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This song was written by Irish musician Proinsias Ó Maonaigh (Francie Mooney) about his hometown of Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal. Altan’s version of the song appears on their 1997 album Runaway Sunday. Irish singer Paul Brady has recorded the song on numerous occasions. Same tune as Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore.
Proinsias was a fiddler from Gweedore (Gaoth Dobhair), County Donegal. He is known for his distinguished fiddle playing and his unique and vast contribution to Irish music and culture. He was a son of famous musician from the area Róise Mhór who would have played with an Píobaire Mór Tarlach Mac Suibhne. It was an Irish speaking household and traditional music was nurtured within the home and they were taught many Irish songs.
His daughter Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is the lead and founding member of internationally recognised group Altan. His son Gearóid is also well known locally for his musical talents, as well as his love of Irish traditional music. Gearóid and other family members, such as Ann Mooney, are also heavily involved in organizing musical events locally such as the world-famous Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy.
Céad slán ag sléibhte maorga Chondae Dhún na nGall Agus dhá chéad slán Ag an Earagal árd Ina stua os cionn caor 's call Nuair a ghluais mise thart Le loch Dhún Lúich Go ciún 'sa ghleann ina luí I mo dhiaidh bhí Gleanntáin Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair Is beag nár bhris mo chroí
Ag taisteal domh amach Fríd chnoic Ghleann Domhain 'S an Mhucais ar mo chúl Ní miste domh 'ra le brón 's le crá Gur fhreasach a shil mise súil Go 'Meiriceá siar, a bhí mo thriall I bhfad thar an fharraige mhór D'fhag mé slán ar feadh seal ag Dún na nGall 'S ag Gleanntáin Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair
Níorbh é mo mhiansa imeacht ariamh Ó m' thír bheag dhílis féin Ach trom lámh Gall, le cluain 'S le feall, a thiomáin mé i gnéill B'é rún mo chroí-se pilleadh arís Nuair a dhéanfainn beagán stór 'S deireadh mo shaoil A chaitheamh lem ghaoil Fá Ghleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair
Slán, slán go fóill a Dhún na nGall A chondae shéimh gan smál 'S dod gheara breá in am an ghá Nár umhlaigh riamh roimh Ghall Tá áit i mo chroí do gach fear 's gach mnaoi 'S gach páiste beag agus mór Áta beo go buan, gan bhuairt, gan ghruaim Fá Ghleanntáin Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair
Farewell to stately mountains Of dear old Donegal And twice farewell To Errigal hill As it towers o'er ash tree and rowen As I passed through The glen by Dunlewey Lake With waters so peaceful and calm With an ache in my heart I was forced to depart From Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair
As I journeyed on Through Glendowan's hills With Muckish to the rear With a heart full of pain I felt no shame 'Twas there that I shed bitter tears I was bound for the shores of America Far across the wild raging foam I bade farewell For a spell to Donegal And Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair
'Twas never my play to travel afar From my own beloved land But the intrigue and the guile Of the tyrant's hand forced me to leave my home 'Twas the wish of my heart to return again If I could get money in store And my days there to end among the relations and friends Around the Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair
Farewell, farewell to Donegal That county sweet and fair And to her brave men when the enemy came Never cowered or bowed to the Gall I hold in esteem all those women and men And all children big and small That dwell there in peace without worry or grief In Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair
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