Two Wonderful Irish Tunes (with Lyrics)

A couple weeks ago we heard Shanua perform at the Hiram (Ohio) Christian Church--which is across the street from historic Hiram College. Shanua has to be one of the strangest groups in history--a fusion of Irish and Estonain. Dermot Somerville is the Irishmnan, from Dublin but now living in Greater Cleveland. His wife Ulle is Estonian. Together with wonderful musicians (including Paul Dreisbach on oboe), a violinist, a double bass player, and a chorus, Shanua creates astonishingly beautiful music.

I finally figured out the meaning of the name "Shanua." It comes from two Irish words: "sean" means old; "nua" means new. Shanua fuses the old and the new.

At the Hiram concert (and on Shanua's new album, "Enchantment") there are a couple of wonderful songs sung in Irish-Gaelic. The words of "Eamon an Chnoic" ("Ned of the Hill") are below, with an English translation following. After that I've copied and pasted the beautiful anthem, "Trasna na dTonnta" (Across the Waves"):

éamon an chnoic [Traidisiúnta Éireannach]Cé hé sin amuigh, a bhfuil faobhar ar a guth, Ag réabadh mo dhorais dúnta? Mise Ĕamon a' Chnoic, atá báite fuair fliuch, Ó shíorshúil sléibhte is gleannta. A lao ghil s'a chuid, cad a dhéanainnse dhuit, Mura gcuirfhinn ort binn de mo ghúna? Is go bhfuil púdar go tiubh á shiorshéadadh leat, Is go mbéimish ar aon múchta. Is fada mise 'muigh faoi shneachta's faoi shioc, ‘s gan dánacht agam ar aon neach, Mo sheisreach gan scor, is mo bhranar gan cur, Agus gan iad agam ar aon chor. Níl cairid agam, is danaid liom san, A ghlachfadh mé moch ná déanach, Is go gcaithfidh mé gabháil thar farraige sned of the hill [Traditional Irish]O who is outside with an edge on his voice Beating my bolted door? It is Ned of the Hill, soaked and cold From long trudging the mountains and glens. My darling and my dear, what could I do But cover you with my gown? And with powder so thick firing upon you, We should both be killed. I am a long time outside in snow & sleet Daringly facing all challenges. My plow without cut & my field without seed And neither my own anyway. I have no friend with whom I could stay Or who'd take me in early or late, So I must traverse the ocean east Where alas are none of my family. Trasna na dtonnta [Traidisiúnta Éireannach]Trasna na dtonnta, dul siar, dul siar, Slán leis an uaigneas ‘is slán leis an gcian; Geal é mo chroí, agus geal í an ghrian, Geal bheith ag filleadh go hÉirinn! Chonaic mo dhóthain de Thíortha i gcéin, Ór agus airgead, saibhreas an tsaoil, Éiríonn an croí ‘nam le breacadh gach lae ‘S mé druidim le dúthaigh mo mhuintir! Ar mo thriall siar ó éirigh mo chroí An aimsir go hálainn is tonnta deas réidh Stiúradh go díreach go dúthaigh mo chliabh over the waves [Traditional Irish]Over the waves, going west, going west! Farewell to loneliness and to remoteness. Bright is my heart and bright is the sun, Bright to be returning to Ireland! I saw my fill of countries abroad, Gold and silver, the wealth of the world, My heart rises in me at the break of each day, As I draw closer to the land of my people! Westward bound - oh my heart rose, Weather so beautiful, waves so calm. Steer directly to land of my bosom And I'll be in Ireland tomorrow!