Gaelic Song : Birlinn Ghoraidh Chrobhain

Godred Cròvan's Galley is a song about the passage of the royal galley from the Isle of Man to the Isle of Islay in the second half of the 11thc . Godred Cròvan (Old Irish: Gofraid mac meic Arailt, (died 1095) was a Norse-Gael ruler of Dublin, and King of Mann and the Isles in the second half of the 11th century. The song was composed by the bard and songwriter Duncan Johnstone of Islay(1881-1947) )and published by him in 1938. The song is sung here by The Sound of Mull, atrio from Tobermory, Isle of Mull : Janet Tandy, Joanie MacKenzie and David Williamson.

The following are the lyrics to this recording:

Hóbhan na hóbhan hó, hi horó na hùbhan,
Hóbhan na hóbhan hó, Air Birlinn Ghoraidh Chrobhain

Fichead sonn air cùl nan ràmh,
Fichead buille lùghmhor,
Siùbhlaidh ì mar eun a' snàmh,
Is sìoban thonn 'ga sgiùrsadh.

Suas i sheòid air bàrr nan tonn !
Sìos gu ìochdar sùigh i !
Suas an ceòl is togaibh fonn,
Tha Mac an Righ 'ga stiuireadh !

Dh' fhàg sinn Manainn mòr nan tòrr,
Eireann a' tighinn dlùth dhuinn,
Air Ile-an-Fheòir tha sinn an tòir
Ged dh' èireas tonnan dùbh-ghorm.

Loose translation:
Hóvan, na hóvan ho,
Hee horó, na hóvan,
Hóvan, na hóvan ho
The barge of Gorrie Cróvan

Behind the oars, a score so brave, A lusty score to row her,
She sails away like bird on wave, While foaming seas lash o'er her.

Up she goes on ocean wave ! Down the surge she wails O,
Sing away; the chorus, raise, A royal prince; he sails her !

The towers of Man we leave away, Old Erin's hills we hail O,
On Islay's shore her course we lay Though billows roar and rave O.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gaelic
• Tradition
• Gaidhlig
• Godred
• Crovan
• Manx
• Viking
• Celtic
• Celtique
• Isles
• Hebrides

[RomneyGack]

I had been writing a book about the kingdom of the Isles so this is intersting to me. Needs editing.

[UISTMAN59]

I presume it is thebook that needs to be edited?

[RomneyGack]

Yes, but it's odd. I replied yesterday to say that but it didn't post. Hmmmm.

[UISTMAN59]

I get that too sometimes which is a nuisance  - good luck with your book.

Regards, Iain

[cheerydavie]

A truly lovely song sung well.  thanks for this

[UISTMAN59]

Thanks cheery davie - sorry for the delay in writing :-(

[UISTMAN59]

@TheYellowTulips Perhaps we should just be quiet about it since I typed "peole" instead of "people" and you live apparently live in "Ameica "

[stlgtrace]

A very beautiful song!

[malibu64]

enchanting, thank you for posting!

[Wodanaz]

Ah, nice use of the ship in the video. Many looking at it would think it a Norse longship, but it is a Norse-Gaelic ship, which has a few major improvements due to the harshness of the waters in the isles.

[givsum]

I like Robin Hall and Jimmy McGregor's version, but this one is so much better, a great balance of men and women's voices. Who is singing this please? Unfortunately, the version by that french choir or whatever they are is probably the worst I have ever heard, and that second woman who keeps weaving about gets on my nerves! Why don't they stick to their own music? Love this video.

[BinCheese]

This makes me feel like crying for some reason.