Track Notes

1. Na Buachaillí Álainn,
Mo Bheannacht le na buachaillí a dimigh uain thar sáile,
Ach dfág siad culaith dheas orm le dhul amach De Domhanigh,
Cóta mór go talamh agus bheiste den tsíoda láidir,
Bríste bh í san fhaisean agus bróga de'n leather Spainneach.

Curfa
Or ó na buachaillí, na buachaillí bhí álainn,
Or ó na buachaillí, na buachaill í bhí álainn,

Nuair a tchímsa an fharraige garbh ó sé mo chroí báos cráite,
Ag smaoineadh ar na buachaillí mar bhíonn siad ins na bádaí,
Ach guím-sa Rí na nAingeal sé shorchúios na pláinéid,
'S go dtuga sé slán na buachaillí ar chontúirt a bheith báite.

Curfa

Fuair mé litir as Albain's ní raibh sé in mo shásamh,
Gur pósadh na buachaillí ar chailíní na h-áite,
Ach ní nár mhaith linn acu iad dá mbeadh siad inar sásamh,
Ach cailíní na n-oiléan's iad an dream a bhfearr linn.

Curfa

Ar ár gcuairt go hOileán Thoraigh sa tSamhradh
thug Séamus Ó Dúgáin (Jamie Mhaire Bhilly) cupla
amhrán dúinn agus is é seo ceann acu.

A song given to us by Jamie Duggan from Tory Isle off the coast of Donegal. The poem is found in "Céad de Cheoltaibh Uladh.

2. Mheall Si Lena Glorthai Me
Seo mo mhallacht ar na mná,
'S iad a mhearaigh mé 'gus rinne mo chrá,
Thit mé I dtús mo shaoil I ngrá le spéirbhean
álainn óg,
Is mheall so lena glórthaí mé.

'S í bhí sochmai laghach gan bhróid,
'S í ba mheallachai's ba mhilse póg,
Bhi sé cróiúil gcreannmhar cóir's ni bréag a
bhfuil mé rá,
Gur mheall sí lena glórthai mé.

Shil mé nach raibh duine bocht ar mo dhream,
Nach raibh sa tsoal seo ach spórt is greann,
Ach faraoir tá mé fágtha anois go fann, mo
dhobhrán bocht liom féin,
Ó mheall sí lena glórthai mé.

Is iomai oiche fhada fhuar,
A chaith mé 'suirí leithe chois na gcruach,
Is a 'teacht 'na 'bhaile arís gan ghruaim le
bodhránacht a' lae,
Nuair a mheall si lena glórthai mé.

Thóg sí a seotlaí I bhfad ar shiúl,
Is d'fhág si mise a sileadh na sul,
Nar chuma liom dá mbínn a'dúil, lena feicéail
aris níos mó
Och, mbheall sí lena glórthai mé.

Nach doiligh domhsa theacht fríd a' tsail,
O d'eálaigh an ainnir úd a chráigh mo chroí,
Is d'fhág si mise lag gan bhrí 'o mo chautheamh
's 'o chloí,
Ó mheall si lena glórthai mé.

Ach dá bhfáighinn-sa an saol seo ar mo mhain,
Scéal cinnte go mbeimis óg a choich',
Nó chuirfinn-se lámh na cloige arís
Go dti an t-am arbh fhiú bheith beo
Nuair a mheall sí lena glórthai mé.

Seo amhrán a chum sar-fhile as Rann na Feirste -
Séan Bán Mac Grianna.

3. Bruach Na Carraige Báine
Seo leagan do Bruach na Carraige Báine a fuair muid in "Londubh an chairn".

A song that is said to have been composed in the year 1666 in County Tyrone.

4. Lá Breá Fán Dtuath
(A fine day in the countryside)
Ciarán Ó Braonáin.

5. An tÚll
Tá scéillin nua 'gam le h-insint dóibhse,
Cúrsaí spóirt agus comhrá dí,
Ull breá gleoite so chuireas I mo phóca,
'S ní bhfuaras romham ach prátín sil.

Curfa

Ó mo thuirse mar shileann mo shúile,
Indiadh an úll ud a bhi bréa bui,
An óig -bhean uasal bhi t'reis é thabhairt domh,
'S do thabhairfinn púnt ar é bhlaiseadh arís.

Do shiúlais Cléire agus Carraig Aonair,
Cuanta Béara bhi romham sa tsli,
Puinte na nGréige 'gus na nDorsaí Maola,
An fhiach 's an lao taobh amuigh de Bhaoi.

Curfa

Do shiúlais Cualach mar a bhios buartha
An pharoiste thuaidh a 's na hAdhrai,
San oileán Muarseadh d'inis dom buachaill
Nach bhfáighinn a thuairisc go dtéinn thar
snaidhm.

Curfa

Do shiúlios Coibh agus Baile na Móna,
Cathair Tún Tóime 'gus Inis Seircin,
Soir ar a chósta sea d'inis domh stróinse,
Go rabh sé na sheo acu ar Sráid Néidin.

Curfa

Amhrán grá faithchiallach é seo atá cineal beag
graosta. Tá sé fá staoth de réice de bhuachaill óg atá ag
suil na dtiortha ar lorg a ghrá. Ba é Donal Mac a Bhaird a spreag muid an tamhran seo a cheol arí.

6. Strayed Away,
Ears will hear them sing,
Names gracefully ring,
Far places, the over-thrown traces
and stray away.

Farther on we go,
More beggars with bowls,
Small vessels to hold the whole world
of the strayed away.

Letters home from here
tell fortune and cheer
How can they believe it
from someone who has strayed away?

Strangers by the door
camp - tired and sore
Come counting on kindness
for those who have strayed away.

Every mile you roam,
Ten thousand from home,
Long reasons for grieving,
Believing you've strayed away.

Cuala muid an fonn seo ceolta ar Oilean Thoraigh ag Séamus Ó Dúgáin.

On the search for new material the melody line from this song came into light, and it was everyone's opinion that if given the right kind of treatment it would provide a good basis for the writing talents of our old friend Thom Moore. Thom is now living in California and ranks amongst the best songwriters in the world.

7. Ní Lá Na Gaoithe Lá Na Scoilb?
Piosa a chum Pól.
Cóiraithe agie féin agus ag Ciarán.

An Irish proverb with the message that one should not put off till tomorrow what can be done today.

8. Lish Young Buy-A-Broom,
As I went a-walking in the North Country,
Down by Kirby Steven I happened for to be,
As I was a-walking up and down the street,
A pretty little buy-a-broom I chanced to meet.

Chorus

For she was right, I was tight, everybody has their way,
It was the lish young buy-a-broom that led me astray.

She kindly then invited me to go a little way,
Yes was the answer to her I did say,
There was me with my music walkin' down the street,
And her with her tambourine was beatin' hand and feet.

Chorus

Straight way out for Kendal town we steered her and I ,
Over you green mountain the weather being dry,
We each had a bottle filled up to the top
And whenever we were feeling dry we took a little drop.

Chorus

The night was coming on and good lodgings we did find,
Eatables of all kind and plenty of good wine,
Good bed and blankets just for we two,
And I rolled her in me arms me boys, and wouldn't you do too.

Chorus

Early the next morning we arose to go our way,
I called for the landlord to see what was to pay,
Fourteen and sixpence just for two,
Four crowns upon the table my darling then she threw.

Chorus

Well the reason that we parted I now shall let you hear,
She started off for Germany right early the next year,
But me being unwilling to cross the raging sea,
Here's a health unto my bonny lass wherever she may be.

Chorus

I mentioned the possibility of using this song a long time ago to the group. Due to the fact that it was very difficult to track down Andy Irvine, from whom I first heard the song, it was difficult to get all the verses. So, the first verses are from memory and the rest given to us by Chris Fitzgerald over the telephone from the Quays pub in Galway.
Nick Ryan.

9. Mhórag's Na Horo Gheallaidh,
Mhórag Bheag a'chúl dualaich
gu dé dh'fhág an gruaim air t'aire.

'G iomain a chruaidh-laoidh gu buaile
'S nach fhaic mí mo luaidh a dh'fhearaibh.

'G iomain a chruaidh-laoidh gu áiridh
'S nach fhaic mi mo ghrádh a dh'fhearaibh.

Suithadaibh luadhaibh an cló
gu deise phósaidh dha mo leannan.

Chan eil mo leannan-so ga h-iarriadh
Thá té liath aige's té thartáin.

Thá té úr am búth an táilleir
'S thíg I an duigh na 'maireach dhachaidh.

Amhran luaidh.

A walking song from Scotland, in the same vein as Dheanainn Sugradh. There are two versions of this song, the one used in this album came to our notice at a late stage in rehearsals, and it was thanks to Niel Frazer of B.B.C. Scotland and a very long telex that we got the words in time.

10. The Green Fields Of Gaothdobhair
Down past Dunlewey's bonny lakes
One morning I did stray,
Until I reached sweet Clady banks
where the silvery salmon play,
I strolled around through old Bunbeg
and down along the shore,
And gazed with admiration
on the green fields of Gaothdobhair.

I visit Magherclocher,
On Middletown heights I stand,
Beneath me lies the ocean wide,
and Machergallon strand,
Those sandy banks so dear to me,
Those banks I do adore,
Behind me lies sweet Derrybeg
and the green fields of Gaothdobhair.

The bonny Isle of Goal
and Inishmean so near,
I see the little fishing fleet
as it lies along the pier,
I wander through the graveyard
where those have gone before,
That once lived happy and content
on the green fields of Gaothdobhair.

I see sweet Inish Oirthir,
and far off Tory Isle,
I view the ocean liners
as they stream along in style,
on board are Irish emigrants
with hearts both sad and sore,
As they gazed on old Tir Chonaill hills
and the green fields of Gaothdobhair.

An old song in praise of the parish from which we come.

Cathal Ó Baoill (Charlie Joe Thimlin) sang the words of this song to us which we set to a County Derry air.

11. Buaireamh An Phósta
Cúradh croi ar a phósadh is ar buachaillí óg an tsaoil;
Nár bhfearr dóbhta cailín beag dóighiúil nó 'bean agus puntai léi?
Oiche mhór shneachta nó shiobtha nár dheas a bheith comhrá léi
Seachas a' cailín dubh dubh bui sa chuid puntai agus I bheith ag gearán go géar.
Nach mise a bhi aoibhinn sásta, ag ragaireacht lá gan léan,
Nó gur chuireas mo mhér ins an fhainne, agus coráin ar chlár dó 'n chléir:
Fuair mé an bhean a bhí i ndán domh, ach má tá, chan í grá mo chroí,
Ach cailin dubh buí a bhios ag srannfaí, is ag tarraingt tsuisin léi.
An oiche udai rinneadh mo chleamhans, dar a leabhra char mhian liom é,
Gealladh naoi mbó fichead domh le cailin dubh bui gan scéimh,
Gealladh naoi mbó fichead domh le cailin dubh bui gan chéill,
Ach mo mhairg gur phós mé ariamh i is ainnir na gcraobh mo dhiaidh.
Dé Mairt a rinneadh mo chleamhnas, mo chreach is m'amhgar géar,
Ghlac mise cómhairle mo mhuinntir - is páirt mhór do mo aibhleas é;
Pósadh mise go cinnte ar sahmahailt na mná gan scéimh,
Is trua nár sineadh 'mo chónair mé sul a thug mé mo gheall arrimh.
Nuair a théim i dtí faire no tórraimh 'sé fhiafrionnn na hoganai diom,
"Caidé mar a mhothíonn tú 'n pósadh no 'n mothúionn tú d'oige dá claci"?
Súim is aithrisim loebha go mothaim go mór faraoir,
Is an té udai nach bhfuil pósta gur aige tá spóirt an staoil.
Is mise nach ndéan fadh dichéille da bhfuigheadh mo chéile bás;
An óiche a dfagfainn 's a' chré i chodlóinn fhéin mo sháith;
Cheannóinn culaith maith eadai, hata 'gus léine bhán,
Chuirfinn mo dhúil sa phleisiúr agus thógfaidh dhíom buaireamh 'n tsaoil.

Ba é Dónal Mac Diarmada, file Ghaothbearra a thúg an tamhrán seo dúinn.

A humorous song about marriage where the dowry is the sole consideration. This song is also found in "Cead de Cheoltaibh Uladh".

Our very special thanks to Noel Bridgeman, Pat O'Farrell and Neil Buckley for the way in which they applied their great talents to our songs. Buiochas do mhuintir Thoraigh.

Thanks to:

Máire Bean Ní Dúgáin, Séamus Ó Dúgáin (Jamie Mháire Bhilly), Dónal Mac Diarmada, Cathal Ó Baoill (Charlie Joe Thimlin), Dóanl Mac a Bhaird, John Gallagher (John Mhary Mhici), Cathal Ó Baoill (Múinteor), Rev. Terence McCaughey, Christine Wyss, Linda Hennessy, Chris Fitzgerald, Neil Frazer B.B.C. Scotland, Dr. Stanley Buchalter, Séan Meehan, Jeff Ballantine and A.K.G., John Cook, Brain Masterson, Pearse Dunne, Chris Keegan, Thom Moore, Leon Ó Braonáin, Roma Ryan.

We would like to take this opportunity to express our support for the people of Tory Isle in their efforts to retain their identity and so keep alive a very important part of our culture and heritage. Máire and Eithne Ní Bhraonain, Ciarán and Pól Ó Braonáin, Noel and Pádraig Ó Dúigáin, Nicky Ryan.