Before you edit: All changes are checked by a moderator before being published to the site and could take a few days.
Credits: Thomas Walsh; lyrics by Ethna Carberry; adapted by Lasairfhíona Ní Chonaola. This song can be found on the album An Raicín Álainn, which was released in 2002. Sung by Lasairfhíona, who is from the island of Inis Oírr herself, the tune was originally composed in the 1970s by Dublin accordion player Thomas Walsh and the lyrics were later added by Lasairfhíona, based on the poem “On Inisheer” by Ethna Carbery (1866-1902).
Inis Oírr, in Inis Oírr Ní raibh eolas agam ar fhaitíos Ná ar an dólás A stopfadh gáirí Go dtí an lá duairc úd Nuair a sheol mo ghrá uaim Tháinig scamall ar an ngrian Is é dorcha ina dhiaidh
Cén fáth ar imigh tú Sular spléach an sabhaircín Tríd an bhféar a bhí bán Ón ngaoth shearbh-ghoirt? Anseo cois na tine dúinn Ba againn a bheadh toil ár gcroí Nárbh é an suaimhneas sámh seo Ab fhearr dúinn?
Lá éicint atá ceaptha amach Tiocfaidh tú ar ais, a stór Do churach ar luas In aghaidh an taoille Le toil do mhuintir féin Ar chraga Inis Meáin Le mo ghalar dubhach a leigheas Más féidir é
Inis Oírr, in Inis Oírr Ó fanfaidh mé leat ann Ag sníomh na mbrionglóid’ De ló is d’oíche Go dtí go mbeidh agat ór Is go mbeidh do thaisteal déanta. Glacfaidh tú mé i do chroí Is tógfaidh sin an cian díom
In Inis Oírr, in Inis Oírr I didn’t know about fear Nor of the sorrow That would stop laughter Until that gloomy day When my love sailed from me A cloud came over the sun And it was dark after that
Why did you leave Before the primrose peeped out Through the grass bleached By the bitter salty wind? Here by the fire We’d have had our hearts’ desire Wasn’t it this gentle tranquillity That was best for us?
Some day that’s meant to be You’ll come back, my darling Your currach speeding Against the tide With your own people’s consent On the crags of Inis Meáin To cure my melancholy If that can be done
Inis Oírr, in Inis Oírr Oh I’ll wait for you there Spinning dreams By day and night Until you have gold And your travelling is done You will take me into your heart And that will lift the sadness from me
SongsInIrish.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com or amazon.co.uk.