Erin is Ireland

  Song 1:   " Bog braon"   translated:  Soft Drop General Idea:  An Irish Lullaby- trying to put the baby to sleep (refers to the baby as an old man perhaps because the baby is bald.)  I don’t know! That’s just what I remember from the lesson.   Verse 1:   Bog braon, bog braon, bog braon don tseanduine, bog braon ‘s blais fein, is a thabhairt don tseanduine (A soft drop, a soft drop, a soft drop for the old man *a soft drop, taste it yourself, and give it to the old man.)   Chorus:  Cuir a chodladh, cuir a chodladh, cuir a chodladh an seanduine, Cuir a chodladh is ní a chosa is bog braon don tseanduine. (Put to sleep, put to sleep, put the old man to sleep put to sleep and wash his feet, a soft drop for the old man) Verse 2:   Feoil úr, feoil úr, feoil úr don tseanduine, feoil úr is braon súip is a thabhairt don tseanduine.  (   Fresh meat, fresh meat, fresh meat for the old man fres...

  Song #4:  Erin Go Bragh (Ireland Forever) This is my original song.  Basically, it’s my trip itinerary.  My son Cole made up a song on the ukulele that he thought sounded like an Irish dancing song. I layered my song on top of his song singing my lyrics very fast.   The 2 nd   recording is without Cole, slowed down to understand the words. I recorded it in my car using the steering wheel as a drum. I thought it was an apt recording studio since that is where I did all my singing during the past few months.    Chorus:  Erin Go Bragh, Erin Go Bragh, Erin Go Bragh is forever!   Day One:  I fly from my home in Utah, landing at Shannon, drive to festival. Day Two:  the church and to graveyards to seek James and his wife Winifred O’Malley. (Chorus) Cole’s verse:   Take a trip to the anchor under, far away from the battles of your brother. You can sail alone.  But then again, you’re never alone.  Never alone...

  Song 3:  Táimse 'gus Máire General Idea:  A man is singing about married life and how very happy he is with his wife, Moira. 2 nd  verse is about his property and how great it is.  3 rd  verse is his hope of an afterlife and being together forever. Táimse 'gus Máire go sásta inár n-aigne, Ó nascadh i bpáirt sinn ag an altóir ró-bheannaithe,Thug sise grá thar cairde 'gus fearaibh dhom,Thógas ar láimh í 's go brách brách ní scarfaimid. ( I and Máire are happy in our hearts, Since we joined together at the very blessed altar, She gave me love beyond friends and men, I took her by the hand and we will never part.) Chorus:  Beadsa ag seinnt ceoil, poirtíní béil agam, ( Beadsa playing music, I have mouthfuls)-  I’m going to sing for you now! Rex-fol-dí-ó, rex-fol-dí-i-e-dil-i-dí. (nonsense words like Fiddle dee dee) Verse 2:  Tá mo theaghlach san áit is fearr ar an mbaile seo, I bpáirc an tsrutháin a sháraíonn seacht n-acra, Cruithneacht a'...

  Song 2 :  Dá Bhfaigheann Mo Rogha de Thriúir Acu General Idea:    (A picky Irish girl is trying to decide who to marry between 3 men (a fisherman, tailor, blacksmith).  She decides her favorite is a fiddler, or musician.  Verse 1 :   Dá Bhfaigheann Mo Rogha de Thriúir Acu Dá bhfaigheann mo rogha de thriúir acu, De thriúir acu, de thriúir acu, Dá bhfaigheann mo rogha de thriúir acu, Cé hé acu siúd do b' fhearr liom?  ( If I get my choice of three of them If I get my choice of three of them, Of three of them, of three of them, If I get my choice of three of them, Which of them would I prefer? ) Chorus: Ó mo mhíle gille thú, Grá mo chroí is fiche tú, Ó mo mhíle gille thú, 'S tú peata geal do mháthar ( You are my thousand boy, You are the love of my heart, You are my thousand boy, You are your mother's bright pet.   In other words I just love you so much, you’re the love of my life. You’re my favorite etc.) Verse 2 :   ...

  Sean Nos singing is "unaccompanied traditional Irish vocal music usually performed in the Irish language." One of my travel goals was to learn a Sean Nos song and write an original song.  I found a great gal on youtube.  I thought her name was "Alison" but that is the name of the company that produces all sorts of educational videos and offers certificates if you're into that.  Here is the link for the first Alison  Sean Nos singing course if you'd like to try it yourself:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLx0qfqBEPs The next couple of blog entries will include my rough recording of these songs.  I write "rough" not just because I did them in my car  (well kind of my car- my cars have broken down in the last few months and my son-in-law and daughter have been so kind to loan me one of their cars until I can figure out my driving situation) but also the quality of the singing. I'm not a professional singer like "Alison".  Far from...

 I'm not going to Ireland for the food but my ancestors surely left Ireland because of it.   I'll be eating simple fare for survival, mostly alone, on the go as I view my food primarily as fuel to explore.  The place I'm staying may provide breakfast. Regardless, it will be fine.  I will survive... unless I don't.  Think of all those would-be travelers flying over Lockerbie Scotland and then BOOM.  Think about 9/11 and people going about their business and then BOOM-dead.  I think about these things as I take to the skies.  I'm not paralyzed by fear, but the thought of death crosses my mind. Though I've been learning about the lives of my ancestors, I've also been studying death-enough to want to spend some of my tourist time walking through graveyards.  We all headed for the ground, becoming one with the dirt.  Since yesterday was Earth Day,  I'd like to explore this connection between the earth and our food choices.  One...

My upcoming trip to Ireland is a catalyst for working on my goals with family history.  It's my top priority.  Even if the trip was canceled for some reason,  I still appreciate the fire kindled in me to seek out my Irish roots.   I've spent quite a bit of time trying to unearth information on sites such as FamilySearch,  Ancestry, My Heritage, rootsireland,  geni.com, Findmypast, Irish national library, Irelandxo reaching out, and books on the shelves at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.  It's been like digging for treasure and pretty much making a bunch of holes in the dirt without finding the prize. When I find records with the names I'm looking for, I can't claim them.   It's a Peter.  It's a James.  It's a Winifred.  But they're not MY Peter, MY James, and MY Winifred.  ARRGGGH!  (pirate voice emphasized.)  The volunteer Ireland consultant specialist at the family history center suggested I ...

  I may not be able to figure out how I'm related to the pirate queen, but I, Erin O'Malley, daughter of Charles Gerald O'Malley, have royal blood coursing through my veins.  Mary Queen of Scots is my 14th great aunt, and “Princess Di” (Diana Spencer) is my 9th cousin!  Hey-That means I'm related to the future king of England.  You can’t get more royal than that!  English royalty seems to hold a particular fascination with the entire world.     Maybe I could handle all the royal accouterments-the titles, the lands, the castles, estates, the luxury, the pampering, the royal treatment, and the important duties. Maybe I couldn’t. Regardless, for one brief moment, I get to pretend at the oldest castle (1228)-Ashford Castle. I could stay there if I wanted to pay 500+ dollars a night, but I’m opting for an air-bnb in Westport for $50 a night-more in line with my peasantry income. Perhaps I will splurge, being royal and all, for a massage in their ultra-lux s...