Too Beautiful An Irish Song For Even A Tin Whistle

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rkottke
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Too Beautiful An Irish Song For Even A Tin Whistle

Post by rkottke »

The following Irish song, sung by Máire Brennan of Clannad, is in my opinion too beautiful for any instrument except a woman's voice. It is

Gaoth Barra Na dTonn
Tá gealach na gconnlach ag éirí sa spéir
'S grian bhuí an Fhómhair ag tomadh sa weir
Tá na beachógaí 'dranndián sa tsean duilliúr donn
Tá Gaoth Barra na g'Coillte, Gaoth Barra na d'Tonn

Tá na ba óga geimní 'nuas mhallí chró lí?
Sna caoirigh ag meidhlí le druidim na hoich'
Tá geal gháir na sruthan fán screagach anonn
Tá Gaoth Barra na g'Coillte, Gaoth Barra na d'Tonn

Ina sruth uisce cheolmhar tá na bradáin a'sceith
'S thart fa na himill tá an fhuiseog a breith
Tig na héanlaith na scaoth ann, an druideog san lon
Mar tá dideán gan doicheall fá Gaoth Barra na d'Tonn

'S gímse Pádraig agus Naomh Chonaill caol
Nach n-iarraim aon Fhlairheas i ndeireadh mo shaoil
Ach m'anam bheith seoladh fá'n duilliúr donn
Tá ag fás fa do chladaí, a Gaoth Barra na d'Tonn

Composed by Domhnail Mac Diarmada, it described the scenic landscape of Gaoith Barra which forms the southern boundry of the Rosses. He says he would prefer his soul to drift along Gaoith Barra than to be in Heaven itself.

I have searched the Internet to get even a loose translation to English of this song, but have not found one. If someone could give me a translation, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance. :) :) :)
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Redwolf
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Post by Redwolf »

If you want, we'll be happy to work on it for you over here:

http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/translation/

In fact, how 'bout I post the lyrics there right now, and we'll see what folks come up with? This is a good time, as most of the translators are on at this time of day.

I'll post it under the header "song lyrics" and post a link to the thread here in a minute.

Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
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Redwolf
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Post by Redwolf »

OK...here's a link to the posting:

http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/tr ... 13306.html

I'll work on it too, but the more eyes on the translation, the better. You might want to check back throughout the day.

Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
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Post by BrassBlower »

I'm working on the other end of this one, and attempting to get the answer straight from the source or thereabouts. If I come up with anything, I'll let you know. :D
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Redwolf
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Post by Redwolf »

We've got a partial translation going over at IGT. Some of the stuff is pretty idiomatic and isn't translating easily, but we have a couple of people over there that should be able to tweak it into the right form.

Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
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mconners
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Post by mconners »

In general, if the song/air is too beautiful to be played on the whistle (or any other regular instrument), it's perfect for the uilleann pipes.

:D
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Post by Redwolf »

I THINK I may have it here, but wait for the other translators to weigh in. I got most of it literally, and then went for an idiomatic translation. Check in tonight and see what Oisin, Conor, Merryploughbhoy, Ailill and Murchada have to say.

http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/tr ... 13306.html

Redwolf
Last edited by Redwolf on Tue Jun 22, 2004 1:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
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rkottke
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Many, many thanks so far

Post by rkottke »

Many, many thanks so far. This to me is the most beautiful Irish song I have ever heard. It really got me hooked into the depth of feeling of Irish (and all Celtic) music. :) :) :)
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IDAwHOa
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Tell us something.: I play whistles. I sell whistles. This seems just a BIT excessive to the cause. A sentence or two is WAY less than 100 characters.

Re: Many, many thanks so far

Post by IDAwHOa »

rkottke wrote:Many, many thanks so far. This to me is the most beautiful Irish song I have ever heard. It really got me hooked into the depth of feeling of Irish (and all Celtic) music. :) :) :)
OK, so where are the notes to this song? As it stands it is just a very beautiful poem.

I promise to not play it on my whistle (yup, all fingers and toes are crossed :P )
Steven - IDAwHOa - Wood Rocks

"If you keep asking questions.... You keep getting answers." - Miss Frizzle - The Magic School Bus
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IDAwHOa
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Tell us something.: I play whistles. I sell whistles. This seems just a BIT excessive to the cause. A sentence or two is WAY less than 100 characters.

Post by IDAwHOa »

Redwolf wrote:OK...here's a link to the posting:

http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/tr ... 13306.html

I'll work on it too, but the more eyes on the translation, the better. You might want to check back throughout the day.

Redwolf
Entry Word: frisk
Function: verb
Text: 1
Synonyms GAMBOL, caper, cavort, frolic, rollick, romp
2
Synonyms SEARCH 2, ||fan, shake down


Do you see it Redwolf?? Do you see the word that would make that line about the sheep just perfect??? :D

And the sheep frisk at the approach of the night,

or

And the sheep frolic at the approach of the night,

I do not know the language, but I sure do know how to use an online Dictionary/Thesaurus!!! :lol:
Steven - IDAwHOa - Wood Rocks

"If you keep asking questions.... You keep getting answers." - Miss Frizzle - The Magic School Bus
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Redwolf
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Post by Redwolf »

Yep...I like "frolic" better too.

I keep hoping one of the more experienced translators will take a look at it. They will eventually, but it would be nice to know sooner. There were several words I didn't know and couldn't find in either of mo foclóirí...I went heavily on context, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.

Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
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Post by Roger O'Keeffe »

The word gambolling seems to have a fatal attraction for sheep contexts, so I suggest you avoid it - it's one of those quasi-nonce words like the "skirl" of the pipes that become pure cliché: the verbal equivalent of "Amazing Grace" on the GHBs!

But thanks for the link to that website, Redwolf, I'll post it on Mudcat where people sometimes look for guidance with Irish words.
An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
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Post by rkottke »

Go raibh míle maith agat! Redwood, the translation was fantastic! :) :) :) :) :)
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Redwolf
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Post by Redwolf »

rkottke wrote:Go raibh míle maith agat! Redwood, the translation was fantastic! :) :) :) :) :)
Well, you're welcome, but we don't know if it's correct yet. I'm still trying to get one of the more experienced translators to take a look. As we always tell people on IGT, "wait for confirmation."

I think the basic meaning is there, but I'm not sure about some of the individual lines.

Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
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Post by BrassBlower »

I don't have anything from my end yet, but here's a link to a lyrics site with some other songs translated:

http://www.geocities.com/celticlyricscorner/

Hopefully this helps.

-Jim
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