Annotation:Maighdean Mhara (1) (An)

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MAIGHDEAN MHARA [1], AN (The Mermaid). AKA - "Síle Mhicí Uí Ghallchóir." Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). D Major/Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. The song tells of a selkie who has taken the form of a human and raised a family; but she must return to the sea, and this is her lament, sung to her daughter, Máire. The last verse of this song is sung at the end of the film The Secret of Roan Inish. The Irish words begin:

Is cosúil gur mheath tú nó gur thréig tú an greann
Tá an sneachta go frasach fá bhéal na trá
Do chúl buí daite is do bhéílín sámh
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh.

There is a different Scottish tune with the same title--see "Maighdean Mhara (2)" and "Mermaid's Song (The)."

Source for notated version: Altan's version comes from the singing of Áine Uí Laoi, Dobhair Láir, Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal, who learned it from Síle Mhicí Uí Ghallchóir. Síle called the song "Amhrán Thoraí" and knew many more verses to it.

Printed sources: Ó Canainn (Traditional Slow Airs), 1995; No. 107, p. 91.

Recorded sources: Green Linnet GLCD 1137, Altan - "Island Angel" (1993).

See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]
Hear/see the song sung by Máiréad Ní Domhnaill, Máire Brennan & Máiréad Ní Mhaonaigh on youtube.com [2]