The Mysts of Time

See end of page for more book suggestions by John.

Books on Irish Songs and the Irish singing tradition.

Bodley, Seoirse, Technique and Structure in Sean Nos Singing, Irish Folk Music 1, 45-53 (781.629 162)

Bowles, Michael A Note on the Nature of Irish Music, The Celtic consciousness, Ed. Robert O’ Driscoll, Portlaoise/Edinburgh: The Dolmen Press, Canongate Publishing

Boydell, B Four Centuries of Music in Ireland (1979)

Breathnach, Brendan: The use of Notation in the transmission of Irish folk music, (Irish Traditional Music Society, UCC, 1986)

Clandillon, Seamus ed. Londubh an Chairn, Songs of the Irish Gaels (1927)

Henry, Sam Songs of the People Coleraine, 1023-39/R 1990)

Kennedy, Peter Folksongs of Britain & Ireland, London, Cassell (1975)

Munnelly, Tom The Mount Callan Garland: Songs from the repertoire of Tom Lenihan, comhairle Bhealoideas Eireann, Dublin (782.42162094193/LEN)

Munnelly, Tom “The Singing Tradition of Irish Travellers,” folk Music Journal, vol 3 (1975) (782.421629162/EEO)

Ní Riain, Noirin: “The Nature and Classification of Traditional Religious Songs in Irish” Irish Musical Studies, Volume 2.

Ni Riain, Noirin Stor Amhran

Nic Suibhne, Damhnait, Song Airs in the Repertoire of Dinny Doogan - Tory Island Undergraduate thesis, unpublished. UCC Music Dept. Archive.

O’Baoill, Sean Og & Manus. Ceolta Gael 1, Cork, Mercier Press (1975)

O’Baoill, Sean Ceolta Gael 2, Cork, Mercier Press (1986)

O’Baoill, Sean The Irish Song Tradition, Dublin, Gilbert Dalton (1976)

O’Laoire, Lillis Songs of Tory Island

O Madagain, Breandan: The Celtic conciousness, “Irish Vocal Music of Lament and syllabic Verse,” (Toronto, 1981) Ed. Robert O’Driscoll (try Irish Musical studies)

O Madagain, R. “Functions of Irish Song in the Nineteenth Century” pp 130-216

O’ Muireadhaigh Amhran Chuige Uladh (A theagra le Colm O’Baoill) (1984)

O Muirgheasa Enri, Cead do Cheoltaibh Ulad, Dublin, Mac Giolla (1915)

O’Muirgheasa, Enri Dha Chead de Cheoltaibh Uladh (1934)

O hUrmoltaig, Nollaig Ceolta Uladh - Vol. 1-4, Series of songs in pamplets (1973)

Amhran as Toraigh, Eigse Journa (Vol. xv iii p. 224-34) (1973)

Songs from Tory, Ceol tire; vol 6, April 1976 & Vol. 20, Nov. 1981

Shields, Hugh Shamrock, Roses & Thistle (1981)

Shields, Hugh Narrative Singing in Ireland pp. 680193 Folklife (782.4216209415/SHI)

Vallely, Fintan (ed.) The Companion to Traditional Irish Music, Cork University Press (1999)

BIBLIOGRAPHY BY JOHN O DONOHUE

Embers by Sandor Maria
The Way of Paradox by Meister Eckhart
Sermons and Treatises by Meister Eckhart
The Revelation of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich
The Foundations of the Christian Faith by Karl Rahner
The Prophetic Imagination by Waytes Bruggemann

Breton Children's Song 

DIALECT : Breton: A form of Gaelic spoken in Britanny - a Celtic section of France 

Kentdre-bi oanoan-ig pask da goan d'ar yaouugam-blid
Elam-as a zaedi-war e c'hor-re en mab Da-vid
Trien e zis-ki-bien a wal-c'has kem-pann kent n'o fre-nas
e- no war al lec'h e tre e zi vrec'h hen o ze c'has

Ouz ar mestile al piou ve dis-le-al a zroug a li
Tru-bard van an dour na fals mar-c'ha dou Yu-daz fall ki
Rak dre bi-zou-ni en graet mat a di gant ar mesir bras
Ouz-ar priz dis ter a dre-gont di-ner Dou-e Wer-zas

Gant harp ar brin-sed bo-det holl d'ar red war half Kai-faz
E reas ar mar-c'had da wer-za a dad paour kez Yu-daz
E-vel ur c'hi fall gantke-ment a vall kalz her gwel-as
E-Wer-zas Je-zuz o mar-c'had eu-zus Di-Wez si-waz

Gant harp ar brin-sed bo-det holl d'ar red war half Kai-faz
Gant harp ar brin-sed bo-det holl d'ar red war half Kai-faz
E reas ar mar-c'had da wer-za e dad paour kez Yu-daz
E reas ar mar-c'had da wer-za e dad paour kez Yu-daz
E reas ar mar-c'had da wer-za e dad paour kez Yu-daz

Christe Redemptor

DIALECT: Church Latin

Jesus dulcedo cordium,
Fons veri, lumen mentium,
Excedit omne gaudium
Et omne desiderium

Jesu, spes paenitentibus,
Quam pius es pententibus
Quam bonus te quaerentibus,
Sed quid invenientibus
Mane nobiscum, Domine,
Mane novum cum lumine,
Pulsa noctis caligine,
Mundum replens dulcedina

Jesus dulcedo cordium, (1st verse repeated)
Fons veri, lumen mentium,
Excedit omne gaudium
Et omne desiderium
Amen.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION 

Jesus, thou Joy of loving hearts
Thou Fount of Life
Thou light of men
From the best bliss each earth imparts
We turn unfilled to thee again

Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;
Thou savest those that on thee call
To them that seek thee, thou art good
To them that find thee, all in all

O Jesus, ever with us stay
Make all our moments calm and bright
Chase the dark of wrong away
shed o'er the world thy holy light. 
Amen

Kyrie Eleison, An Ghloir, An Phaidir 

Three parts of the Catholic Mass linked together on one track 

Part 1: (Kyrie Eleison)
A Thiarna, dean trocaire RESPONSE: A Thiarna, dean trocaire
A Chriost, dean trocaire RESPONSE: A Chriost, dean trocaire 
A Thiarna, dean trocaire RESPONSE: A Thiarna, dean trocaire

Part 2: 
A Uain De, a thogas peacai and domhain, dean trocaire 'rainn
A Uain De, a thogas peacai and domhain, dean trocaire 'rainn
A Uain De, a thogas peacai and domhain, tabhair duinn siochain.

Part 3: An Phaidir
Ar nAthair ata ar neamh, go naofar tAinm, go dtaga do riocht, go ndeantar do thoil ar an dtalamh mar a ni thear ar neamh.
Ar n-aran lae-thiuil, tabhair duinn inniu, agus maith duinn ar bhfiacha, mar mhaithimid d'ar befeichiuna fein. 
A's na lig sinn i gca thu, ach saor sinn o olc.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION 

Part 2: Lord Have Mercy
Lord Have Mercy Response: Lord Have Mercy 
Christ Have Mercy Response: Christ Have Mercy
Lord Have Mercy Response: Lord Have Mercy 

Part 2: (Lamb of God)
Lamb of God, You who takes away the sin of the world
Response: Have Mercy on us
Lamb of God, You who takes away the sin of the world
Response: Have Mercy on us
Lamb of God, You who takes away the sin of the world
Response: Grant us Peace

Part 3: (Our Father) Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, they will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Mal Bhan Ni Chuilionain 

Ar meisce cha dteim nios mo,
Braon leanna go doe ni bhlaisfidh me
Or chailleas mo chailin beag og
A chuireadh im phoca an t-airgead.

Chorus:
Is fada liom uaim i, uaim i
Is fada liom uaim i o d'imigh si
Is fada liom thios is thuas i,
Malai na gCuach Ni Chuilionain.

Bhi me la amuigh ar an gcoill
Is tharla dom soilse bradoige
A dheanfadh an marbhan beo
No reice boic oig de sheanduine.

Da mbeinnse in eipir an bhais
Agus daoine dha ra nach dtiocfainn as,
Ni dheanfainn mo thiomna go brach
Go dtiocfadh si, Mal Bhan Ni Chuilionain.

Ar meisce cha dteim nios mo,
Braon leanna go doe ni bhlaisfidh me
Or chailleas mo chailin beag og
A chuireadh im phoca an t-airgead.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Molly (Ni Chuilionain - Name) with the curly hair 

Drunkenness for life I forego,
Strong ale I will taste never more,
Since I lost my pretty young maid,
Who would plenish my pockets with riches.

CHORUS:
I long for her from me, from me,
I long for her from me, since leaving me,
I long for her above and below me,
The curly haired Mal Bhan Ni Chuilionain (name)

I happened one day in the woods,
and I met a charming young maiden
She'd make a corpse come alive,
and a lovely young man of an old fellow.

If I were in the last throes of death, 
Ane people could see no recovery,
I'd never dictate my last will,
'Till the arrival of Mal Bhan Ni Chuilionain

Drunkenness for life I forego,
Strong ale I will taste never more,
Since I lost my pretty young maid,
Who would plenish my pockets with riches.

The Keening Song 

S'airiu, Agus a leanbh, Cad a Dheanfaidh me, Ta tu ar shiul uaim, Agus airiu, Agus anuiridh, nil duin ar bith agam, 'S airiu, Agus me lion fein, Da mbeithea go moch agam, Agus och, och, airiu, gan thu, gan thu. 

'Sairu, my child, what will I do, you're gone from me, and airiu, I've been left alone after a year, there is no one, and och, och airiu, without you, without you 

Och and airiu - words of lamentation (the words were not important, merely the use of the singing voice as an emotional release in the face of sorrow)

I nGaol De 

I nGaol De, I nGra De, I dToil De, I suil De, I Run De, I gCuram De.
I gCroi De, I nGlor De, I gCluais De, I nDaingean De, I laimh De, I bPaarrthas De.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION 

In the friendship of God, In the love of God, In the eye of God, In the care of God. 

In the heart of God, In the glory of God, In the hearing of God, in the fortress of God, In the hand of God, In the Paradise of God.

The Mysts of Time 

CHORUS:
Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Amen
Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Amen
Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Amen, Gloria 

ENGLISH TRANSLATION 

Welcome to the Three Marys' 
Welcome to the three Bridgits'
Welcome to God in the hightest
Welcome to them all

The glory of the elements
The glory of the eternal seas
The glory of the majestic mountains

We give thanks to the Mother
We give thanks to Bridgit
We give thanks to the father
We give thanks, Amen.

Ailiu Eanai 

Ailiu Eanai, Ailiu earai
Shiuil me 'n drucht 's an ghrian ag eiri
Ailiu Eanai, Ailiu earai

Ailiu Eanai, Ailiu earai
Sheol me m' bho sa ghleanntan sleibhe
Ailiu Eanai, Ailiu earai

ENGLISH TRANSLATION 

I walked through the dew drops while the sun was rising

Puer Natus 

Puer Natus in Bethlehem alleluia
Unde Gaudet Jerusalem, Alleluia, alleluia

CHORUS: In cordis jubilo, Christum natum adoremus, Cum novo cantico 

Assumpsit carnem filius, Alleluia
Dei Patris altissimus, Alleluia, Alleluia

De Matre Natus Virgine, alleluia
Qui lumen est day lumine, allelluia, alleluia

In hoc natali gaudiio, Alleluia
Benadicamus Domino, alleluia, alleluia

Laudetur sancta trinitas, alleluia
Deo di camus gratias, alleluia, alleluia

ENGLISH TRANSLATION 

1. A child is born in Bethlehem, alleluia
So leap with joy Jerusalem alleluia, alleluia

CHORUS:
A new song let us sing
For Christ is born, let us adore
and let our gladness ring. 

2.The shepherds hear the angel's word, alleluia
This child is truly Christ the Lord, alleluia, alleluia

3.From virgin's womb this child is born, alleluia
The light from light who brings the dawn, alleluia, alleluia 

4.He comes to free us from our strife, alleluia
and share with us the Father's life, alleluia, alleluia 

5. To Father, Son, and Spirit praise, alleluia
From all his creatures all their days, alleluia, alleluia

Anach Cuan (Place Name) 

Ma ghaighimse slainte is fada a bheas tracht ar
an mheid a bathadh as Anach Cuan.
Mo thrua amarach gach athair is mathair
bean is paiste ata ag sileadh sul
A Ri na ngrasta, a cheap neamh is Parthas,
nar bhead an tabhacht duinn beirt na triur?
Ach la chomh brea leis gan gaoth gan baisteach
is lan an bhaid acu a scuabadh ar shiuil.

Nar mhor an t-ionadh os comhair na nadaoine
a bhfeiscint sinte ar chul a gcinn?
Screadadh is caoineadh a scanrodh daoine,
gruaig a cioradh is an chreach a roinn.
Bhi buachailli oga ann, toicht an fhomhair, 
a sineadh ar chrochar is a dtabhairt go cill.
Is gurbh e gleas a bposta a bhi a dtorramh
is, a Dhia na gloire, nar mhor an feall.

This song is almost too sorrowful to translate, but falls into the lament catagory. Anach Cuan is a place name, and the song laments a mass drowning that took place on the boats. A rough translation might be "no matter how long I live, I will never forget the number who died at Anach Cuan, the sorrow of every mother and father, woman and child that is around us. Such a hugh loss to us, and on such a beautiful day without wind or rain." Reference is then made to preparing the dead bodies and the overwhelming loss of the people - it is truly a song of terrible loss and in many ways just too powerful to bear translation.

BILLBOARD MAGAZINE

Album Introduction by John O’Donohue

In the beginning was the music. For millennia its secret melodies blessed the earth. Streams gave voice to the silence of valleys. Rivers ferried the song of the land along. The dream of the mountains flowed out in pure wells of spring water. The waves made antiphons where the fluency of the ocean tempted the faithful land.

Great melodies wombed in the wind. Breezes sounded with sudden delight and celebration. And the vast loneliness of the earth rose up where the wind became a caoineadh mourning the night. While all the time beneath the earth a silent music played to stir seed and root towards the Springtime.

This music of the clay is what makes Celtic spirituality so warm and attractive. In a loud cacophonous world it offers us again a sacred space. It invites us to listen with the soul. It is then that we will hear the deeper harmony which plays secretly beneath the turgid externality of our daily routine and pressures. This is where the promise and beauty of Aine Minogue’s music lies. In these wonderful Celtic chants she coaxes our wearied attention back to the forgotten sources of refreshment and healing.

This music somehow manages to reach into the nameless silence within our soul. It is music of the soul for the soul. When you take time to listen to Celtic chants, you come into your own special and sacred place. The deep peach which lives within your clay will begin to flow through you. Your mind will calm; your body will relax: the energy and gentleness of the divine – will warm your life. This is music to bring the eternal alive within you. Aine Minogue has managed to echo the ancient music of the earth so honoured in the Celtic tradition. We are made of clay and this is the music to bring us home to the house of belonging that we call the soul.

by John O'Donohue

Old Origins by John O Donohue

Nothing between us, so near
I hear your skin whisper
what you could never tell
or remember of the longing

in the clay beneath the oak
when through the branches
a lace of light came down
each day to watch and wait.

Or the secrecy of the breeze
dying down over the murmer
in the earth, hovering there
to blend its voice to breath.

Or how, even then, the rain
through the brow of grasses
could foreshadow tears
or a glance of light a smile.

You turn towards me, your eyes
smile into the silence of these thoughts.
The wold of your mind is foreign
Who knows where you are from!

Think I’ll the Mystery Be by Iris De Ment

Everybody is wondering what and where they all came from
Everybody is worried about where they’re gonna go when the whole thing’s done
But no one knows for certain and so it’s all the same to me
I think I’ll just let the mystery be.

Some say once gone, you’re gone forever and some say you’re gonna come back
Some say you rest in the arms of the Saviour, if in sinful ways you lack
Some say that they’re coming back in a garden, bunch of carrots and little sweet peas
I think I’ll just let the mystery be

Everybody is wondering what and where they all came from
Everybody is worried about where they’re gonna go when the whole thing’s done
Well, no one knows for certain so it’s all the same to me
I think I’ll just let the mystery be.
Think I’ll just let the mystery be.

Bridget Charm for Smooring the Fire I

I rake this fire like everyone else Bridgit below it with Mary on top Twelve angels of the angels of the ages Protecting my house till dawn

Bridget Charm for Smooring the Fire II

May Bridgit give blessing to the house that is here;
Bridgit, the fair and tender,
Her hue like the cotton-grass,
Rich-gressed maiden of ringlets of gold.

Bridget House Blessing

Brighid of the Mantle, encompass us,
Lady of the Lambs, protect us,
Keeper of the Hearth, kindle us,
Beneath your mantle gather us,
And restore us to memory.

I am Brigit, the ancient goddess of this Island, breo-saigit, the fiery arrow.
I am the goddess of fire.
My breath breaks the icy grasp of winter and brings forth new life.
My cattle graze in these fields and my milk nourishes generations.
My fire is the fire of imagination and the fire of poetry.
Oh yes, I am the goddess of poetry, and where I go, before me is the golden bough and the tinkling bell.
Yeats and his like all forged their stanzas and burnished their lines in my fire.

And these wild women
I am the mother of them all. They are all my daughters.
It is my fire that burns within their breast.
It is my fire that warms their hearth and gives them courage.
This fire that cannot be extinguished is the fire of longing for their destiny.

I am Brigit, aid-woman of Mary and godmother of Christ himself.
When there was no room or food, I took great pity on the helpless mother, providing sustenance and helping forth the blessed child.
Love of family and love of neighbor are my legacy.

And I am Brigid, abbess of Kildare.
There is a fire that burns within me, a fire of love - love for the risen Christ.
I devote myself to the perfection of this love.
I kept the fire at Kildare, symbol of the ancient, renewed by the love of Christ.
Though it was desecrated. it could not be extinguished.
The fire still burns, the light still glows within the soul of Irish women.
These women are my sisters in Christ.

Let the ancient prayers of the hearth be raised in the morning.
God, kindle thou in our hearts a flame of love to neighbor, to foe, to friend, to kindred all.
And so to the evening, keep the embers alive and protect this house and its people Until the dawn of day.

Gabhaim Molta Bríghde (We Praise Bridgit)

Gabhaim molta Bríghde,
Iníon í le hÉireann
Iníon le gach tír í,
molaimís go léir í!

Lóchrann geal na Laighneach,
soils’ ar feadh na tíre,
Ceann ar óigheacht Éireann,
ceann na mban ar míne.

Tig an geimhreadh dian dubh,
gearra lena géire,
Ach ar lá le Brighde,
gar duinn Earrach Éireann.
Molaimís go léir í!

English Translation (We Priase Bridget)

I sing loudly the praises of Bridget
She it is who is daughter,
not just of Ireland,
but of all the countries of the world.

A shining lantern of Leinster,
a flame throughout the land,
Leader of the women of Ireland,
one of the finest women ever.

The hard, dark winter comes,
short and sharp
But once Bridget’s Day appears,
Ireland’s spring is not far behind.

Saint Brigid’s Prayer

(10th century Poem attributed to Bridget herself)

I’d like to give a lake of beer to God.
I’d love the heavenly
Host to be tippling there
For all eternity.

I’d love the men of Heaven to live with me,
To dance and sing.
If they wanted, I’d put at their disposal
Vats of suffering.

White cups of love I’d give them
With a heart and a half;
Sweet pitchers of mercy I’d offer
To every man.

I’d make Heaven a cheerful spot
Because the happy heart is true.
I’d make the men contented for their own sake.
I’d like Jesus to love me too.

I’d like the people of heaven to gather
From all the parishes around.
I’d give a special welcome to the women,
The three Marys of great renown.

I’d sit with the men, the women and God
There by the lake of beer.
We’d be drinking good health forever
And every drop would be a prayer.

1735 poem for Bridgid's Protection

St. Brigid’s cross hung over door
Which did the house from fire secure
As Gillo thought, O powerful charm
To keep a house from taking harm;
And tho’ the dogs and servants slept,
By Brigid’s care the house was kept.

Saint Bride's Charm

The charm put by Bride the beneficient
On her goats, on her sheep, on her kine
On her horses, on her chargers, on her herds
Early and late going home, and from home.

To keep them from rocks and ridges
From the heels and the horns of one another
From the birds of the Red Rock
And from Luath of the Feinne.

From the blue peregrine hawk of Creag Duillion
From the brindled eagle of Ben-Ard
From the swift hawk of Tordun
From the surly raven of Bard's Creag.

From the fox of the wiles
From the wolf of the Mam
From the foul-smelling fumart
And from the restless great-hipped bear.

From every hoofed of four feet
And from every hatched of two wings.

Blessing of Brigit

Each day and each night
That I say the Descent of Brigit

I shall not be slain
I shall not be sworded
I shall not be put in cell
I shall not be hewn
I shall not be riven
I shall not be anguished
I shall not be wounded
I shall not be ravaged
I shall not be blinded
I shall not be made naked
I shall not be left bare
Nor will Dagda
Leave me forgotten.

Nor fire shall burn me
Nor sun shall burn me
Nor moon shall blanch me

Nor water shall drown me
Nor flood shall drown me
Nor brine shall drown me

Nor seed of faerie shall lift me
Nor seed of airy host shall lift me
Nor earthly beig destroy me

I am under the shielding
Of good Brigit each day
I am under the shielding
Of good Brigit each night.

I am under the keeping
of the Child of Dagda
Each early and late,
Every dark, every light.

Brigit is my comrade-woman
Brigit is my maker of song
Brigit is my helping-woman
My choicest of women, my guide.

QUESTIONS AND READING LIST FROM JOHN O’DONOHUE

1. Moment of illumination

2. What would you like to see from your death bed? What is there that you don’t want? What is not there that you do?

3. Write a letter to your heart.

4. What are the seven thoughts that shape your world?

5. What are the other seven I never even thought of?

6. What have my chosen seven kept me from thinking?

7. What are the seven feelings that these seven thoughts are dancing to?

8. What do I want from my life?

9. What is the significance of what my soul tells me?

10. What am I at now that I should stop?

11. What is the new thing my heart would love?

12. How can I become truly aware of my great beauty?

13. List of words you always revert to.

14. At least ten words which never come near you.

15. What is my concept of God?

16. Which tradition do I belong to spiritually?

17. How much of me is in it?

18. What can I reawaken in or retrieve from it to address the complexity of my present longing?

19. Who are the inner friends of your heart?

20. Whom do you shelter? For whom are you a friend to the heart?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Embers by Sandor Maria

The Way of Paradox by Meister Eckhart

Sermons and Treatises by Meister Eckhart

The Revelation of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich

The Foundations of the Christian Faith by Karl Rahner

The Prophetic Imagination by Waytes Bruggemann