New Eir Ad “Fionnghuala”

Fionnula's Bothy
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This is a traditional Scottish song translated to Irish by John Walsh/Symphonic Music Publishing (IMRO) and appears in more...

This is a traditional Scottish song translated to Irish by John Walsh/Symphonic Music Publishing (IMRO) and appears in the new Eir ad, formally Eircom.

It’s a piece of mouth music originating from the Isle of Barra in the outer Hebrides, Scotland, credited to Calum Johnston of Barra. Irish musician Mícheál Ó Domhnaill from The Bothy Band collected this song from Calum Johnston.

From: Virginia Blankenhorn

Here’s the text as sung by Barra singer the late Calum Johnston on the School of Scottish Studies “Scottish Tradition” recording- more than likely the source used by the Bothy Band way back when.

All but the last line of the refrain consists of nonsense vocables based on the system known as “canntaireachd” that was developed in the highlands for the teaching of bagpiping. Calum Johnston himself was a wonderful piper.

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Irish

English

The blacksmith said, "I'll wait"
The blacksmith said, "I'll go"
The blacksmith said, in his confusion
Standing at the door of the barn
That he was going to go courting

Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Fingal's bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Fingal's bothies

I'd knock spots off the birds
I'd knock spots off the hakes
Little lythes of the sea
We would take a while hauling them in
If our hand lines last

Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Fingal's bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Fingal's bothies

We got nothing here
We got nothing here
We got nothing here
We would take a while hauling them in
If our hand lines last

Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Fingal's bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Fingal's bothies

Can you provide a better translation?

Chords

We will work out the chords for you on request.