The Gartan Mother's Lullaby

The song was first published in 1904 in "The Songs of Uladh [Ulster]" by Herbert Hughes and Joseph Campbell. Both were from Belfast, Hughes being a Protestant (Methodist) and Campbell a Catholic. Hughes collected the trad melody in Donegal the previous year, and Campbell wrote the lyrics. In the second line, there is a word that sounds something like Eeval, but it refers to "Aoibheal", the fairy or bean sidhe who guards the Grey Rock. According 'True Irish Ghost Stories', "The most famous [sídhe] of ancient times was that attached to the kingly house of O'Brien, Aibhill [Aoibheall], who haunted the rock of Craglea above Killaloe, near the old palace of Kincora. In A.D. 1014 was fought the battle of Clontarf, from which the aged king, Brian Boru, knew that he would never come away alive, for the previous night Aibhill had appeared to him to tell him of his impending fate."

Sleep, O babe, for the red bee hums... the silent twilight's fall,
Aoibheall from the Grey Rock comes... to wrap the world in thrall.
A leanbhan O, my child, my joy, my love and heart's desire,
The crickets sing you lullaby... beside the dying fire.

Dusk is drawn and the Green Man's thorn is wreathed in rings of fog,
Siabhra sails his boat till morn... upon the Starry Bog.
A leanbhan O, the paly moon hath brimmed her cusp in dew,
And weeps to hear the sad sleep-tune... I sing, O love, to you.

Faintly sweet doth the chapel bell... ring o'er the valley dim,
Tearmann's peasant voices swell... in fragrant evening hymn.
A leanbhan O, the low bell rings... my little lamb to rest,
And angel-dreams till morning sings... it's music in your breast.

Sleep, O babe, for the red bee hums... the silent twilight's fall,
Aoibheall from the Grey Rock comes... to wrap the world in thrall.
A leanbhan O, my child, my joy, my love and heart's desire,
The crickets sing you lullaby... beside the dying fire.

Pronounciation & Meaning:
Aoibheall - (EE-val) Meaning: the name of the queen of the northern fairies.
leanbhan - (LYAN-van) Meaning: little child, baby --- alternative word "leanbh (LYAN-uv)" could be substituted
Siabhra - (SHEE-vrah) Meaning: A prankster class of trooping fairies (also spelled síbhra, siobhra or siofra)
Tearmann - (CHAR-uh-muhn) Meaning: sancutuary, refuge, or church land... and name of village near Lough Gartan.

The display of these songs on this site is only meant as a means for the Celtic Arts Center Choir to distribute songs to its members.
This is not intended for wider publication or larger distribution.
Updated on Wed, Feb 7, 2007
© 2007 TechnoCelt Productions in association with The Celtic Arts Center / An Claidheamh Soluis. All rights reserved.