Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair
"Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair" is a song in the Irish language written by Irish musician Proinsias Ó Maonaigh (father of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan) about his hometown of Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal. It translates as "the green glens of Gweedore". The song is one of the well-known Irish language songs of Ireland and it can be heard in many Irish pubs around the world.[1]
Altan's version of the song appears on their 1997 album Runaway Sunday. Irish singer Paul Brady has recorded the song on numerous occasions.
On their Forgiven, Not Forgotten album (1995) and again on The Corrs Unplugged (1999), the Corrs recorded an instrumental piece, "Lough Erin Shore", that shares a melody with this song.
On their 1976 debut studio album Scottish Folk, the Scottish traditional music group Battlefield Band recorded a song about Irish immigration entitled "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore" that shares a melody with this song.
Lyrics
- Céad slán ag sléibhte maorga chontae Dhún na nGall
- Agus dhá chéad slán ag an Earagal árd, ina stua(í) os cionn caor 's call
- Nuair a ghluais mise thart le loch Dhún Lúiche, go ciún 's an ghleann ina luí
- I mo dhiaidh bhí Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair,
- is beag nár bhris mo chroí.
- Ag taisteal dom amach tríd chnoic Ghleann Domhain, 's an Mhucais ar mo chúl
- Ní miste domh 'rá le brón 's le crá, ghur fhreasadh a shíl 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 mo thír bheag dhílis féin
- Ach trom lámh Gall, le cluain 's le feall, a thiomáin mé i gnéill
- B'é rún mo chroíse 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 chontae shéimh gan smál
- 'S do d'fheara bréa in am an ghá, nár umhlaigh riamh roimh Ghall
- Tá áit i mo chroí do gach fear a gach mnaoi, 's gach páiste beag agus mór
- Áta beo go buan, gan bhuairt gan ghruaim,
- faoi Ghleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair.
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- Farewell to the noble mountains of Donegal
- And twice farewell to tall Errigal, arching over rowen and ash tree
- When I passed by Dunlewey lake, lying quietly in the glen
- Behind me were the little green glens of Gaoth Dobhair, and it nearly broke my heart
- Travelling through Glendowan's Hills, and Muckish behind me
- I don't mind saying with sorrow and grief, that tears fell from my eyes
- Westward to America was my journey, far across the wide sea
- I said farewell for a while to Donegal, and the little green glens of Gaoth Dobhair
- I never wanted to leave my own beloved land
- But the foreigner's heavy-handed deceit and treachery drove me away
- It would be my heart's desire to return again, when I should get a little money
- To spend the end of my life with my family, 'round the little green glens of Gaoth Dobhair
- Yet farewell, farewell to Donegal, the County fine and fair
- And to your brave men who in time of need, did not ever cower before the foreigner
- There's a place in my heart for each man and woman, each child big and small
- Who live in peace, without sorrow or grief, in the little green glens of Gaoth Dobhair
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References