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Na Gamhna Geala

from Rud Nach L​é​ir by Lí Ban

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about

We took this gem of a song from Dhá Chéad de Cheoltaibh Uladh, a 1934 publication by Monaghan man Énri Ó Muireasa which draws from his extensive collection of Ulster Gaelic material. The song takes the form of a diatribe by a newly married young woman concerning the uncomfortable situation she finds herself in - namely living in a pub near the mouth of the Bann River in Ulster. She remembers with fondness herding her father’s white calves in the mountain booley, the “gamhna geala” of the title, and compares that halcyon time to her current existence where her white calves are now nothing more than white geese which swim back and forth across the Bann. In the final verse her husband attempts to console her - we don’t learn if she takes his advice!

lyrics

Na Gamhna Geala

Is iad mo chuid gamhna na gamhna geala
Ithidh siad a’ féar ach chan ólann siad aon bhainne
Théid siad anonn is anall ar a’ Bhanna
Is chan fhearr leo an tráigh aca ná barr an láin mhara

Is fliuch ‘s is fuar a fuair mé an geimhreadh
Ag baint na séisce is aríst á hiomchar
Chan iad na ba maola is mó atá mé a chonsú
Chan iad nó a mbainne faraor ach na gamhna
Is iad mo chuid gamhna…

Rachaidh mise ‘un aonaigh is ceannócha mé gamhna
Cuirfidh mise isteach iad i bpáirc toigh an leanna
An áit a bhfuigh’ siad seamrógaí is nóiníní geala
Tiocfaidh siad ‘na bhaile ‘na ngamhna breátha
Is iad mo chuid gamhna…

Is ró-bheag mo spéis i gcupaí ná i gcártaí
I bhfuinneogaí gloine nó simleoirí arda
Is míle uair a bh’fhearr liom i mbothóig bhig samhraidh
Poll a bheith ar a’ scraith is mé ag coimhead ar na gamhna
Is iad mo chuid gamhna…

Charbh fhearr liomsa ribíní a bheith orm ná buarach
Charbh fhearr liom leaba fhlocais a bheith fúm ná lúchair
Ceoltaí na cruinne is bíodh a’ seinm i mo chluasa
Ach ba bhinne liomsa géimneach na ngamhna sa bhuaile
Is iad mo chuid gamhna…

Bheirimse mo mhallacht don eaglais a phos mé
Is mallacht is céad do na buachaillí óga
Nár lig domhsa fanacht mar a chleacht mé i gcónaí
‘Rinnce sa tsamhradh is na gamhna a’ seoladh
Is iad mo chuid gamhna…

Tiocfaidh an sioc agus greadfaidh an Márta
Tiocfaidh an sneachta go trom ar na harda
Tiocfaidh an t-éag ar an eallach is feannfar na gamhna
Is a chuisle ’s a rúin ná bíodh dúil agat ionta
Is iad mo chuid gamhna…

credits

from Rud Nach L​é​ir, released November 9, 2022
Vocals - Déaglán Ó Doibhlin,
Backing Vocals - Ríoghnach Connolly, Sorcha Uí Chuireáin, Feilimí Devlin, Méabh Ní Dhoibhlin

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Lí Ban

Remembering old and creating new aspects of traditions from Lough Neagh and the Bann in the ancient province of Ulster in Ireland. Ríoghnach Connolly collaborates with family; aunts, uncles and cousins coming together to make this unique album.

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