'Illean o, ro bha hó
Track Information
Original Track ID
CannaWirek.1954.1
Original Tape ID
Summary
These are two sections of a waulking song. In the first, a woman refers to being on an island. There are two children with her. In the second section, the composer refers to the death of a man she loves. He is described as a hunter.
Item Notes
11 lines sung plus choruses.
See:
'Òrain Luaidh Màiri nighean Alasdair' (K. C. Craig ed., 1949) p. 82
Some versions of this waulking song, such as that in 'Òrain Luaidh Màiri nighean Alasdair', contain a section beginning, "Is e mo ghràdh na gamhna geala". This is followed by a section beginning, "Gura h-e mo ghaol na gillean". It is from these two sections of this waulking song that the lines of the song known to modern singers as 'Na gamhna geala' have been taken.
Recording Location
County - Inverness-shire
Parish - South Uist
Island - Benbecula
Village/Place - Hacklete
Language
Gaelic
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good