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    Home > Blog

    Mo chúranán, song

    Collected by Séamus Ennis from Donncha Ó Baoill (Dinny Pháidí Duncaí), c. 1901-1960s

    Mo chúranán, song / Lillis Ó Laoire, singing in Irish

    Mo Chúranán

    The meaning of the title is unclear, but it is most likely a term of endearment.

    Ennis wrote “Donnacha got this lullaby from a woman from Co. Antrim one night when there was music in the hotel in Gort an Choirce. He did not recall her name or her address. Seán Ó hEochaidh tells me that he often heard this air in Teileann, Donegal but these were not the words that accompanied it. He could not recall the words, however. I have transcribed the entire lullaby from Donncha.”

    [From NFC 1282:33]

    Note to music transcription:

    Ennis wrote the following above the music notation of the song:

    Music from Donnacha Ó Baoighill from Leitir Chatha, Clochán Liath, Tír Chonaill.

    ‘Mo Chúranán’ lullaby

    ‘Slowly, in a regular fashion’. He wrote ‘ralle[n]tando’ [gradual decrease of speed] over the final line of the notation.

    Mo chúranán, song, handwritten by Séamus Ennis, CBÉ 1282:33
    Lillis Ó Laoire / [unidentified photographer]
    Donncha Ó Baoill and Séamus Ennis / [unidentified photographer], Donegal, c. 1944. Image courtesy Tomás Ó Baoill

    Mo chúranán, song, handwritten by Séamus Ennis, CBÉ 1282:33

    Mo Chúranán.  (ó Dinny)

     

    Ó’s mo chúranán, mo chúranán,

    Mo chúranán ‘s mo phlúirín bheag,

    Grá mo chroí a sheóidín tsíoda

    Seachta mo chroí is mo chúranán.

     

    Ó’s mo dhamhna bheag, mo dhamhna bheag,    (foster-child = damhna)

    Mo dhamhna bheag, an t-úcaire, (fuller,dyer)

    Grá mo chroí a sheóidín tsíoda

    Seachta mo chroí ‘s mo dhamhna bheag.

     

    Ó’s m’aingeal thú, is m’aingeal thú,

    Is m’aingeal thú is béi go deó

    Grá mo chroí a sheóidín tsíoda

    Seachta mo chroí is m’aingeal thú.

     

    Ó chailín as Co. Aontroma a thóig Dinny an suantraighe seo thuas, oidhche dá rabh sí ag ceól i nGort a’ Choirce. Níor chuimhin leis a h-ainm ná a seóladh, mar níor casú dhó í ach an oidhche sin.

    Deir Seán liom (Ó h-Eochaidh) gur minic a chuala sé an fonn seo thiar i ndúthaigh Theileann, ach ní h-iad seo na foclaí a bhí leis, deir sé.

    Ní cuimhin leis, ámh, cé’n t-amhrán a mbíodh sé leis.

     

    Nóta  le hathscríobh an cheoil:

    Scríobh Ennis an méid seo a leanas os cionn nodaireacht an cheoil:

    Ceolta Dhonnchadha Uí Bhaoighill as Leitir Chatha, Clochán Liath, Tír Chonaill.

    ‘Mo Chúranán’ suantraighe.

    Go mall, rialta.  Scríobh sé ‘ralle[n]tando’ [ag moilliú] le líne dheireanach an cheoil.

    Thug sé cur síos ar an suantraí freisin:  ‘Fuair Donncha an suantraighe seo ó bhean as Co. Aontroma, oidhche dá rabhthas ag guil cheoil sa teach ósta i nGort a’Choirce. Níor chuimhin leis a h-ainm ná a seóladh. Deir Seán Ó h-Eochaidh liom gur minic a chuala sé an fonn ceóil seo thiar i dTeileann, Tír Chonaill ach nárbh’ iad seo na focail a bhí leis. Níor chuimhin leis na focail, ámh.  Tá an suantraighe uilig scríobtha agam ó Dhonnacha.

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