Gartan Mother's Lullaby
Encyclopedia
"Gartan Mother's Lullaby" is an old Irish
song and poem written by Herbert Hughes and Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil
, first published in Songs of Uladh [Ulster] in 1904. Hughes collected the trad melody in Donegal the previous year and Campbell wrote the lyrics. {source: Irish Country Songs - Herbert Hughes}.The song is a lullaby by a mother, from the parish of Gartan
in County Donegal
, to her child. The song refers to a number of figures in Irish mythology
, places in Ireland and words in the Irish language
. (Gartan is often misspelled as Garten.)
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
song and poem written by Herbert Hughes and Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil
Joseph Campbell (poet)
Joseph Campbell was an Irish poet and lyricist. He wrote under the Gaelicised version of his name Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil...
, first published in Songs of Uladh [Ulster] in 1904. Hughes collected the trad melody in Donegal the previous year and Campbell wrote the lyrics. {source: Irish Country Songs - Herbert Hughes}.The song is a lullaby by a mother, from the parish of Gartan
Gartan
Gartan is a parish in County Donegal, Ireland. It is best known for being the birthplace of Saint Colmcille or Columba, one of the three patron saints of Ireland and one of the most revered saints in the Christian world. Here he founded a monastery in 521...
in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, to her child. The song refers to a number of figures in Irish mythology
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
, places in Ireland and words in the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. (Gartan is often misspelled as Garten.)
Words of interest
- Aoibheall of Carraig Leath,commonly known as Aoibhinn the Beautiful - who is the queen of the Northern Fairies.
- The Green Man,(or Fear Glas in IrishIrish languageIrish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
) it is said if you see him in the morning, "no ill follows"; but if at night, death or some other terrible misfortune will surely overtake you. He is sometimes called Fear Liath, or the Grey Man. - Siabhra, is a generic term for an Irish fairy of any kind. In ancient writings the Tuatha de DanannTuatha Dé DanannThe Tuatha Dé Danann are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg....
, or little magicians of the Pagan Irish, were called "siabhra" without distinction. - Tearmann, Irish for TermonTermonTermon is a village in the north of Donegal, in the north of Ireland.It is situated eight miles from Letterkenny, Donegal's main town and seven from Creeslough...
, a village near Gartan in DonegalCounty DonegalCounty Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. - Leanbhan, is an old IrishIrish languageIrish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
word for little child. (leanbh is Irish for child +án leanbhán is its diminutive.)
Covers
- 2010 - Fionnuala SherryFionnuala SherryFionnuala Sherry is an Irish violinist and vocalist. She makes up the female part of the New Instrumental duo Secret Garden, which won the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 with the predominantly instrumental piece "Nocturne".-Background:...
covered on the album Songs From BeforeSongs from BeforeSongs From Before is the solo debut from Fionnuala Sherry of the New Instrumental duo Secret Garden. The album was self released in Ireland in November 2010. and was released in June 2011 in North America by Hearts of Space Records, an independent record label owned by Valley Entertainment... - 2006 - Órla FallonÓrla FallonÓrlagh Fallon , professionally known as Órla Fallon, is an Irish soloist, songwriter and former member of the group Celtic Woman and the chamber choir Anúna.- Life and career :...
, covered on the album The Water Is Wide - 2000 - Meryl StreepMeryl StreepMary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
, recorded for the album For Our Children: 10th Anniversary - 1999 - The CorriesThe CorriesThe Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. Although the group was a trio in the early days, it was as the partnership of Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne that it is best known.-Early years:...
, appears on their album The Best of The Corries - 1972 - The DublinersThe DublinersThe Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
, on their album Double DublinersDouble DublinersDouble Dubliners is The Dubliners' ninth studio album. It is also known as Alive and Well. A standout track here is a recitation by Ronnie Drew of Pádraig Pearse's poem "The Rebel". This album features the original members. Other notable tracks here are "The Sun Is Burning" and "The Night...
Lyrics
- Sleep, O babe, for the red-bee hums
- The silent twilight's fall:
- Aibheall from the Grey Rock comes
- To wrap the world in thrall.
- A leanbhan O, my child, my joy,
- My love and heart's-desire,
- The crickets sing you lullaby
- Beside the dying fire.
- Dusk is drawn, and the Green Man's Thorn
- Is wreathed in rings of fog:
- Siabhra sails his boat till morn
- Upon the Starry Bog.
- A leanbhan O, the pale half moon
- Hath brimmed her cusp in dew,
- And weeps to hear the sad sleep-tune
- I sing, O love, to you.
- Faintly sweet doth the chapel bell
- Ring o'er the valley dim:
- Tearmann's peasant-voices swell
- In fragrant evening hymn.
- A leanbhan O, the low bell rings
- My little lamb to rest
- And angel-dreams, till morning sings
- Its music in your breast.
- Sleep, O babe, for the red-bee hums
- The silent twighlight's fall,
- Aoibheall from the Grey Rock comes
- To wrap the world in thrall.
- A leanbhan O, my child, my joy,
- My love and heart's-desire,
- The crickets sing you lullaby
- Beside the dying fire.