Iarla Ó Lionáird - Caoineadh na dTrí Mhuire

Crying Hymn of the three keening Marys

An é sin an maicín a d'iompair mé trí ráithe?
(Ochón agus ochón ó!)
Nó 'n é sin an maicín a rugadh ins an stábla?
(Ochón agus ochón ó!)

Nó an é sin an maicín a hoileadh in ucht Mháire?
A mhaicín mhuirneach, tá do rós-bhéilín gearrtha.

Chrochadar suas í ar ghuaillí arda
'Gus chuireadar anuas í faoi leacrachaí na sráide

Buailigí mé féin ach ná bainidh le mo mháithrín
Maróidh muid thú féin agus buailfidh muid do mháithrín.

Cuireadh culaith róin air le spídiúlacht a namhaid
'Gus cuireadh an tsleá thrína bhrollach álainn.

Cuireadh go Calvary é ag méadú ar a pháise
Bhí sé ag iompar na croise 'gus Síomón lena shála

Éist, a Mháthair 'gus ná bí cráite
Tá mná mo chaointe le breith fós, a mháithrín.



Here's the English version... seo leagan Béarla de:

Is that the dear son I carried for three seasons?
Or is that the dear son who was born in the stable?

Or is that the dear son who was reared in Mary's bosom?
My little darling son, your rosy mouth is bleeding.

They lifted her up on high shoulders
And they cast her down on the stones of the street.

Beat me, but do not touch my mother.
"You we will kill, and we will beat your mother."

A hair shirt was put on him through malice of his enemies
And the spear was thrust through his lovely bosom.

He was sent to Calvary, increasing his suffering
He was carrying the cross, while Simon followed after.

"Listen, O Mother, and do not be tormented,
The women who will keen me are yet unborn, dear mother."

Buíochas do staidmheidhreog do na liricí seo.
http://ie.youtube.com/profile?user=staidmheidhreog


In the poem below, it is Mary the mother of Jesus who is speaking. There are three octaines and one quatraine to this song.
Throughout Ireland these sacred songs were felt to function both as prayers and as direct substitutes for the caoineadh ('keening', women's funeral lament) which was suppressed by the Church.


1. A Pheadair, a Aspail, a bhfaca tú mo Ghrá geal?
Ochón agus ochón ó!
Do chonaic mé ar ball é i lár a namhad
Ochón agus ochón ó!
Gabhaigí 'leith, a dhá Mhuire, go gcaoine sibh mo Ghrá liom
Ochón agus ochón ó!
Céard tá le caoineadh 'gainn muna gcaoinimid a chnámha
Ochón agus ochón ó!

2. Cé hé an fear breá sin ar Chrann na Páise?
Ochón agus ochón ó!
An é nach n-aithnír do Mhac, a Mháthair?
Ochón agus ochón ó!
An é sin an Maicín a d'iompair mé trí ráithe?
Ochón agus ochón ó!
Nó 'n é sin an Maicín a rugadh sa stábla?
Ochón agus ochón ó!

3. Nó an é sin an Maicín a hoileadh in ucht
Mháire?
Ochón agus ochón ó!
Éist a Mháthair is ná bí cráite
Ochón agus ochón ó!
'S an é sin an casúr a bhuail Tríot na tairní
Ochón agus ochón ó!
Nó 'n í sin an tsleá a chuaigh trí Do lár geal
Ochón agus ochón ó!

4. * A Leinbh, is mor e tualach is leig cuid de ar do Mhathair.
Ochone is ochone o!"
"Iompruiodh gach einne a chrosa, a Mhaithrin."
"Ochone is ochone o!"


1. O Peter, apostle, have you seen my love so bright?
"Alas and woe to me"
I saw him in the midst of his enemies tonight.
"Alas and woe to me"
Come to me you two Marys (Mary Magdalene & Mary of Cleophas,) and mourne with me.
Alas and woe to me!
What have we to mourne without his bones?
Alas and woe to me!

2. Who is that fine man upon the passion tree?
Alas and woe to me!
It is your son, O Mother, don't you recognize me?
Alas and woe to me!
Is that the wee babe I borne nine months in my womb?
Alas and woe to me!
That was born in a stable when no one would give us room?
Alas and woe to me!

3. Is that the wee Son that was nourished at Mary's breast?
Alas and woe to me!
Listen, mother, and do not be sorrowful.
Alas and woe to me!
And is that the hammer that drove the nails through You?
Alas and woe to me!
Or is that the spear that pierced Your pure heart through?
Alas and woe to me!

4. * My Son, big is your burden, let your mother help you carry it.
Alas and woe to me!
Little mother, we each must carry our own cross.
Alas and woe to me!

The Highland Sessions - BBC 2005

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[pakehakiwi]

A very sad song but very beautiful.

Could you imagine the grief Mother Mary suffered while seeing her Son tortured and crucified beyond recognition.

[Bewdleypiper]

Tá guth álainn aige. Fear plé dó.

[alexpjp]

Why ruin the old style with silly modern chords, which don't add ANYTHING to it!? It annoys me a lot.

[241hnd]

This music is beautiful. There are other videos here with the same group, (Mo Ghile Mear, etc.) that I also like. Is there a video of the entire program, or is there a DVD available? If there isn't there should be.

[nuttycrust35]

inspirational

[Alextheastronaut]

Is e an t-amhran iontach. Nil an cheoil thraidisiunta, ach te se go halainn.

[gajda1984]

Mourning songs are an old tradition in Europe. This reminds me of the Tazhat songs from Macedonia, sung by women at funerals.

[bookkeeper57]

This man O'Lionaird is one of Ireland's most traditional folk singers.

[TheSandsie13]

dia the voice of an angel. my daddy sung this at my best mate's gran's funeral. not a dry eye in the house.

[lightn56]

What an articulate guy and one great singer

[culmie]

Is this in the ' Sean No's style ?

(Siorry for the lack of correct squiggly bits here an there0

[Shanniquitie]

beautiful. keep the traditions alive