An Chailín Álainn : The Lovely Girl

Two songs, one in Irish Gaelic the other in Scottish Gaelic (translated from Irish).

I think the first is sung by Tomas Mac Eoin from Cheathru Rua (Carraroe ), Conamara, Ireland.

He composed the song "Chailin Uasal" as listed in "Up Seanamhach" a book by Micheál Ó Conghaile published in 1990. The first line is " A Nach Iomai Amhran Ariamh A Duirt Me" and the chorus begins
"A Chailin Uasal, Fan Go Foill Liom." I have not found it eslewhere and I think I recorded from a Gaelic radio programme years ago. He definitely composed the original Irish lyrics of the second one, which are given below. The Scottish version , sung here by Tom Sloss, is fairly similar, though not a word for word translation:

An Chailín Álainn

Tá cailín álainn, a dtug mé grá dhi
Sí s deis is áille, ná bláth s ná rós
Gan í ar láimh liom, is cloíte atá mé
Ó a chailín álainn, s tú fáth mo bhróin

Curfá:
A chailín álainn, a dtug mé grá duit
Ó bí ar láimh liom, mo mhíle stór
Ó abair liomsa, gur tú mo ghrá gheal
Beidh orm áthas, in áit an bhróin

Nuair a éirím, amach go huaigneach
Siúd é an uair, is mó mo bhrón
O bím ag smaointeamh, ar an chailín uasal
Atá i bhfad uaimse, mo chreach s mo bhrón

Dá dtiocfá liomsa, a chailín álainn
Aríst go brách ní, bheadh orm brón
Sheinnfinn ceol duit, mar cheol na cláirsí
Nó ceol binn smóilín, s an drúcht gheal cheo


The Lovely Girl

Theres a beautiful girl whom I gave my love
She is kinder and lovelier than a flower or rose
Without her hand in mine, Im weak
O beautiful girl, youre the cause of my grief

Chorus:
O beautiful girl whom I gave my love
Give me your hand, my dearest one
Tell me that youre my bright love
And there will be happiness upon me instead of sorrow

When I rise, lonely
That is the time my sorrow is greatest
I think of the precious girl
Who is far from me, my ruin and my grief

If you came to me, beautiful girl
Ever again, I wouldnt be sad
I would play music for you like music of the harp
Or the sweet song of the thrush in the fogs bright dew

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Scottish
• Irish
• Gaelic
• Gaeilge
• Celtic
• Cailin
• Ailinn
• Uasal
• Lovely
• Girl

[croinaheireann1]

The 1st song is probably scottish! I know for a fact that the 2nd one is from Conemara because ive been there manys a time being from the west meself!

[UISTMAN59]

@croinaheireann1 What's all this "probably" nonsense? "Two songs, one in Irish Gaelic the other in Scottish Gaelic (translated from Irish). " Is that somehow not clear enough for you? !!!!!!!!!!!!

[croinaheireann1]

@UISTMAN59 im just saying that it sound alot like the Conemara dialect of Irish in the second song and that I learned this song siar i Ros a Mhil blianta ó shin!No need to fly off the handle at me in just saying what i think!

[UISTMAN59]

@croinaheireann1 I'm not flying off the handle. The first song is not "probably Scottish!" , it is in "Irish". The second is in "Scottish Gaelic" and has been translated from "Irish" into "Scottish Gaelic." Something far wrong when you don't recognise your own language. Maybe you need to go back to Ros a Mhil for refresher. :(

[DasHearach]

I see a lot of discussion re Gaelic here. Some attempts at scientific crap. This sounds to me like it is sung by an Irishman who actually speaks Gaelic as opposed to school-taught nonsense. I like this and a good pairing of songs by the man from Uist. (I'm half Uist myself!)

[UISTMAN59]

@DasHearach The first is sung by Tomas Jimmy , an Irishman singing in Gaelige. The second is sung by a man from Uist singing in Gaidhlig. I'm pretty sure neither learned the language in the classroom. Thanks for the final comment. :)

[muisire]

Yes, it is Tomás 'Jimmy' Mac Eoin, one of the best but least appreciated voices of Ireland for at least 30 years. He has great voice for a song but is also a masterful reciter. What a pity no one locked him into a studio somewhere to record him reading the top hundred Irish poems in both English and Irish.

What a treasure for all of us that would have been. I have lost my copy of his only cassette 'Tomás Jimmy'. It has a recording of 'An Bonnan Bui' / 'The Yellow Bittern' - the best ever made

[DasHearach]

bye the bye, Uisteach - you have a fine eye for a bonny lass.

[TDMcG26]

@Yelpy1 Could you send me a copy of the mp3of Tomas Jimmy. tdmcg26@gmail.com

[DasHearach]

@UISTMAN59 Yes, I knew the second song was Tom Sloss. Just nice to hear an Irishman singing fluently in his native tongue - the way it should be. Not made-up words like BBC Esperanta!

[Yelpy1]

Hey I have 'Tomás Jimmy' on MP3, I restored it a few years ago for a friend, if anyone needs a copy of this just throw me an email alan@yelpy.net :)