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The UCD Choral Scholars released their debut international recording on Signum Records on 11th December 2015 (USA and Canada – 12th February 2016). The disc, entitled Invisible Stars is an enchanting collection of traditional and contemporary choral music from Ireland and Scotland and features arrangements and new compositions by some of Ireland’s most celebrated composers for choir, including Michael McGlynn, Brendan Graham, Ivo Antognini, Bill Whelan and the group’s artistic director, Desmond Earley.
This is a traditional Irish song written by 18th-century poet Seán Clárach Mac Domhnaill, to honor Prince Charles Stewart (“Bonnie Prince Charlie”). Mo Ghile Mear is his most famous poem. It is a lament or caoineadh that was written after the defeat of the Bonnie Prince Charles at the Battle of Culloden, Scotland, in 1746. The Irish poets had pinned their hopes on this revolutionary prince and his flight was a crushing blow to the long-suffering Gaeil of both Éire and Scotland. Their exasperation and despair is vividly portrayed in this poem. Like all other Gaelic poems of the time, Mo Ghile Mear would have been sung rather than recited; indeed, the melody is well-known today.
Curfá ’Sé mo laoch mo ghille mear ’Sé mo Shaesar, ghille mear, Ní fhuaras féin aon tsuan ná séan, Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo ghille mear. x2
Bímse buan ar buairt gach ló, Ag caoi go crua is ag tuar na ndeor Mar scaoileadh uaim an buachaill beo Is ná ríomhtar tuairisc uaidh, mo bhrón.
Curfá
Ní haoibhinn cuach ba suairc ar neoin, Táid fíorchoin uaisle ar uatha spóirt, Táid saoithe 's suadha i mbuairt 's i mbrón Ó scaoileadh uainn an buachaill beo
Is cosúil é le hAonghus Óg, Le Lughaidh Mac Chéin na mbéimeann mór, Le Cú Raoi, ardmhac Dáire an óir, Taoiseach Éireann tréan ar tóir.
Le Conall Cearnach bhearnadh poirt, Le Fearghas fiúntach fionn Mac Róigh Le Conchubhar cáidhmhac Náis na nós, Taoiseach aoibhinn Chraoibhe an cheoil.
Curfá x2
Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo Ghile Mear.
Chorus My dashing darling is my hero My dashing darling is my Caesar I have had neither sleep nor good fortune Since my dashing darling went far away x2
I am perpetually worried every day Wailing heavily and shedding tears Since my lively boy was released from me And there is no word of him, alas
Chorus
The pleasure of the cheerful cuckoo at noon is gone The affable nobility are not bothered with sport The learned and the cultured are worried and sad Since the lively lad was taken from me
He is like Young Aonghus Like Lughaidh Mac Chéin of the great blows Like Cú Raoi, great son of Dáire of the gold Leader of Éire strong in pursuit
Like Conall Cearnach who breached defences Like worthy fair haired Feargas Mac Róigh Like Conchubhar venerable son of Nás of the tradition The pleasant chieftain of the musical [Fenian] Branch
Chorus x2
Since my dashing darling went far away
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