Mo Ghile Mear - My Bright Darling

Tullymor Weavers Cottage

Weaver's Cottage, Tullymore
Background Music: Mo Ghile Mear - from movie score.

By the 1700's, the old Gaelic order in Ireland and Scotland was crumbling before the advances of the colonizing English. The hopes of both peoples rested with Prince Charles Stuart, "Bonnie Prince Charles." He is the "gile mear" of the song.

Right click on speaker for the song.

Mo Ghile Mear

Seal da rabhas im' mhaighdean shéimh,
'S anois im' bhaintreach chaite thréith,
Mo chéile ag treabhadh na dtonn go tréan
De bharr na gcnoc is i n-imigcéin.

    'Sé mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear,
    'Sé mo Chaesar, Ghile Mear,
    Suan ná séan ní bhfuaireas féin
    Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo Ghile Mear.

Ní labhrann cuach go suairc ar nóin
Is níl guth gadhair i gcoillte cnó,
Ná maidin shamhraidh i gcleanntaibh ceoigh
Ó d'imthigh uaim an buachaill beó.

Marcach uasal uaibhreach óg,
Gas gan gruaim is suairce snódh,
Glac is luaimneach, luath i ngleo
Ag teascadh an tslua 's ag tuargain treon.

Seinntear stair ar chlairsigh cheoil
's líontair táinte cárt ar bord
Le hinntinn ard gan chaim, gan cheó
Chun saoghal is sláinte d' fhagháil dom leómhan.

Ghile mear 'sa seal faoi chumha,
's Eire go léir faoi chlócaibh dubha;
Suan ná séan ní bhfuaireas féin
Ó luaidh i gcéin mo Ghile Mear.
My Dashing Darling

For a while I was a gentle maiden
And now a spent worn-out widow
My spouse ploughing the waves strongly
Over the hills and far away.

    He is my hero, my dashing darling
    He is my Caesar, dashing darling.
    I've had no rest from forebodings
    Since he went far away my darling.

The cuckoo sings not pleasantly at noon
And the sound of hounds is not heard in nut woods,
Nor summer morning in misty glen
Since he went away from me, my lively boy.

Noble, proud young horseman
Warrior unsaddened, of most pleasant countenace
A swift-moving hand, quick in a fight,
Slaying the enemy and smiting the strong.

Let a strain be played on musical harps
And let many quarts be filled
With high spirit without fault or mist
For life and health to toast my lion.

Dashing darling for a while under sorrow
And all Ireland under black cloaks
Rest or pleasure I did not get
Since he went far away my dashing darling.

The Parting Glass
This music of the song Mo Ghile Mear is also the music used in the closing scene from the film THE WAKING OF NED DEVINE. Although the story is about an Irish Village called Tullymore, the movie was filmed entirely on the Isle of Man. The photo on top of this page was taken on location.
The lyrics below are of the song The Parting Glass. In the movie these lyrics are sung to the melody of Gile Mear.
Of all the money ere I had,
I spent it in good company,
And all the harm I've ever done,
alas was done to none but me

    and all I've done for want of wit,
    to memory now I can't recall
    so fill me to the parting glass,
    goodnight and joy be with you all.

Of all the comrades ere I had,
they're sorry for my going away,
and all the sweethearts ere I had,
they wish me one more day to stay,

 but since it falls unto my lot
that I should go and you should not,
I'll gently rise and softly call,
goodnight and joy be with you all.

If I had money enough to spend
and leisure time to sit awhile
there is a fair maid in this town
who sorely has my heart beguiled

Her rosey cheeks and ruby lips,
I alone she has my heart in thrall
so fill me to the parting glass
goodnight and joy be with you all.

This link will take you to more sights of Tullymore Village and this to a Review of the Movie
Courtesy of Vivian and Jack Hennessey
Back to List of Songs
* Credit to Ken O'Malley at www.kenomalley.com for speaker music to this song.