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An old Irish wedding song from Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim. Appears on Harvest Storm, the third studio album by Altan, released in 1992 on the Green Linnet label. Altan are an Irish folk music group. They were formed in County Donegal in 1985 by lead vocalist Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her since-deceased husband Frankie Kennedy. They brought Donegal’s rich collection of Irish language songs and instrumental styles to audiences around the world, and they remain as the world’s foremost Irish traditional group with over a million records sold.
Altan is undoubtedly the most acclaimed traditional group to come on the scene in the past few years, and their gem is the voice of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, heard here on a wedding song from Rathlin Island, off the North Coast of Ireland. Emphasizing the links between this region and Scotland, it is sung in a mix of Irish and Scots Gaelic, and is followed by a reel from the Shetland Islands, off Scotland.
Bhí móran daoine uasal ann. Bhí tuatanaigh na h-Alban ann. Bhí ‘n máistir scoile is an ministir ann. Bhí an laoch Mac Amhlaigh ann.
Curfá: Dónal, ‘sé Dónal, ‘sé Dónal a rinne an bhainis. Dónal agus Mórag a rinne an bhainis ainmeall.
Bhí cearcan ann, ‘s bhí géanna ann. Bhí corr is doisín sgairbh ann. Seo bha iad is bhí car a’ bí ann. ‘Sé cearc na n-éan a b’fhearr dhuibh ann.
Curfá
Bhí bradáin ‘s bric ón Éirne ann. Is flúirse feoil na bhfia n-éan ann. Feol mart ‘s lao, ba bhlasta bhí. Bhí uanfheol friochta is oisfheoil ann.
Bhí ‘n dí go fial ‘s go fairsing ann. Bhí brannda is fíon na Spáinne ann. Bhí póitín stil is mead le mil. Bhí beoir is leann na h-Éireann ann.
There were many noble people, There were ordinary folk from Scotland, The school master and the minister, The warrior McAuley was there.
Chorus: Donal, Donal, 'twas Donal who made the wedding. 'twas Donal and Morag made the wedding famous.
There were hens and geese there, There were more than a dozen sea birds, There all of it was, and the favorite food there Was the hens of the birds that they preferred.
Chorus
There were salmon and trout from the Erne, And an abundance of game and wild birds. The prime beef and veal were the tastiest. There was roast lamb and venison there.
The drinks were generous and plentiful, There was Spanish brandy and wine. There was homemade poteen and honey mead. There was beer and ale from Ireland there.
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