Fear a' Bháta - LYRICS + Translation

Fear a' Bhàta ("the boatman" Irish: "Fear a' Bháta") is a Scottish Gaelic song from the late 18th century, written by Sìne NicFhionnlaigh (Jean Finlayson) of Tong who was courting a young fisherman from Uig, Dòmhnall MacRath. The song captures the emotions that she endured during their courtship. The part of the story that is rarely told is that they were married not long after she composed the song.
Performed in Irish by Niamh Parsons
Arranged by Alan Whelan, Gavin Ralston, Niamh Parsons, Dee Moore, Dave Munnelly & Steve Dunford
Album: Blackbirds & Thrushes (1999)

[@alastairpreston3237]

The other part of the story that is rarely told is the bit in the ninth verse where she says her belt has risen (i.e. she's pregnant) and if he doesn't come home she'll be in a sorry state. Most singers only do the first three or four of the original ten verses - most song books only have the first three.

[@Cailleach26]

Have you got the words to that verse, can you add them here? The ten verses I know of are not that explicit although most of them are saying in one way or another that the boatman didn't keep his promises, that her friends say she is foolish to love him, that he has deserted her.

[@alastairpreston3237]

@@Cailleach26 Dr. Anne Lorne Gillies, in her book "Songs of Gaelic Scotland", has verse nine as: "Tha mo chriosan air dol an àirde, chan ann bho fhìdhleir no bho chlàrsair, ach bho stiùireadair a' bhàta - 's mur tig thu dhachaigh gur truagh mar tha mi." and translates that as: "And now my belt has risen, not because of a fiddler or a harpist, but because of the helmsman of the boat - and if you don't come home I'm in a very sorry state." and in a footnote to the verse's first line, says: "in other words, her waistline is expanding: a common euphemism for pregnancy."

[@Cailleach26]

@@alastairpreston3237 mòran taing. I would agree with Dr Gillie's translation and your interpretation (Are you familiar with an English language song with the lines "When I wore my apron low, You'd follow me through ice and snow, Now I wear my apron high you walk down the street and pass me by). The word for belt is "crios" (mo chrios, my belt) and I suppose criosan/mo chriosan is an emphatic form, as is "mo chroíse" , for "mo chroí" for "my heart", given in the Irish above. In Scottish Gaelic, the same expression is spelled "tha mo chridhe-sa", with the "sa" added for emphasis.

[@Cailleach26]

"Tha e coltach gun deach an t-òran Fear a' Bhàta a dhèanamh mu dheireadh na h-ochdamh linn deug le Sìne NicFhionnlaigh à Tong ann a' Leòdhas. Bha i a' falbh le iasgair a sgìr' Ùige, Dòmhnall MacRath. Tha e follaiseach gu robh dùil aice ri leanabh leis nuair a rinn i an t-òran: Tha mo chriosan air dhol an-aìrde Chan ann bho fhìdhleir no bho chlàrsair, Ach bho stiùireadair a' bhàta 'S mur tig thu dhachaigh, gur truagh mar tha mi. Bidh mi tuille gu tùrsach, deurach, Mar eala bhàn 's i an dèidh a reubadh; Guileag bàis aice air lochan feurach Is càch uile an dèidh a trèigsinn. A dh'aindeoin an àmhghair a tha i a' nochdadh san òran, tha e coltach gun do phòs iad goirid an dèidh dhith an t-òran a dèanamh. www.bbc.co.uk/alba/oran/people/sine_nicfhionnlaigh/ says "it is clear that she was expected a child when she made the song... but despite the anguish expressed in the song, it appears that they married a short while after she composed the song."

[@anonymoussteve4509]

Too true!

[@anonymoussteve4509]

On behalf of my Irish and Scottish ancestors, keep Irish and Scots Gaelic alive! Beautiful! It lifts the soul to soaring heights

[@markduffield8110]

Our ancestors will be proud that we keep such an ancient And beautiful language live long live the people in the isles

[@ajrwilde14]

are you sure, Bolton is an English surname and Jones is a Welsh name, what connection do you have to Gaels?

[@brendanposey265]

@@ajrwilde14 well I'm sure there's some Irish or Scottish blood in there. U can't always find out just by name alone. ;-)

[@diarmaiddrummer3707]

Never too late to learn. Beatha an teanga í a labhairt

[@TAGMATAGMATON]

Your language is as ugly as your barbarc souls. So says a GREEK!

[@rexmundi3108]

My grandfather's favorite song but he sang it in Scots Gaelic and faster, probably to keep the pace milling (working woolen fabric). He died back in the 70s when I was 8, of a generation who spoke Gaelic as their first language. Their story is told in The Last stronghold by Margret Bennet.

[@joebaumgart1146]

I speak Irish. It's a language of emotion. The way something is said can change It's meaning. Like English or German.

[@desireesantos7641]

Please teaches me 😂

[@RamblingMan.]

@@desireesantos7641 rinne tú dearmad a rá le do thoil.

[@desireesantos7641]

@@RamblingMan. i really Love the Irland, the language, music and people. But i am brazilian and here don't have teachers for learn irish that speak my language, have more english and Spanish teachers (and i not very well in english and I don't find it so interesting than irish language). It's sounds so lovely and soft... I really desire to learn, I fell in love, and i want to go to Irland someday, especially to Dublin and Cork City ♥️ Tá brón orm as an téacs ollmhór

[@jacobobrian5311]

@@RamblingMan. Creidim go ndúirt sí le do thoil

[@jamesward-parrish2309]

@@desireesantos7641 I started with Scottish Gaelic on Duolingo a year ago, I am now reading short stories in Scottish and understanding 90% of it I recommend Duolingo if you want to learn Irish

[@MsNinabm]

This song catches my soul and I´m trying to sing along. Many find my language, Icelandic, difficult but i find the gaelic language hard but I keep on trying.

[@arcadianluna2605]

Jónína Björg Magnúsdóttir if u wanna to listen to the most perfect version of this song listen to Karen matheson sing it

[@d0990__]

For some reason I find any language with anything to do with old Norse easier than Irish

[@strangelyunique3895]

@@d0990__ That's probably got to do with Irish being in a completely different family tree branch to the Nordic languages, they're Germanic while Irish is Celtic/Goidelic. The Gaelic languages are a lot more unique than people think.

[@simonidastankovic2627]

@@d0990__ True

[@Exiled_Theseus]

@@strangelyunique3895 gaelic is also in the Latin family is it not?

[@Tammmo]

Striken to my very soul....old Scottish seaman...there are no words to express the emotions I feel, both from the poetry of the song, and the fact that my own life experience mirror's that of the narrators...I am not alone...

[@SlightlySusan]

Jean Findlayson wrote this spectacular ballad in either the late 18th or early 19th C. The piano accompaniment is so appropriate for her era when families well off enough to own a piano would gather to sing, particularly at parties. Here, the piano strikes a dark tone that matches the narrator's fear for the man she loves.

[@vivianlemottee3291]

Niamh Parsons voice is magical.

[@nancymulrey9734]

I met Niamh over 20 years ago. I got to take a class from her at Gaelic Roots, at Boston College . This was one of the songs she taught us. I've been performing this song ever since. Niamh's as inspiring as a person, as she is an artist. Truly a gift to all Celtic music.

[@nbenefiel]

My nephew is an incredible traditional Irish musician. He plays the Irish flute and the pipes. He was offered a full scholarship to the Boston College Irish music program in return for teaching, but he preferred traveling around the world playing traditional Irish music.

[@vivianlemottee3291]

I can't get over how beautiful this girl's voice is. I'd pay thousands to go to her concerts.♥️♥️♥️

[@ksmom33]

loving this music...the language is hard to learn..only two weeks in

[@anthonypeltier4039]

Every language seems daunting when you first learn it, once you start to gain traction it'll be easier just keep at it.

[@78monroy]

No, it is not hard to learn, but the interpreter knows it very badly

[@ox8833]

Where are you learning at!?

[@ksmom33]

@@ox8833 I was using duolingo

[@sineadinglis4602]

I was both lucky (and stupid) because I had been learning Irish Gaeilge for about a year before I started Scots Gaelic. It was easier to pick Scots Gaelic up since I had prior knowledge of a similar language, but I'm now getting the two mixed up.

[@x2y3a1j5]

I fell in love with Irish music when I was a little child. Later on, that led me to fell in love with the Irish culture, history, and language. This beautiful rendition is the reason why I subscribed to your channel, M. Máre Ní Shúilleabháin. Go raibh míle maith agat for all the time and all the work you put in to add the lyrics and make all those so beautiful songs accessible to us non-Gáilge, non-Gaelic speakers. May your language last until the end of times!

[@giddyupful]

Have a listen to aileen Dunne

[@giddyupful]

But if you go to 10 seconds on the video it says it's Irish Gaelic ??

[@giddyupful]

@@toythief1633 yes you are correct this is a Scott Gaelic song but an Irish version

[@roses2122]

Ανατολική Ρωμαϊκή So...you could just say it’s an Gaelic/Irish song(?).

[@roses2122]

Ανατολική Ρωμαϊκή i know.You could just say Celtic song?It’s still Irish ‘cause it’s sung in Gaeilge

[@martinamonicamaestas9072]

"My heart is lifting." What a beautiful line. It is capturing.

[@ai-chan5545]

I love this song. This inspired me to write a story which won a contest

[@nbenefiel]

This is my favourite version of this song. Her voice is perfect,for this, and the words in Irish and English help.

[@TheMandarynka79]

What a beautiful song. My Slavic highlander soul is crying every time I listen it.

[@relhiejean-marc4884]

Ouais, ben moi, je suis français, je ne comprends rien au gaelique, mais que ces chants sont beaux ! SCOTLAND I LOVE YOU !!!!....

[@nightcoremaniac178]

This is Irish not Scottish

[@davidcrawford9232]

An old Scots song. This is a lovely version, but the song was written for the Scots gaelic.

[@nightcoremaniac178]

@@davidcrawford9232 I know but this isn't the Scottish version

[@jonathasluan2133]

Thos song brought me to another world. I'm impressed.

[@matrixiekitty2127]

This is a beautiful song! You can hear the love for her boat man written into the words!

[@markduffield8110]

Voice of an angel

[@wfcoaker1398]

A Scots Gaelic song sung in Irish Gaelic. The two languages aren’t that much that different, but still, i know it in in Scots Gaelic. This is a beautiful rendition, but it’s not in the language I know it in. Thanks for this, this is one of my favourite songs

[@KatjaBosies]

Hi there, Im a singer from Germany and part of a band. We just started and would like to sing songs from all around the world as authentic as we can manage. I know its much to ask but could you give me the Scots Gaelic words in the refrain (we would sing the verses in english)? That´ll be so great. And if you even would be able and willing to record the words (on mobile or so) and send them to me so I can learn to properly pronounce them, I would be more then grateful. ([e-mail]) Sorry to bother you at all, but I unfortuatly don´t know any other native speaker. Lots of hugs, Katja

[@Wiwkwk72gamer]

Wf Coaker 🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫

[@bridgettemccarthy3405]

@@KatjaBosies I know your comment is from several months ago but I thought this might help you out. lyricstranslate.com/en/fear-bhata-boatman.html The link goes to an English translation but you can look at the original Scottish lyrics as well.

[@KatjaBosies]

Thank you, Bridgette, that helps a lot 💜

[@bridgettemccarthy3405]

@@KatjaBosies Anytime 😊

[@NiennaFan1]

I love how the story has a happy ending!

[@user-ky6vw5up9m]

Yes, the real life inspiration had the happy ending but in the song we are left wondering. 😀

[@brunohuguet4357]

C'est une merveille d'exécution, vibrante d'émotions.

[@BruggleStar]

I'm so sorry but... I heard this and now I can't stop hearing it. Hero water, snow umbrella Hero water, snow umbrella A hero water, snow umbrella Kiss me, you vulture My God to take too I'm so so sorry.

[@roses2122]

BruggleStar me too

[@sdrtcacgnrjrc]

I was going around singing 'Hiawatha' (even though it doesnt really sound like that...)

[@ozzythefist5096]

Reading comments like this has really solidified how much I love the language, because I don't hear anything close to that.

[@kaylamccarter9823]

I can’t unhear it😂😭

[@dylanm3742]

@@kaylamccarter9823 same 😭

[@TheSUPERGIRL51]

This is so wonderful ♥️ I’m from Germany & this song founds me….my soul love this sound and language! Thank you so much 🙏🏻

[@the_greenhouse_gardener]

wow sounds totally different in Irish Gaelic, hard to sing along to, lovely version but my heart is at home in the Highlands xx

[@W-E-A-P]

it was the Irish Gaels who brang Gaeilge Gaelic to Scotland and Isle of man all Irish speakers understand there ancestors tongue and the forigne lands the Gallant Irish Gaels left there language.. we called sé Albain Scotland was called picland and pics 🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@maialenmendez]

THIS SONG IS SO SAD, but I read the translation from Gaelic language, and it tells a beautiful love story - Now I'm going to record it for a friend's Birthday ( she also loves irish music and dance)

[@marilynnoad3033]

I thin my Ulster Scot ancestors must have given me the ear and heart to connect to this lovely Irish version of the Boatman...north Ireland and the Hebrides were the same people.

[@portesduverseau]

La meilleure façon d'apprendre un peu de gaélique ! Go raibh maith agat 😍

[@normalundberg6848]

am now inspired to learn Gaelic for the fine music of the language….many thanks for sharing its poetry

[@johnscott8390]

She has an awesome voice and special treatment of the music she sings .

[@radhaor]

Learned this in Irish college Rossaveel summer 1994..still love it.

[@vivianlemottee3291]

How beautiful is this song????♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🇦🇺

[@pjfountaine7755]

So very beautiful...the lyrics, and your hauntingly beautiful voice, transported me somewhere far away, and made me long for this Romance as if it were my very own... thanks, i listened to it twice in a row, and will return...the Lord bless you and please, keep singing in Gaelic

[@slanguagefreak2388]

My favourite part is the harp music when the singer sings "my heart is lifting". The harp also seems to be lifting like a fluttering butterfly. The fact that Shows like the Witcher and Outlander are responsible for more people getting interested in Scottish and Irish Gaelic is what makes my heart lift.

[@rabbitwoman]

Gaelic language of gods. Ik vind heel erg mooi.

[@mjw12345]

Beautiful! But me also commend especially the person(s) doing the captioning, it's brilliant done and a huge help for people reconnecting or even beginning with Irish.

[@seanhartnett79]

This fill me with chills. Maybe it is because my ancestors were primarily Celtic, from Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

[@oscargarciamiguel6745]

Conocía la versión de Capercaille que es mágica, pero esta también 🙂 Un saludo desde España

[@ripleybrenner8679]

i love how the end of one word runs into the start of the next

[@amandahouse9564]

That was very beautiful. I am learning the Irish language I think I just sing this one over and over again.

[@mjfreaklove]

Such a beautiful song and such an amazing voice!!!

[@bocklinskitten4335]

I still try to learn your language, so beautiful, but so diffiicult, I don´t give up

[@skmrose]

Soo soulful and beautiful. It gives me chills.

[@matthewchapman2494]

Without any translation this sounds so familiar to me. There's that maybe I've heard this before. Beautiful and I love it!

[@finngeorgas4090]

if you Played "The Witcher 3: wild hunt" you might know this song as "the fields of ard skellige" it plays when you Explore the skellige Islands.

[@Hanna1968]

I love the celtic music since I heard Hothouse Flowers first time in the late eighties. My first own music was Clannad, Simple Mind, The Waterboys, The Pogues, U2 and so on. I had hard times in my youth and this kind of music gave me ease and comfort. And now, in my fifties I found out that I have scottish-irish ancestors.

[@nbenefiel]

I fell in love with the Clancy Brothers and the Dubliners. Then I moved to Dublin and discovered The Chieftains, Sean O’Riada, Planxty, Clannad, he Bothy Band DeDannan. The 70’s were a great time for Irish music.

[@sofiacomesana1091]

Beautiful song

[@oscargarciamiguel6745]

Si te ha gustado escucha la versión de Capercaille, quizás te guste más 😉

[@martinamathur]

so well made thanks for posting those language oriented vids .. so all those Gaelic fans can catch up

[@francismcmenaman1417]

Bha sin brèagha. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Tha mi ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig. 🇮🇪☘️

[@samuel8987]

I’m so jealous of ppl who can speak Gaelic. I’m American but I’m Scottish and Irish and only speak English. It sucks that I don’t know anything about the culture of my ancestors.

[@KrisHughes]

Lovely performance. Took me a minute to figure out why the title was written with an Irish fada. (I've recovered now LOL)

[@stevealferenc3554]

I promise I seriously love this song.... But... maybe it isn't the best for someone with a "fear of water"

[@ciarog6116]

😂

[@adventureswithaurora]

XD XD

[@SentaiKoboru]

Thanks for collecting these pearls. It really helps my gaeilge studies.

[@manonverschaete2187]

Where are you studying gaeilge?

[@tpaine5]

A thousand years, and love remains the same. Isn't that, in and of itself, amazing? Our Dear Lord loves us and He gives us LOVE. God's Peace.

[@morganlefay195]

I LOVE this rendition

[@oliviagrahammusic]

These videos are great for getting your head around the pronunciation.

[@TheAyla2004]

Beautiful

[@ElenaSob]

Одна из моих любимых песен

[@nightcoremaniac178]

Tá sé seo go hálainn. Labhraím Gaeilge dhúchais ar mo oileán (Inis Óirr), mar sin go raibh maith agat as seo xx

[@bethannieclark8693]

I have been trying to learn Gaelic since I found out I was half Irish get closer to my roots what’s the best way to learn Gaeilge?

[@Perkwunosik]

@@bethannieclark8693 what suits you best - try everything! i for one learn best by reading and listening first, aswell as studying orthography/grammar. you may learn quicker through writing, speak. you never know.

[@opeitsme2727]

This sounds EXACTLY like Tracy Chapman singing in Gaelic. Love it

[@joegee6434]

I prefer the Scottish gaelic version, but this sounds pretty too.

[@luigibalocchi9522]

Fantastich!

[@claddaghclare22]

Stunning

[@AthenaCalleaTV]

Merci à mes splendides ancêtres :)

[@McClernand4]

Eire agus Alba go Brach/Gu brath !

[@DanielMosle]

..off to the sea Not to return While oceans churn And mermaids charm Neptune's call And rising seas And never again My love to see

[@adawineect7872]

A bitter sweet reminder of the hardships of life before package tracking and and next day air delivery

[@nigelmaund9057]

Beyond words!

[@vivianlemottee3291]

Absolutely beautiful.🇦🇺♥️

[@josephalvarez805]

So hauntingly beautiful!

[@jonnymac5521]

Stunning 🤩🎶🏆🙏🏼

[@TheDivayenta]

Thankyou for this! If only Gaelic was phonetically written! The consonants are so confusing. But seeing the spelling allows me to see Indo-European word roots. Some of the pronunciation is closer to English!

[@deanmccullough5099]

Just a reminder that Irish is phonetic - more phonetic than English. It appears non-phonetic from someone who is not an Irish speaker but the combination of consonants are perfectly phonetic and follow rules, that aren’t so clear in English. It depends entirely on your language of reference. Ádh mór

[@ardathrhynn]

Thank you for the Irish version and word by word translation. I absolutely love this song. Máire, is it possible to request a song translation from you? I've been looking for a translation of Cé a Chuirfidh Tú Liom ever since my trip to Glencolmcille in 2013...

[@m.mairenishuilleabhain6298]

Sure, added to my to-do list. It's a beautiful song :)

[@s.k.b2118]

+M. Máire Ní Shúilleabháin Is it possible for a translation of Tír na nÓg by Celtic Woman? I've been learning Gaeilge, but I'm not advanced enough to understand some of the lyrics. I know that Tír na nÓg means Land of Youth and is a reference to the Otherworld and is also a legend, but I don't understand most of the other chorus lyrics.

[@m.mairenishuilleabhain6298]

@@s.k.b2118 I wouldn't know where to start, I'm sorry! In fact apart from the words 'Tír na nÓg' there is no Irish in the lyrics! It's probably a phonetic transcription of Quenya or Sindarin (or whatever language Oonagh usually sings in!)

[@liammcgovern5243]

Darja Rundqvis

[@gwenbutler9687]

@@s.k.b2118 There is a translation here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nn-ocnZmj72gmpo

[@thomasmcculey7942]

A cousin of mine made a C.D. with Niamh back in the 90's. She was in a band called "The loose connections"

[@greyfox3954]

Read 'Turieseach' and googled it, because it seems familiar. And yeah, it is from The Witcher universe :D That's what sad about this beautiful language, it itself dies out because little people have interest in learning it, but it effected so much our world in all aspects

[@ShRigel]

You wrote tuirsearch completely wrong.

[@alis.b.4631]

tuirseach, it means tired

[@keylimecat1982]

'Fhir a' bháta sounds like fear of water

[@moty6369]

@@user-ky6vw5up9m it is a cognate, not a loanword

[@the13inquisitor59]

'Water' is 'uisce' as well, for the curious. Trying to learn Irish Gaelic is an ongoing hobby of mine.

[@mollyr.goates8097]

@@the13inquisitor59 Same. About the hobby, I mean.

[@claddaghclare22]

Yes

[@user-ky6vw5up9m]

Fear = man possibly related to the Latin word vir = man

[@cathalodiubhain5739]

Ceol uaigneach, is breá liom é.......................

[@nbenefiel]

I studied Old Irish in grad school. It was the hardest language I ever tried to learn. Modern Irish is easier.

[@sarahgray430]

A song about seeking the little man in the boat...double entendre intended!😄

[@robwinters7410]

Trust me, I've found that 'little man' more times than you could count...

[@MasterMichelleFL]

Go raibh maith agat !!💚

[@amandalindgren3683]

Sounds like the fields of Ard Skellig

[@kailalina7092]

Thats because the fields of ard skellig was based off of this song (scots gaelic version).

[@MariaDeNazare-v7i]

❤BRASIL 🇧🇷 LINDAAAAA ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ayyuh2200]

This was the last time niamh parsons was sung in Sidney the sailboat 😕

[@blueNeodymium]

WOW is SO different than the Gaelic version.

[@DaBezzzz]

Could you post a Scots Gaelic version too with lyrics?

[@takashi.mizuiro]

DaBezz yes

[@ruadhagainagaidheal9398]

Considering that they have the same roots , its surprising to me how different Irish is from Scottish Gaelic. I suppose they look and sound the same to those not familiar with them, but certainly not to we Celts.

[@Vince1303]

It's not that different. It's just the dialect. I watch Alba TV quite a lot and don't have a problem understanding it. Now Scots English lol that's a different story.

[@gwenbutler9687]

Níl sé chomh difriúil sin i gcomparáid leis an difríocht idir an Bhreatnais agus an Bhriotáinis.

[@asiyaheibhlin]

What dialect is this? I am used to hearing this in Ulster.

[@Padraigcoelfir]

There are 4 dialects in Irish. I am not familiar with them all either. I began Irish with Ulster Irish also.

[@isaac_aren]

I would say this is more Connacht than Ulster, but given it lacks a few features of Connacht Irish, I would say it's specific to a county such as Mayo, Leitrim or Roscommon. Definitely not as strong as Galway or Donegal Irish

[@Padraigcoelfir]

Go maith, is breá liom é.

[@fabriciosurya]

Hi, does this song is in spotify?

[@MariaDeNazare-v7i]

❤❤❤❤❤BRASIL 🇧🇷 LINDAAAAA ❤❤

[@gianb3952]

This is beautiful and one of the best renditions of this song I heard. Too bad that it doesn't have a proper Scottish pronunciation, that way it would be perfect. Still, great job!

[@clayfada2384]

Gianb The original song is in scots gaelic,but this rendition is in irish gaelic obviously the pronounciation and indeed many of the words are different

[@Skyebright1]

Capercaillie have a version in Scottish Gaelic

[@germansurdey6525]

Niamh Parsons does really have a wonderful deep voice. Love it. I am learning Irish Gaelic and listening to all these songs with their english translation is a wonderful help. though English is not my language. I am a french-speaking Swiss living now over 30 years in South America. I speak , write and read 7 languages very fluently, plus Latin. Gaelic is basically not as difficult as one would think when we see the written words. I came to realize ( because I own a huge Irish grammar) that you have to learn by heart which groups of consonants are written but NOT pronounced. Once you got it it becomes much easier. French grammar ( and spelling) is more difficult by a long shot.

[@susanwozniak6354]

Maire, Could you tell me more about Sine NicFhionnlaigh? I've tried to research her and have come up with nothing. I've also seen the date for this song as being the 19th C. What is your background? I ask because I know you curate this playlist, which gives me more confidence in your dating of the song. I visited Ireland last year, creating my own tour which included five days in Dublin and three in Galway. My AirBnB host suggested I take a day trip to Connemara, which I did. I was already committed to a day on Inish Mor. I had long thought of writing a novel about an Irish woman who inherits a farm in New England and who becomes involved with a French Canadian man who is a shape-shifter. KZbin's logarithm brought this song to my attention about three months ago, during an intense, 5-day period of inspiration that made me decide to make Inish Mor the woman's birthplace. Thanks in advance.

[@dollagm]

I can jump in here. The s0ne was written by a poet local to my island, the Isle of Lewis, Western Scotland. Sine was a local poet, I believe there are a few of her songs still know, but this one is the most famous by far. This a beautiful Irish rendition of the Song which was originally written in Scottish Gaelic.

[@susanwozniak6354]

@@dollagm Thank you!

[@closetgaming6659]

This is actually Irish, yes? The only reason I ask is because this video is said to be scottish Gaelic in the description, but it's in the playlist for Irish. Or did I misunderstand the description and you meant to say this song was originally Scottish Gaelic and was translated and performed in Irish in the track? Either way, this is a beautiful track that I may try to cover now. EDIT: it would probably help to actually read the text on screen to answer my own questions lol. I didn't catch the giant text telling me it's a translation, so now I feel foolish.

[@ΑναστασηςΣπανος-χ3η]

It's Scottish

[@ΑναστασηςΣπανος-χ3η]

But it seems a little Irish

[@MsGreenmermaid]

@@ΑναστασηςΣπανος-χ3η No it' a Scottish song but in an Irish Gaelic dialect :)

[@resourcedragon]

If you feel that you've written something really foolish you can go to the 3 dots at the side of your comment (you need to hover your mouse pointer over them) and select the delete option. That can result in other people's replies hanging around, looking somewhat cryptic!

[@jamescopeland4836]

@@ΑναστασηςΣπανος-χ3η - The song is originally scottish, but this isn't scottish gaelic. One of the easiest ways to tell when listening to this particular song is whether or not the person pronounces the "F" in Fear (or Fhir). In Scots gaelic, the "F" is silent so it will sound like "eer a va ta", but in Irish (I presume) it is not because I often hear the "F" pronounced... along with a bunch of other pronounciations which are different. In the western isles (I'm from the same place that the original writer is from), we have a very particular dialect of gaelic because there is a lot of norse and pictish influence as well as Irish, and our language by todays standard is very traditional as it hasn't really changed over the centuries. When gaelic was banned in Britain, our dialect was the only one to survive, and today is known as "scots gaelic", though way back in the day scots gaelic would have likely been identical to what is Ulster gaelic today - but that didn't really survive in Britain perhaps for a very small few in the inner hebrides near northern ireland. I'm not 100% sure what dialect they currently speak in that area, but I do know that the outer hebrides version of gaelic is the official scots gaelic today.

[@PureMagic101]

I was adopted and my birth mom was adopted too and had no clue who any of her family was. My adoption papers just had random estimates from her written for ethnicity and genetic history. Got born with the most generic German English name in the world from my parents. Took an ancestry test and found out my ancestry is primarily Scots-Irish with no detected English ancestry. I feel like a fraud for wanting to try and learn as much Gaelige as I can despite knowing I had no chance of any cultural upbringing with it, even if I had been kept by my birth mom since she wouldn’t have known either. Oh well. I’m trying I guess. Is fearr Gaelige briste, na Bearla cliste.

[@grahamfleming8139]

Gle mhath!

[@oscargarciamiguel6745]

Gran versión, aunque prefiero la de Capercaille.

[@bocklinskitten4335]

I learn, I learn....................haha, thanx

[@johnnason2203]

Is amhrán álainn é

[@pancakes4all160]

could you do this this in scots gaelic? i would love that.

[@Vince1303]

Shouldn't the lyrics be " mo shoraidh slan leat gach ait a dtei tu" and not cead mile failte? This is a beautiful version but have a listen to Capercaillie version, very beautiful also.

[@jacobsgranddaughter]

❤️❤️