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This is a traditional Irish song arranged by Michael McGlynn. It appears on Anúna’s third/fourth album Omnis, first released in 1995 on the Danú label, and for contractual reasons was rerecorded in 1996 and released on the Celtic Heartbeat/Universal label in the USA in 1997.
Also known as Sliabh Geal gCua na Féile, this song was written in the late 19th century by Pádraig Ó Míléadha, who was an exile working in the coal mines of Wales. Pádraig was born in West Waterford, in the district known since as ‘Na Déise’ (‘The Decies’), in 1877.
Sliabh gCua (pronounce: ‘shleeve gooa’) is a traditional district of west County Waterford, Ireland, between Clonmel and Dungarvan. It was an Irish-speaking area until the late 19th century. Many people associated with the Irish sean-nós singing tradition, such as Pádraig Ó Mileadha and Labhrás Ó Cadhla, who came from Sliabh gCua. One of the best-loved emigrant songs in the sean-nós canon, Sliabh Geal gCua na Féile, was written by Ó Mileadha while he worked in Wales.
The second composition of note is his song, Sliabh Geal gCua, a poem in song that has become accepted as one of Ireland’s greatest songs of exile and one of the classics of the language this century. It was written in Wales. Pádraig would often go with his wife and children to the seaside – Swansea Bay, Mumbles, the many coves of Gower. There he would sit and think of his childhood home, of his own language and of the grand old people who had spoken that language all around him in his earliest years.
The second composition of note is his song, Sliabh Geal gCua, a poem in song that has become accepted as one of Ireland’s greatest songs of exile and one of the classics of the language this century. It was written in Wales.
Pádraig would often go with his wife and children to the seaside – Swansea Bay, Mumbles, the many coves of Gower. There he would sit and think of his childhood home, of his own language and of the grand old people who had spoken that language all around him in his earliest years.
Ó a Shliabh Geal gCua na féile Is fada uait i gcéin mé I m'shuí cois cuain i m'aonar Go tréithlag faoi bhrón An tuile bhuí ar thaobh díom 'Dir mé 'gus tír mo chléibhe 'Sa Shliabh Geal gCua na féile Go tréithlag faoi bhrón
Dá mbeinnse 'measc mo ghaolta I sceithín ghlas na scéimhfhear Nuair a scaipeann teas na gréine Ó spéir gheal gan smál Nó dá mbeinne 'n-siúd faoin réaltain Nuair a thiteann drúcht ar fhéar ann Ó a Shliabh Geal gCua, nar dhéirc sin Dá mb'fhéidir é 'fháil
'Sé mo léan nach bhfuair mé tógaint Le léann is mórchuid eolais I nGealainn uasal cheolmhar Ba sheolta mo bhéal Ó threabhfainn cuairt thar sáile Is thabharfainn bua thar barr chughat Mar a Shliabh Geal gCua Ba bhréa liom thú'ardú fé réim
Oh bright, happy Slieve Cua You are so far from me I am sitting here alone By the inlet weak with sorrow The water flows beside me Between me and the land of my heart Oh bright, happy Slieve Cua I am in a terrible state
If I were among my own people In the green-hedged place of the gentle men When the sun's heat falls From the flawless sky Or if I were there beneath the starry night When the dew falls on the grass Oh bright Slieve Cua, would it not Be a great charity if I could have that
It is sad that I was not brought up With great knowledge and learning In noble, beautiful Irish My mouth would take flight I would plough my way across the sea And I would bring you great gifts For bright Slieve Cua I would like to raise you above all
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