An Mhaighdean Mhara [The Mermaid]

Ennis wrote that the song is about a mermaid called Méirí Shinídh. It concerns a man who went out fishing one day and the mermaid came to the stern of the boat and she had a cloak (that was what was keeping her on the surface). He stole it from her and she came home with him. He hid the cloak in a stack of oats. They married and had two children Máire Bhruinnil and Pádraig Bán. One day, the daughter saw this beautiful cloak in the stack of oats and she told her mother about it. The mother went to the stack, took the cloak and returned to the sea. She was very close to her daughter and she would come every day and would comb the girl’s hair and the song is the conversation that took place between them.

Ennis wrote the account from Síle Mhicí.

[ from NFC 1282:250-252]

Note to music transcription:

Ennis wrote the following note at the start of the music notation of Síle’s songs:

Music from Gaoth Dobhair

From Síle (Mhicí ) Ní Ghallchóbhair (82), Dobhar Láir, Donegal. She is not a pure singer now – she does not sing the notes accurately and so I wrote the following six songs from Cití Ní Ghallchobhair (21) (v. the manuscript with lyrics). I wrote the music of the songs from number seven onwards from Síle.

He wrote in Irish ‘slowly’ above the music notation of ‘An Mhaighdean Mhara’.

He also wrote in Irish : ‘ The words ‘ádha’, ‘sámh’ and ‘snámh’ pronounced as in the English word ‘bough’.

Goidé Sin Don Té Sin?  [What does it matter to anyone?]

This is a lighthearted song by a man who enjoys life. He says he is sought after by women. Whatever he does, it shouldn’t  matter to anyone.

[See NFC 1282:293]

Note to music transcription:

Ennis wrote the words  ‘Lighthearted, regular’, above the music transcription.

Coinleach Glas an Fhómhair  [The Green Autumn Stubble]

Ennis entered information in relation to Síle Mhicí on the standard label issued by the Irish Folklore Commission, Coimisiún Béaloideasa Éireann.  He gives information regarding Síle’s address, occupation, age and date of collecting this and other songs. He also noted that due to her age her singing was no longer exact.

Ennis wrote from Síle that the song is about a man who was on the green stubble fields of autumn and he saw this girl.

[from NFC 1282:245-246]

Note to music transcription:

Ennis wrote in Irish with the music transcription of this song (‘slowly, sweetly’) and in Italian ‘Con anima’ [in a lively fashion]. He explained the two asterisks as sliding from ‘C’ to ‘F’ in each case.

Under the music notation for this song he wrote that this was the final song of the six songs he transcribed from the singing of Cití Ní Ghallchobhair (21).

Sisters Maighread and Tríona were born in Dublin to  Aodh Ó Domhnaill  (Hiúdaí Mhicí Hiúdaí) and his wife Bríd (née Comber).  The family grew up in Kells, County Meath, where they retained their close connection with their father’s home in Rann na Feirste in Donegal.  Hiúdaí and Bríd were noted musicians and this and the music of their aunt Neilí Ní Dhomhnaill had a strong influence on the next generation. Maighread, Tríona and late brother Micheál along with Dáithí Sproule from Derry joined forces in Rann na Feirste, where they formed the group Skara Brae which was awarded TG4 Gradam Grúpa Ceoil/Music Group in 2022. Their pioneering album was released by Gael Linn in 1971. The album offered new arrangements for some of the Rann na Feirste songs. Maighread chose a career in nursing while continuing with her music (solo and in groups) and Gael Linn released two solo albums. In addition to unaccompanied singing, she sings with accompaniment and in harmony, together with Tríona. Irish music has brought Maighread around the globe during the last forty years. Her songs can be heard on recordings by Coolfin, The West Ocean String Quartet, John Renbourn,  Tea with the Maggies and others.  Maighread has a house in  Carraig an Choill, Rann na Feirste, which looks across the estuary to Síle Mhicí’s home place, Machaire Loiscthe.

Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill plays digital piano to accompany her sister Maighread for two songs – ‘Coinleach Glas an Fhómhair’ and ‘An Mhaighdean Mhara’. In addition to her talent and skills on several musical instruments, Tríona is also a singer and composer. As well as being in the group Skara Brae, she was later a member of other music groups. These include The Bothy Band, Relativity and Nightnoise. She has been writing songs and tunes since her early teens and, like her sister Maighread, draws on the singing tradition of Donegal. Tríona and her late brother Mícheál, were central to the establishment of The Bothy Band whose five albums are considered classics in their field.  She has collaborated with countless artists and performers and has released two solo albums ‘Tríona’ (1975) and ‘The Keys Within’ (2010). In 2019, she was awarded TG4 Gradam Cumadóir agus Comharcheoil /Musical Collaboration-Composition Award.  

Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill, singing 3 songs collected by Séamus Ennis in Donegal from Síle Ní Ghallchóir