#Irishfolksong

[the-fox-knows]

Cé a Chuirfidh Tú Liom 

Loosely translated it means: ‘Who will you send with me to herd the cows?’  

Traditionally, it was sung in Ireland by girls spinning at their wheels. Each girl would sing a verse, posing it as a question to the next girl, who would then answer with the name of a favorite boy and so on.

In essence it’s a song about trying to find out who your friend has a crush on.

Though, Sean O’Casey used it in one of his plays at the Abbey Theatre with decidedly political undertones. In ‘The Urban Plays of the Early Abbey Theatre’, it states: “This choice of song suggests childish stubbornness on the part of the Irish language movement and a sarcastic jab at those Civil War leaders who embraced it. 

When O’Casey used Irish in his plays, he typically wrote the words phonetically in the text. So Cé a chuirfidh tú liom became ‘key kirheh thoo lyume’. 

Knockmealdown, the Anglicized version of Cnoc Maol Donn (which means, ‘bald brown hill’) in the song, is referring to the highest peak of the Knockmealdown Range of mountains that borders co Tipperary and co Waterford. Though, it’s Cnoc Maol Donn in the song, it is believed that the orginial Irish name for it was Cnoc Mhaoldomhnaigh, which translates to Muldowney’s Hill. Whether it’s still full of goats, I don’t know :)

If anyone knows anymore about the song, or if my information needs correcting feel free to drop a line :) The translation source is from M. Máire Ní Shúilleabháin’s YouTube channel under the same name. She has awesome content.

English Translation

Who will you send with me to herd the cows? To herd the cows, to herd the cows.

Who will you send with me to herd the cows?

. . . with a dúlsaí, dólsaí, daéireó

What will you give me to know his name? To know his name, to know his name.

What will you give me to know his name?

. . . with a dúlsaí, dólsaí, daéireó 

I will get you a paper hat to know his name; to know his name, to know his name.

I will get you a paper hat to know his name.

. . . with a dúlsaí, dólsaí, daéireó 

That is not enough to make me say his name; to make me say his name, to make me say his name.

That is not enough to make me say his name.

. . . with a dúlsaí, dólsaí, daéireó 

I will get you a most real horse to know his name; to know his name, to know his name.

I will get you a most real horse to know his name.

. . . with a dúlsaí, dólsaí, daéireó 

That is not enough to make me say his name. To make me say his name, to make me say his name.

That is not enough to make me say his name.

. . . with a dúlsaí, dólsaí, daéireó

I will get you Knockmealdown, it’s full of goats; it’s full of goats, it’s full of goats

I will get you Knockmealdown, it’s full of goats.

. . . with a dúlsaí, dólsaí, daéireó

It’s Diarmuid from Tobar, the fine young boy; the fine young boy, the fine young boy.

It’s Diarmuid from Tobar, the fine young boy.

. . . with a dúlsaí, dólsaí, daéireó 

It’s Diarmuid from Tobar, it’s he my love; it’s he my love, it’s he my love.

It’s Diarmuid from Tobar, it’s he my love.

. . . with a dúlsaí, dólsaí, daéireó.

[geriwardmusic]

Check out my Cover Version of “The Fields of Athenry”! https://youtu.be/0mULuW3UclQ #geriwardmusiccover #fieldsofathenry10k #thefieldsofathenrycover #fieldsofathenry #coversong #irishfolksong #irishsongs #celtic #cfc #celticfc #thewolfetones #paddyreilly #thehighkings #dropkickmurphys #songsofinstagram #Lovesong #immigration #irishimmigrants #athenry https://www.instagram.com/p/CBvWhqogccI/?igshid=1j264mn67z7nl

[eric-sadahire]

There are only five Irish folk songs: 1. I had too much to drink and I regret nothing 2. I met a fair bonny lass and she was bonny and fair 3. We will fight the British for ever and ever and ever 4. I have left Ireland and I shall never be happy 5. Everyone is dead and we are going to drink about it

[goku20193]

#KathleenMavourneen #JohnMcCormack #MrsAnnieBCrawford #FrederickNCrouch #MyWildIrishRose #IrishFolkSongs #Spotify #CivilWarSongs #USCivilWar https://www.instagram.com/p/CcQe8vaFBy4lK8SXFq-6bwVgpfn4hR7qH5469o0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jourmajesty]

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Keg Of Brandy is an old traditional Irish song from the 1700's. We filmed this version while in Dublin, Ireland at the Magazine Fort. #magazinefort #snapdragonguitars #dublin #Ireland #irishfolksong #JourMajesty @SnapDragGuitar https://www.instagram.com/p/B_sQEAhA3Ir/?igshid=6jibvgcd6qgl

[auntie-social-acab]

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My rendition of #whiskeyonasunday for your #saintpatricksday enjoyment. #me #video #selfie #singing #badsinging #irishfolksong #twalcohol

[nollaigo]

Some #vinyl #records for #stpatricksday #musicfromtheemeraldisle #leprechauns #rutiemorrissey #irishfolksongs #theassaroe #ceiliband #thewolftones #jackieroche. #irishballroomdancing #latinhighmass #fornostalgiccatholics #somethinghappens #hellohellohellohellohello #paranoidvisions #iwillwallow

[juxtapositivelyjen-blog]

What is your favourite Irish (*cough* and maybe kind of Scottish *cough*) folk song? One of mine is "The Parting Glass", although I am quite a sucker for Celtic music in general. Sinéad O'Connor's version is probably my favourite, but I also adore Loreena McKennitt's. And, sadly, this year, I must dedicate this to the late Dolores O'Riordan, whose music inspired me in my most formative years. Cheers, all! #StPatricksDay #StPattys #Irish #Ireland #IrishPride #IrishFolkSong #ThePartingGlass #DoloresORiordan #author #writer #inspirationalquotes

[sleeplikeido]

"Good night and joy be with you all" - The Parting Glass. #irishfolksong #yalldontknowabouthat #edsheeran #msg #theateam #theend #greatestnightofmylifeagain IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SAW GO BUY A CHEAP TICKET #StubHub GO SEE HIM Nov 1st & 7th @MadisonSquareGarden (at Madison Square Garden)

[jourmajesty]

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A post shared by Michael C Perry (@jourmajesty)

@jourmajesty Keg Of Brandy is an old traditional Irish song from the 1700's. We filmed this version while in Dublin, Ireland at the Magazine Fort. #magazinefort #snapdragonguitars #dublin #Ireland #irishfolksong #JourMajesty @SnapDragGuitar (at Dublin, Ireland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9KJIc5gekq/?igshid=1qfuzsis6lj49

[jourmajesty]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michael C Perry (@jourmajesty)

Keg Of Brandy is an old traditional Irish song from the 1700's. We filmed this version while in Dublin, Ireland at the Magazine Fort. #magazinefort #snapdragonguitars #dublin #Ireland #irishfolksong #JourMajesty @SnapDragGuitar (at Magazine Fort) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzVcELHg7VC/?igshid=19x8q74zevy4k

[jourmajesty]

Keg Of Brandy is an old traditional Irish song from the 1700's. We filmed this version while in Dublin, Ireland at the Magazine Fort. #magazinefort #snapdragonguitars #dublin #Ireland #irishfolksong #JourMajesty @SnapDragGuitar (at Magazine Fort) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzVbRnUgeB-/?igshid=1s094mz55zohf