect for age among the young! You've never seen it because it is never written, only sometimes spoken. That's the nature of 'epenthetic' vowels in phonetics. Unlike in English, consonants in Irish have two sounds, 'broad' and 'slender'. This is how one identifies the native speaker pronouncing 'lá breá' - the 'L' is pronounced like the American 'law' not the English 'law'. English english has only slender 'l' sounds. Same goes for the other consonants.
padraig1935 3 years ago
guys (an aside) concerning the english language...i heard our man from navan t tiernan say a "serious" truth recently (even if the late late crowd hate him) "the irish spirit cant be enshackled in the english language, thats why we swear so much"! it made me laugh in how we sometimes articulate "colourfully" but write beautifully
wackybumcheek 3 years ago
atchat--Do you mean "is adjective atá ann"? But isn't alright for English-speaking to talk that way?
Also, Shouldn't Gaeilge be spelt this way?
Seanoooog 3 years ago
Ar fheabhas. In áit "is adjective atá ann" cuir "is seafóid atá ann".
padraig1935 3 years ago
By the way also the "i" between the l and the g in 'Gaelige' is called the epenthetic vowel and is not generally written down, the "e" preceding the 'l' and anteceding the 'g' ensuring that the consonants 'l' & 'g' are pronounced as 'slender' (as opposed to 'broad') consonants. Exciting stuff!
padraig1935 3 years ago
I'd just like to point something out to those of you like things Irish, that 'Gaelic' is ann adjective and should only be used as such. The Irish language is 'Gaelige', not Gaelic. So we don't sing or speak in Gaelic. We sing or speak 'as (pronounced 'oss') Gaelige' or 'in Irish'. Irish people rarely refer to the language as Gaelige except for teachers or native speakers.
atchatwpdotpl 3 years ago
There are lots of Mary O'Hara recordings, most in English; some in Irish Gaelic. There is also a biography of her that came out some time ago.
She was a successful singer in Ireland; married an American poet who died soon after; went into a convent; came out and resumed her singing career.
Thanks for posting.
rockgor 3 years ago
She has a very cultured voice and it is beautiful..Go hiontach, A Mhaire!!
Pagra50 3 years ago
Did you ever hear the surname Whyte ?
Thats What It Means
Its A Name
Una White..
=]
Gaeilgeoir Igcómaí :D
cpaw123 3 years ago
This beautiful and talented singer, is a joy to see and hear. Thank you so much for posting.
streich13 3 years ago
You'd be better off saying it's a song sung in Irish, not Gaelic, by the way.
Gaeilgeoir 3 years ago
Thank you. The reason I use the term 'Gaelic' instead of 'Irish' is that in some countries I found 'speaking (singing) in Irish' meant singing with an Irish brogue or pronounced Irish accent.
Gaeilgeóir eile
padraig1935 3 years ago
LOL
I wouldn't use the word "brogue" either; it comes from "bróg", which means shoe!
Gaeilgeoir 3 years ago
Yeah I have thought it strange since learning Irish; "He speaks with an Irish shoe"
Donndilis 3 years ago
LOL comes from the foot and mouth disease!
thistlewarrior 3 years ago
That must be it!
Donndilis 3 years ago
Very nice. Her accent in English is also beautiful. -Could that song be considered opera? It seems opera songs in Irish don't exist...!
Gaeilgeoir 3 years ago
it is one of the big songs of the sean-nós tradition, but Mary had an operatically trained voice, so it sounds a little like opera. Back in the day, it was astonishing that she sang in Irish at all; this was before it was considered cool
Donndilis 3 years ago
Táim cinnte de. :)
Gaeilgeoir 3 years ago
Really beautifully sung, Mary O`Hara is a woonderful singer of Irish songs.
lorgain2 4 years ago
peterroelofsma go to maureenderry and you will hear a beautiful rendering of The quiet land of Erin.
lorgain2 4 years ago
Thanks I'll look her up.
Ealasaid17 4 years ago
Is Una Bhan her name or the name of the song? I can't understand which is which because Una is a name but Bhan (ban) is white unless her name is Una white? Please tell me, she is beautiful.
Ealasaid17 4 years ago
The singer is Mary O'Hara. The name of the song is Úna Bhán and later on in the interview O'Hara explains the story behind the song - a famous medieval Gaelic poem. In Gaelic Bhán means "white' but it also means "fair" or 'beautiful' or 'dear one'. For example, 'mo mhaicín bán' means 'my beloved son'.
padraig1935 4 years ago
It could also mean that Úna had fair hair
Donndilis 3 years ago
Of course. Cailín Bán means blonde. Talamh Bán means virgin soil - untilled land. An Bán means 'the plain' or prairie.
padraig1935 3 years ago
I thought Caitin Ban means "white kitten." Or is that an "l" and not a "t?"
LadyKarinaKay 3 years ago
Surely she could identify with this song, she experienced the tragic loss of her husband when she was young.
whippedcreamshampoo 4 years ago
this was one of my first albums i brought in the 80 s i love her singing when im 64
mikeploftus 4 years ago
What a nice scene and music i wish more was avaiable on you tube. I am looking for the quiet land of Eirin
peterroelofsma 4 years ago
Really lovely. She speaks beautifully, too.
wldbwriter 4 years ago
Nice very nice,got anymore,playing the old harp,an maidiren a rua,rua rua,''the red dog,''
deckoat 4 years ago
Bó Luaithreach Thú - a Hebridean Milking Song has been requested by a number of people. Someone else has put An Maidrin Rua on You Tube
padraig1935 3 years ago
@deckoat The only thing the Irish will preserve is the third world!
csno1 1 year ago