"Gartan Mother's Lullaby" is an old Irish song and poem written by Herbert Hughes and Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil, first published in Songs of Uladh [Ulster] in 1904. Hughes collected the traditional melody in Donegal the previous year and Campbell wrote the lyrics. The song is a lullaby by a mother, from the parish of Gartan in County Donegal. The song refers to a number of figures in Irish mythology, places in Ireland and words in the Irish language.
Pronunciation
Aoibheall, (pronounced "ee-val") commonly known as Aoibhinn the Beautiful, is the queen of the Northern Fairies. The Green Man, (or Fear Glas in Irish) it is said if you see him in the morning, "no ill follows"; but if at night, death or some other terrible misfortune will surely overtake you. He is sometimes called Fear Liath, or the Grey Man. Siabhra, is a generic term for an Irish fairy of any kind. In ancient writings the Tuatha de Danann, or little magicians of the Pagan Irish, were called "siabhra" without distinction. Tearmann, Irish for Termon, a village near Gartan in Donegal. Leanbhan, is an old Irish word for little child. (leanbh is Irish for child +án leanbhán is its diminutive.)
Recordings
2016 - UCD Choral Scholars covered on the album "Invisible Stars" 2016 - Lisa Cuthbert covered on the album Paramour 2011 - Screaming Orphans covered on the album The Jacket's Green 2011 - Deirdre Shannon covered on the album Anamcheol 2010 - Peter Roberts covered on the album Love and the Ferryman 2010 - Fionnuala Sherry covered on the album Songs From Before 2007 -Tracey Rose Brown covered on the album " Songs In The Mist" 2006 - Órla Fallon, covered on the album The Water Is Wide 2002 - Spiral Dance, covered on the album Notes of Being 2002 - Kerstin Blodig, covered on the album Valivann 2000 - Meryl Streep, recorded for the album For Our Children: 10th Anniversary 1992 - Kim Robertson, recorded for the album Tender Shepherd 1991 - Paddy Reilly, on his album The Gold and Silver Days 1977 - Alba, on their album "Alba" 1972 - The Dubliners, on their album Double Dubliners 1969 - The Corries, appears on their album Strings and Things 1963 - The Ian Campbell Folk Group, appears on their album This Is The Ian Campbell Folk Group! 1959 - Deirdre O'Callaghan, appears on their album Folk Songs From Erin 1958 - Mary O'Hara, appears on their album Songs Of Ireland