“Cór Ban”






Cór Ban Cúil Aodha & Peadar Ó Riada

1  The Banks of my own Lovely Lee
(Dick Forbes and J.C. Flanahan)
Tá an t-amhrán seo ar eolas ag gach Corcaíoch. Is gean le Corcaígh na mothúcháin atá luaite ann – an t-uaigneas milis a eascrann as cuimhní cinn, ag smaoineamh siar ar laetheanta óige, áilleacht na dúichí agus an nádúir agus áitribh ar leith gur nós d’áitreabhaigh a ghnáthú ar nós an Mardyke mar a mbíonn lánúineacha ag siubhal is ag cúirtéireacht fós. Tá grá mór ag Corcaígh do spórt, ach go h-áirithe an iomáint is an pheil, caitheamh bollaí agus na madraí fiaidh. Fite fúite leis sin, tá traidisiún leathan amhránaíochta agus saoghal na farraige.
Every Cork person knows this song. They all are very fond of the emotions this song evokes – the sweet loneliness that arises out of memories of youth, beauty of nature and specific places frequented such as the Mardyke where courting couples still stroll to this day. Cork people love sport especially hurling and football, Road Bowling and drag hounds and their traditions are interwoven with a very wide ranging tradition in song from opera to ballads and folksong. All life in the culture is aware of the sea and it’s traditions and effects.
Táimse agus Máire
Seán Eoin Ó Súilleabháin (1882-1968) ó Dhoire an Chuilinn, Cúil Aodha do chum an t-amhrán seo. Máire de Búrca ó Chill na Martra ab ainm dá bhean chéile. Bhí triúr iníon agus mac amháin acu. Feirmeoir traidisiúnta a bhí i Seán Eoin go nglaoití Johnny Eoin a Bhab (Babaí Ní Chonaill a mháthair) mar leasainm air. Fear deisbhéalach ag a raibh cumas bhéarsaíochta agus filíochta gan stró ar a chumas aige. Bhí Muintir Búrca ceolmhar gaelach leis. Tá an t-amhrán seo ag cur síos ar an saghas saoghail a mheas Johnny Eoin a bheith dá chaitheamh acu ar an nDoire an Chuilinn agus is dea shampla é ar cad iad príomh mhiannta cultúrtha a bheadh ag gnáth theaghlach i gCúil Aodha ag an am agus ó shoin i leith.
Seán Eoin Ó Súilleabháin (1882-1968) from Doire an Chuilinn, Cúil Aodha composed this song. Máire Burke of Cill na Martra is his wife named in the song. They had three daughters and a son and lived on a small traditional farm on a steep hillside. Johnny Eoin a Bhab was his local nickname – the Bab coming from his mothers name Babaí Ní Chonaill. He was a witty, fast thinking verse-maker and his description of their life typifies what personified the Ideal in the local culture.
Uisce Doirtithe
Seo dán de chuid Dhónail Uí Liatháin ó Chúil Aodha. Is amhlaidh a bhí sé sa leabaigh oíche ag éisteacht le búchaire ag sileadh sa chistin, thíos an staighre. Bhí gath gealaí ag síneadh treasna an seomra trín bhfuinneog is a cuirtíní. Bhíog a shamhalaíocht agus tháinig an dán seo ar an saoghal. Chumas féin an ceol leis go gairid ina dhiaidh sin. Bhí sé de nós ag an mbeirt againn tacú le chéile de shíor - an File le focail is an Cumadóir le ceol.
This is a poem by Cúil Aodha poet Dónal Ó Liatháin. One night, as he lay in bed, he could hear a tap dripping downstairs in the kitchen. A moon beam cut through the window and its curtains. The imagination stirred and this poem was brought into this world. I composed the music for the poem shortly afterwards. Both of us travelled the path of creativity together – the poet composing the poetry and the composer composing the music.
An Cailin Aerach
Pead Buí Ó Loingsigh a chum an t-amhrán seo. Is ar an gCúil, ar Bharra Ghort na Tiobratan a rugadh Pead ach chaith sé furmhór a shaoghail ar an Muing. Píobaire ab ea é agus ana éileamh ag na daoine air. De réir seanachais thagadh sé aniar go Cúil Aodha go minic ag obair agus na píobaí á seimint aige, agus do leannadh an slua é. Is ar na Fuithirí i gCúil Aodha, a cailleadh é. Tá sé curtha i mBaile Mhúirne. Do bhí a mhuintir imithe siar go dtí an Muing roimis an Gorta Mór. Deirtí go raibh sé indán an ruaig a chur ar mhórán gearánta, agus is i súil na hórdoige a bhí an leigheas aige. De réir na béaloideasa, do rugadh é Aoine an Chéasta, agus do baisteadh é Domhnach Cásca.
Pead Buí Ó Loinghsigh composed this song. He was born in Cúil at the top of Gort na Tiobratan in Baile Mhúirne but he spent most of his life in Muing. He was a piper and very popular amongst the people. Folklore has it that he would often travel east to Cúil Aodha, for work, and would play the pipes as he walked and the people would gather behind him and walk along with him. It was there in Na Fuithirí, Cúil Aodha that he died. He is buried in Reilg Ghobnatan in Baile Mhúirne. His family had moved to Muing before the famine.   It is said that he had cures for many complaints or illnesses and that this gift resided in the eye of his thumb. According to folklore, he was born on Good Friday and christened on Easter Sunday.
Móradh Dhuit a Thír Ár nDúchais
Dán é seo a chum Pádraig Mac Piarais (10/11/1879 – 3/5/1916). Léiríonn an dán seo dá chuid an saghas grádh a bhí ag an bPiarsach dá thír is dá Náisiún. Is mothúchán fíor ina chroí a bhí ann seachas tuairim theibí intleachtúil. Sid é an mí -thuiscint bhunúsach atá ag daoine i leith an Phiarsaigh inniu. Tá an t-aineolas bunúsach seo soiléir in ana chuid d’insint staire 1916, céad bliain níos déanaí. Bhí ár gcultúr forbartha agus préamhaithe sa chroí seachas san intleacht. D’eascraigh sé as an dtalamh agus as an Náisiún Gaelach. Baineann tréith na h-intleachta agus smacht is foréigean aigeanta, le cultúr gallda.
Fuinneamh croí, leis, a mhúsclaíonn mo chuid iarrachtaí ceoil agus is uaidh sin a tharraigím an cuisle ceoil is mé i mbun ceapadóireachta. Is i gcuideachta an bhuíon Téada, Mick O’Brien agus Oisín Morrison atá an Cór Ban ag amhránaíocht sa taifead seo agus foilsíodh é ar dtúis ar an ndlúth dhiosca ‘Onóir’i gcuimhne céad bliain 1916, ar lipéad Ghael Linn (CEFCD 213)
This poem was composed by Pádraig Mac Piarais (10/11/1879 – 3/5/1916). This poem of his shows the kind of love he felt for his county and it’s nation. It was a true feeling of the heart rather then an intellectual concept. I believe this is a basic misunderstanding in the accounting of Pearse today. This basic misunderstanding is prevalent in many of today’s readings of the history of 1916, some hundred years later. Our indigenous culture grew out of emotions engendered by the land and the Gaelic Nation rooted in it. The urge for intellectual dominance, control and might of mind are traits more associated with foreign culture.
Heart Energy is also the driving force in my creative efforts and it’s emotional stream provides the flow of my musical manifestations. The band Téada, along with Mick O’Brien and Oisín Morrison accompany Cór Ban Cúil Aodha in this particular rendition and it first was published by Gael Linn on a 1916 commemorative cd (CEFCD213)
Séamuisín
Tá an t-amhrán seo ar eolas ag gach páiste scoile is dócha. Sa saoghal gaelach féachtar ar thógail agus aire leanaí mar chúram ag an bpobal ar fad. Is iad na leanaí toghchaí aon phobail. Ba cheart go mbeadh aon leanbh ar strae sábhálta imeasc a phobail féin agus sin é a bhí ar siubhal san amhrán seo – “An bhfaca tú mo Shéamuisín?”
Every school-kid probably knows this song or would have in years gone by. In the Gaelic lifestyle raising kids is regarded as the responsibility of all the community. Children are the future of any community.   Any child straying should feel safe amongst their own community and that is what is going on here in this song – “have any of you seen my little Séamus?”.
An Bínsín Luachra
Tá an t-amhrán seo coitianta ar fuaid Mumhan is Connacht. Ta iliomad leaganaíocha dhe ann agus is dócha go bhfuil roinnt amhráin éagsúil anois meascaithe isteach is amach leis na leaganaíocha sin inniu.   Seo leagan a bhí ag Séan Ó Riada agus é i mbun a shaothair, bíodh le ceolfhoireann ag ceiliúradh Éirí Amach na Cásca via scannán an Tine Bheo, nó mar amhrán le Seán Ó Sé agus Ceoltóirí Cualann. D’úsáid sé leagan éagsúil eile chun dán do chuid Eoghan Rua – “Am’ Aonar Seal” do chur le ceol agus, go deimhin, do chum sé féin leagan béarla don ndán céanna sin. D’úsáideas an Bínsín Luachra do Chór na bhFear i gCúil Aodha, ar dtúis, sna seachtóidí ach, le déanaí tá an leagan cóirithe seo in órd agam don Cór Ban. Musclaíonn an fonn seo mórán mothúchán. ‘Sé atá ‘sna focail ná an gnáth scéal - fear ag teacht ar bhean áluinn atá faoi bhrón, agus an comhrá eatartha. Bíonn an tuairim ag roinnt daoine gur samhail d’Éire faoi chois atá sa bhean.
This song is common all over Munster and Connacht. There are many versions of it and it is most likely that different songs are both mixed into and arise out of these many versions. This version is the version my father Seán Ó Riada used when he was working, whether as the main theme celebrating the Easter Rising in the 1966 Film Tine Bheo or with Séan Ó Sé and Ceoltoirí Cualann in concert and broadcast.   He adopted his own version to set a poem by Eoghain Rua – Am Aonar Seal and indeed, he translated this poem/song himself later on – “Through Banks of Mist”. I first started using it with the men in Cór Cúil Aodha in the 1970’s and later set it for the women’s choir Cór Ban Cúil Aodha which you hear now. The melody of this song rises many emotions for me. The words are the usual ‘man sees beautiful women who is under great sadness” and the conversation ensuing. Many would consider that the woman in this instance is a metaphor for Ireland under foot in its darkest hours.
Stone from Delphi
Do bhi ana mheas agam riamh ar Séamus Heaney agus Marie, a bhean.   Cáirde lem’ thuismitheóirí iad seachas liomsa cé gur chuireas aithne orthu. Tá rud éigin fíor le filíocht Shéamuis. Tollann sé isteach ón gcnáimh, go smior go smúsach agus i ndornán focal, tugann tuiscint fíor ar neomat is fís gur minic é ró dheacair le bheith iomlán sa tsaoghal laethúil, cé go nglaonn a eireabal ort. Ach is féidir le Séamus féachaint ‘timpeal an cúinne’ agus thairis an ngualainn clé siar agus an rud go léir do thabhairt leis go gonnta. Duine eisceachtúil ar fad a bhí ann agus é uasal ina theannta sin. Do bhí sé de phribhléid agam gur tugadh cead dom cúpla dán leis a chur le ceol. Seo ceann acu a labhair liom mar tuigim, dar liom, cad iad na mothúcháin a bheadh aige sa chás. Cara leis a thug cloch bheag tharnais ón nGréig ó Delphi chuige agus bhí amhaltacht air mar gur cheart an chloch bheith fágtha sa bhaile san áit bheannaithe sin. Do bheadh an mothúchán céanna agamsa dá mbeadh cloch bheag tógtha ó Reilg Ghobnatan nó Dhá Chích Danainn nó áit bheannaithe eile dá leithéid. Ní féidir linn píosa do thalamh na nDéithe do ghabháil chugainn féin mar féirín. Is faoi na Déithe pé rud is ansa leo a bhronnadh orainn. Táim buíoch do Mharie agus a clann faoin gcead do thabhairt dom é seo do chur ar an bpláta ceoil seo le Cór Ban Cúil Aodha.
I always had fierce time for Seámus and Marie Heaney. They were more my parents friends then mine, even though I have met them on occasion. There is something really true about Séamus’s poetry.   He burrows from the bone to the marrow and from the marrow to the ‘smúsach’ and in a little bundle of words, presents a truth and meaning of a minute and vision, that quite often is too difficult to fully see in ordinary life. But Séamus can see around corners and over the left shoulder and therefore land the whole in the one deft bundle of words. He was an exceptional person and noble along with that. It is my privilege to receive permission to set several of his poems to music. This one spoke to me because I believe I understand the emotions behind it. A friend brought a little stone from Greece’s Delphi to him as a gift. He was uncomfortable as the stone should have remained in it’s holy place. I would be so if someone brought me a stone from Reilg Ghobnatan or the Paps of Danainn or any such place. We cannot take to ourselves a piece of the territory of the Gods. It is the purvey of the Gods to grant us what they will. I am very grateful to Marie and family for giving me permission to set this poem and place it on this musical plate.
Amhráinín Síodraimín
Amhrán ón dtaobh seo tíre é seo atá coitiannta ag leanaí cé gur dócha gan an t-ábhar do bheith chomh oiriúnach sin dá leithéid. Insíonn sé an scéal faoi úcaire saibhir a chónaigh cois Bandan. Ni foláir dá leithéid bheith bréan agus is dócha gurb é a chuid airgid a phósadh cailín óg, nó a chuirfeadh an mháthair d’aicaibh uirthi é a phósadh, seachas a dhea thréithe agus béasa! Sin scéal an amhráinín seo. Is é an curfá a mheallann an t-aos óg chuige is dócha, amhráinín faoi shíoda, siosúir is sódhacht!
This is a song from this neck of the woods and is common amongst school children even though the story might not be suitable for younger age groups. It gives account of an Úcaire who lived near Bandon. An Úcaire processed woven tweed to soften the finished materiel so that it could be worked. The main ingredient he used was urea which was collected usually as barrels of urine. A girl marrying him, or her mother forcing her to marry him, would surely be more interested in his wealth rather then fine features and mien! That is the story of this song. The chorus is what makes it so accessible to younger students as it weaves along with its silks and scissors and supposed contentment!
Mná na hÉireann
B’é m’athair Seán Ó Riada a chum an ceol don dán seo do chuid an fhile Ultach Peadar Ó Doirnín. Amhrán é ag moladh mná na hÉireann. Is mó leagan de atá taifeadta ó shoin ach seo mo iarracht ar é chur in oiriúint don Cór Ban.
My father Seán Ó Riada composed this song from the poem by Ulster poet Peadar Ó Doirnín. It is a song in praise of the Women of Ireland. There are many recordings, made by many artists, of this song since. This is my effort at setting it for Cór Ban Cúil Aodha.
The Banks of Sulán
B’é Con Ahern nó an Poet Ahern a chum an t-amhrán seo. Ba ó Charraig Thomáis idir Charraig an Ime agus Achadh Bolg dó. Deirtear gur thit codladh air lá is é ag iascaireacht in abhainn na Láinne lastoir, thuaidh de Mhachromtha. Luíonn Abha an tSuláin isteach leis an abhainn seo, sa chomharsanacht mórthímpeall. Nuair a dhúisigh Con bhí féith na filíochta aige. Cailleadh é in aois a 40 in aimsir an Ghorta agus cailleadh a mháthair an lá a cuireadh é féin in Achadh Bolg. Amhrán é seo a chanadh mo shean mháthair ó Chill na Martra agus bhí ana thionachar aige ar m’athair. B’é an chéad píosa ceoil é a chóirigh Seán do cheolfhoireann agus é ina mhac léinn Ollscoile.   Seo leagan den amhrán a chanann mo dhriofúr Rachel agus atá go ceolmhar anois ag a comrádaithe sa Chór Ban. Chuireas an coiríu simplí seo air cúpla bliain ó shoin.
Con Ahern or the Poet Ahern of Carrigthomas (between Carraig an Ime and Aghabulloge) composed this song. It is said he fell asleep one day whilst fishing on the banks of the river Laney near Macroom. The Sulán river joins the Laney nearby. When the poet awoke he found he had the gift of poetry.   He died during the famine years and was buried in Aghabulloge on the day his mother died. He was 40 years old. My grandmother, from Cill na Martra, used to sing this song and it had a great influence on my father. It was the first piece of music he set for orchestra whilst a student in UCC.   This version of the song I got from my sister Rachel and, it is now sung tunefully, by her comrades in Cór Ban. I put this simple arrangement together a few short years ago.
Cór Ban Cúil Aodha.
Bhunaigh Peadar Ó Riada Cór Ban Cúil Aodha i 1985 mar gur shíl sé nách raibh cothram na féinne dá thabhairt don fhuinneamh baineann sa cheantar agus Cór Chúil Aodha na bhfear ag tógaint lár páirce.   Bíonn cleachtadh acu gach Céadaoin sa Draighean i gCúil Aodha agus tá fáilte roim baill nua.  Is i nGaoluinn a déantar cúram agus saothar an Chóir seo.
Tá dhá shaothar mór fada deacair foilsithe ar dhlúth dhioscaí ag na mná seo, Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire a thóg suas le fiche bliain cleachtaidh agus saothair chun é a chríochnú agus ansan, Laoi na Laoithe, a bhí níos faide fós ach a thóg beagán breis ar dhá bhliain le cur le chéile. Cuireadh an dá shaothar seo ar stáitse, drom le drom, i 2010.
Fáiltíonn an Cór Ban roim baill nua i gcónaí agus is féidir iarrtas trí mheán ríomhphoist do chur chun corban@peadaroriada.ie
Peadar Ó Riada formed this choir in 1985 as he felt that the female creative energy was not getting its fair share of attention while the men’s Cór Chuil Aodha held sway on stage at home and abroad.  They rehearse every Wednesday in An Draighean, Cúil Aodha. All their meetings and works are through the medium of the Irish language.
The choir has two major works that are exceptionally long and difficult. These works were composed by Peadar Ó Riada and rehearsed and learnt over a 20 year period. They were performed back to back for the first time in Early May 2010. They are "Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire" and "Laoi na Laoithe".
The choir is always looking for new members and anyone may apply through a member of the choir or by email to corban@peadaroriada.ie

Peadar Ó Riada (www/peadaroriada.ie)
Cumadóir ceoil, beachadóir agus craoltóir gur maith leis ealaíon agus forbairt phobail. Stiúrthoir Cór Cúil Aodha, Cór Ban Cúil Aodha agus seineann go rialta le ceoltoirí traidisiúnta éagsúil ar nós Triúr agus The Drole. Tá a chuid ceoil cumtha do réir nosanna traidisiúnta, nósanna clasaiceacha, ceol eaglasta agus ceoltaca do mhedia eile.
Composer, Beekeeper, Broadcaster who likes painting and community development. Director: Cór Cúil Aodha, Cór Ban Cúil Aodha, regular music partner to a number of traditional bands (Triúr, The Drole, Continuing Traditions and Na Fianna) and other fellow musicians. Idioms in which he composes include traditional, liturgical, classical and incidental music.













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1          The Banks of my own Lovely Lee                        4.33




2          Táimse agus Máire                                       2.15




3          Uisce Doirtithe                                              6.19




4          An Cailín Aerach                                          3.21




5          Móradh Dhuit a Thír Ár nDúchais 4.04




6          Séamuisín                                                       1.31




7          An Binsín Luachra                                       4.36




8          Stone from Delphi                                        3.05




9          Amhráinín Síodraimín                                   3.20




10        Mná na hÉireann                                         4.46




11        The Banks of Sulán                                     6.53







Taifead: Peadar Ó Riada, Brian Nammock

Téacs/Cover Notes Peadar Ó Riada/Eilís Ni Shuilleabháin/Máire Ní Chéileachair

Cover design Edel Butler

CD printing and duplication: Dutec

Buíochas le Mary MacSweeney, Séamus Ó Riada, Séamus Ó Suilleabháin, Sile Uí Luasa 

Publisher: Real World Works Ltd (Peadar O Riada & Seán Ó Riada)

www.peadaroriada.ie   www.facebook.com/CorBanChuilAodha/

All tracks traditional arranged Peadar Ó Riada except:

Stone From Delphi: words - Seamus Heaney, music - Peadar Ó Riada

Uisce Doirtithe: words -Dónal Ó Liatháin, music - Peadar Ó Riada,

Mná na hÉireann: composed - Seán Ó Riada, arranged Peadar Ó Riada

P&C 2019


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