The Dark Island, An T-Eilean Dorcha

Celtic Folk

Misc

The Dark Island, An T-Eilean Dorcha

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Here are the Gaelic words to 'The Dark Island', this translation done

by Iain Aonghas MacLeoid/John Angus Macleod. John Angus won the bardic

crown at the Mod in Stirling in 1971 and this is taken from his book:

Na Freumhan Thug Dhomh Cothrom Fas. The book also contains Gaelic versions

of Flower of Scotland, The first time I ever saw your face, A red red

rose, Bridge over Troubled water, Mull of Kintyre, Isle of Arran

as well as many others he has written himself. He's said it's OK for

me to post this here.

An t-Eilean Dorcha

Air taobh thall a' chuain seo bu mhiann leam bhith ' drasd',

far eil smuaintean an ait' ud gham tharraing gach la,

far eil fraoch cuhraidh alainn air beanntan a' fas

tha dieadh ad, ad os cionn an Eilean Dhorcha.

Seisd (chorus)

O Eilein bhig m'oige, 's ann riut tha mo mhiann,

sinn a' fagail ti-mo 's a' cur cus' chun an Iar;

gheibh mi solas an anam nach d'fhairich mi riamh

on a' chiad latha dh'fhag mi ' t-Eilean Dorcha.

On chuan thig an oiteag cho socair don o,

a' cur failt' air an allt ruith gu traigh bhuidhe oir,

far an cluinn mi gach la aighear 's gair' aig clann og -

's e mo bhoid a chaoidh nach fhag mi ' t-Eilean Dorcha.

O sheud Innse Gall, tha thu sealltainn do luach

ri boillsgeadh grein samhraidh chuir oidhche gu ruaing;

's truagh nach robh mi mar fhaoileig a' saor-shiubhal cuain -

gura luath bhithinn taobh ri m'Eilean Dorcha.

(c) John Angus Macleod 1989

John Angus also runs the Gaidhlig aig deas group - Scottish Gaelic

in the south. For more info on GAD or a copy of any of his books, you

can contact him at: 5 Berkeley Crescent, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 5SH.

If you do write to him, it would be useful if you could mention my name -

I'm trying to persuade John Angus to get onto the computer network and

this might be an interesting exercise in showing him the value of

being on the network when it comes to spreading Gaelic news.