Irish Tradition : Liam O Flynn "Cath Cheim An Fhia"

And yet another recording from the LP "Mo Cheol Thú." The photo of Liam O Flynn was found on the internet and the illustration beside it was taken from http://www.leabharmor.net

Cath Chéim an Fhiadh "The Battle of Keimaneigh" by Máire Bhuí Ní Laoire "c.1774-1849) commemorates a "battle" which took place in 1822 at the Pass of Keimaneigh between Ballingeary and Kealkil Co Cork. For more info see http://www.achgohairithe.com/?p=59
Cois abhann Ghleanna an Chéama i nUíbh Laoghaire seadh bhím-se
Mar a dtéigheann an fiadh san oidhche chun síorchodladh soghail,
Ag machtnamh seal díom féinig ag déanamh mo smaointe
Ag éisteacht i gcoilltibh le binn-ghuth na n-eon;
Nuair a chuala an cath ag teacht aniar,
Glór na n-each ag teacht le sians
Le fuaim an airm do chrith an sliabh
Is níor bhinn linn an glór:
Thánadar go námhadmhar mar a thiocfadh garda de chonaibh nimhe
Is mo chumha-sa na sáirfhir do fágadh fí bhrón.

Níor fhan fear, bean, na páiste i mbun áitribh ná tighe ann
Ach na gártha goil do bhí aca is na na mílte ologón
Ag féachaint ar an ngárda ag teacht go láidir nár dtimpeall
Ag lámhach is ag líonadh is ag scaoileadh nar dtreo
An liú gur leath i bhfad i gcian
Sé dúirt gach flaith nar mhaith leis triall
Gluaisidh go mear ta an chath dá riar
Agus téimis na gcomhair
Thánadar na sár-fhir, I gcuim áthais ar Chlannaibh Gael
Is thiomáineadar na páinigh le fánaidh ar seol

Ba ghairid dúinn go dtainigh an lamh láidir nar dtimpeall
Do scaipeadar ar ndaoine ins gach maoilinn faoin gceo
Bhí an Barrach mar bhun-baille acu, Barnett agus Beecher
Hedges agus Faoite, is na mílte eile leo
Rí na bhfeart go lagaidh iad
Gan chlú, gan mheas gan rath gan séan
Go tinnte meara i measc na bpian
Gan faoiseamh go deo
Ach céad moladh mor le hÍosa, nar dhíolamar as an dtóir
Ach a bheith ag déanamh grinn de is dá innsint ar sógh.

Níor fhan fear bean ná páiste i mbun aitribh na tighe aca
Ach na gártha do bhí aca agus mílte ologón,
Ag féachaint ar an ngarda ag teacht láidir na dtimcheall
Ag lámhach is ag líonadh is ag scaoileadh na dtreo;
An liú gur lean abhfad i gcian,
Sé dubhairt gach flaith gur mhaith leis triall:
Gluaisidh mear, tá an cath dhá rian
Agus téighmis na chomhair;
Thánadar na sáirfhir i gcuim áthais le clannaibh Gaoidheal
Is chomáineadar na páinthigh le fánaidh ar seol.

Is gairid dúinn go dtáinig lámh láidir ár dtimcheall
Do sheol amach ar ndaoine go fíor-mhoch fín gceo:
An Barrach na bhumbáille, Barnet agus Beecher,
Hedges agus Faoitigh is na mílte eile leo;
Rí na bhfeart go lagaidh iad,
Gan chlú, gan mheas, gan rath, gan séan
I dteinte teasa ameasc na bpian
Gan faeseamh go deo!
Céad moladh mór le hÍosa nár dhíolamair as an dtóir
Ach bheith ag déanamh grinn de is á innsint ar sógh.

In the valley below Keimaneigh
By the river that flows through Ivleary
Where at night the deer goes
To sleep in pleasant repose
I like to think things out in my head
To sit a while and meditate
Listening to the sweet birds
All singing in the woods
When I heard the soldiers coming
Their horse hooves were drumming
And their noise shook the mountains
A sound grating to the marrow
They came with vicious intent like a pack of venomous hounds from hell
And I pity the fine men they left stretched in sorrow.

No man woman or child bided by home or house
But all were out with wails and piteous shouts
Watching the yeomen surrounding them in force
Firing at them as fast as they could reload;
The cry went far and wide for help
They are princes all who answered the call and said
Get a move on, the battles under way.
Lets all hurry to the fray.
There they came those men so brave
Exulting with the great pride of their race
And they drove that paunchy bunch downwards and away.

It wasnt long before a large force had us in a fix
Sending our people out early in the mist.
Barry the bumbailiff, Barnet and Beecher
Hedges and the Whites and a thousand other such creatures
May the God of wonders reduce them
Without fame or standing, prosperity or fortune
In the fires of hell stew them
And without cease abuse them
A thousand thanks to Jesus that we escaped the reckoning
And can laugh about that days rout with each humorous retelling.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Irish
• Tradition
• Liam
• Flynn
• piper
• piobaire
• Cath
• Cheim
• An
• Fhia
• Keimaneigh
• Celtic
• Celtique
• Folk

[MonterreyPresente]

Wow this music is wonderful, thanks for sharing. *****5

[UISTMAN59]

Thanks MonterreyPresente :-) Didn't see you had added acomment till now :-(

[Elderwilliam]

Marvellous just love The Uillean pipes , nice one Uistman

[UISTMAN59]

Thanks William.

[lorgain2]

A master at work beautiful, once again Uistmann a great posting, thank you.

[UISTMAN59]

Thanks for viewing Oliver Jim . Glad you enjoyed these blasts from the past :-)

[munsterfloyd]

That should be "deer". A slip of the thumb...

[munsterfloyd]

Ceim an fhia translates as the footstep of the dear.

[demantos666]

Mighty. Makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

[IrishChannel1]

Incredible Music .

***** and thank you .

[frankmck45]

Beautiful stuff Uistman