This is the lament for the death of 1728 of Owen O'Rourke, Prince of Breffni who is the subject of 142. But the air is not very satisfactory and may have been misnoted. The question of what are the apropriate words is complicated and requires some explanation.
Do chonnairc méárus fial is cuideachtasháimhdhá riar,
Notations are courtesy of Carolan, the Life and Times of an Irish Harper by Dónal O'Sullivan vol 1 Celtic Music Edition 1983.
O'Rourke Family Crest
The manuscript which is the sole source of the tune is the notebook of James Cody, Bunting's collaborator, and all of its contents are in his hand. Cody, unlike Bunting, knew Irish and was able to write down the words as well as the tunes to which they were sung.
Eaglaisa'gárrtha i gcliar go minic is iad ag ól,
Do shamhail ní ghfaigheam nios mó ón tSionainn sa tslighe go Bóinn,
Budh gheanamhail do mhian ar an tsaoghal 's go
raibh tú ag Mac Dé sa nglóir.
Replay background music: Owen O'Rourke
sequenced by Mike Lydiat, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
http://www.docsworkshop.force9.co.uk/music.htm
Filleadh go liosta
Back to Carolan Tunes List