Éistidh a Dhaoine

Quick Overview

In eagar ag Pádraig de Brún.

Ríona Ní Churtáin a chóirigh an ceol.

Is mó slí inar tháinig amhráin na Gaeilge anuas chughainn. Ceann acu ab ea na bileoga beaga clóite a bhíodh á ndíol laethanta aonaigh agus margaidh. Cló agus litriú an Bhéarla a bhíodh ar na hamhráin Ghaeilge a seachadadh ar an gcuma so de ghnáth, agus iad doiléir dothuigthe ar uairibh dá bharr san. Cuid de stair shóisialta an naoú haois déag is ea na cáipéisí seo, agus cuid de stair na clódóireachta go háitiúil in Éirinn. Ní miste a rá gur cuid diamhair de stair litríocht na Gaeilge is ea iad chomh maith.

Sa leabhar so tá téacs na n-amhrán – breis agus leathchéad acu – in eagar ósna bileoga bailéad ag an Dr Pádraig de Brún, agus an ceol a ghabhadh leo réitithe ag an Dr Ríona Ní Churtáin. Idir a bhfuil de chúlra sa réamhrá agus de thráchtaireacht sna nótaí agus sa bhfoclóir cuimsitheach, tá foras feasa curtha ar fáil ar ghné de stair na Gaeilge agus de stair na hÉireann nár tugadh mórán airde uirthi go dtí anois.

Songs in Irish have come down to us in many ways. One such way was by means of the small, printed sheets which used to be sold on fair and market days of yore. Songs transmitted in this way usually employed both English type and spelling, and consequently, are sometimes unintelligible or unclear. These documents form part of the social history of the nineteenth century, as well the history of print at a local level in Ireland. It could even be said that they constitute a mysterious part of the history of Irish literature.

In this book, the text of over fifty songs is presented, edited from the ballad sheets which preserve them by Dr. Pádraig de Brún. These texts are furnished with the music which accompanied them, arranged by Dr. Ríona Ní Churtáin. With a substantial introduction, commentary and comprehensive glossary, this book provides a foundation of knowledge on an aspect of Irish language and history which has not previously been considered in such depth.