A recitation of the ancient Irish poem, 'The Mystery of Amergin,' attributed to Amergin Glúingel, one of the seven sons of Míl Espáine — druid, bard, poet, judge and emissary for the Milesians (the tribe of Míl Espáine) — as recorded in the writings of the Irish Mythological Cycle

The Mystery of Amergin

April 5, 2023

Ortha na Grèine (Invocation of the Sun)

Ortha Tràtha Buidhe Bealtainne (Invocation For The Season of Beltane)

Trì Òrthaichean Eagnaidh (Three Ornaments of Wisdom)

Sùgradh An Teatha (The Flirting Of The Tea)

Trì Sligheachan Sèimhe Gu Sìth (Three Gentle Paths To Peace)

Fios Ann Am Botal

Trì Aimhleis Am Fine (Three Banes of The Tribe)

Sgoiltidh Farmad Na Creagan (Envy Will Split The Rocks)

Trì Leusan Lùghnasadh (Three Rays of the Festival of Light)

Lùghnasadh (The Festival of Light)

This short poem is written in the ancient Gaelic style known as a triad.

Trì Iallan Àiteachas Beatha (Three Strands of Life Cultivation)

'Heire Bannag, Hoire Bannag' translates as 'Hey The Gift, Ho The Gift,' and is one of the few surviving examples of an ancient Gaelic Christmas chant from the Western Islands (Hebrides) of Scotland. 

Carols like this were traditionally sung by groups of young men (sometimes called Nuallairean, meaning 'carolers' or 'rejoicers') who went door-to-door within the town. The leader of the group would sing out a line and the chorus of men would take up the refrain. After they had finished singing their songs, they were rewarded with gifts of 'bannag' (a small oat or barley cake). 

Recorded in the collection 'Carmina Gadelica,' this particular song was passed on to the famous archivist and author, Alexander Carmichael in the late 1800's from John MacDiarmaid, Isle of Scalpay, Harris and from Roderick MacBeil, Isle of Mingulay, Barra.

'Caismeachd Nan Nuallair' translates as 'The March Of The Carolers' and is a new tune composed by Mac for this set.

For more information about the tradition and to read the English lyrics to this song, please visit: http://www.amongthewhitelilies.com/post/105541732945/thegift-part5-the-gift-of-god

Heire Bannag, Hoire Bannag/Caismeachd Nan Nuallair

Here's a short traditional Gaelic story of a sprite named 'Sligeachan' and his mischievous son who has the tables turned on him by a wily old woman!

English Translation:

A long time ago, there was a brownie name Sligeachan who lived in Linne Na Slige (Pond of The Shell) near Loch Tay in Scotland. Sligeachan had a son and he would often bother the old woman on The Great Plain. He would ask her what her name was. 

But she was wily. 

She would only say, “I am myself, just myself.”

One day, he was terribly bothersome, “What’s your name?” he asked yet again.

“Myself, myself,” answered the woman.

Finally, she grew tired of the young brownie and she threw a pan of hot water on his bare legs!

When Sligeachan heard the young man screeching, he came right away!

“What happened?” he asked.

“My legs were sgalded with hot water!”, said the young sprite.

“And who did it?”, asked Sligeachan.

“Myself, myself!”, said the young man.

“That’s good,” answered Sligeachan, “if it had been anyone else, I would have punished him!”

It’s likely that the young brownie never bothered the woman anymore and Sligeachan never found out who threw the hot water on his son!

Mi Fhìn, Mi Fhìn (Gaelic story)

This tune was written in 2009 in honour of friends and patrons, Alan and Lucinda Warnock. 

The word 'planxty' isn't very common, but some think it is an Anglicization of an Irish phrase meaning "from the house of". 

The famous Irish harper, Turlough O' Carolan used the word in many titles of his works when dedicating a tune to a person or family.

May you find joy in the listening and may your every breath be peace.

/|\

Planxty Warnock

A traditional air performed solo on the Uilleann Pipes. 'Amhrán Na Leabhar' is Irish for "Song Of The Books."

Amhrán Na Leabhar

‎"Lo, A Great Light Has Come/In The Company Of Friends", two enchanting new Celtic tunes penned by mac and blended together in one set, will take you on a journey of the imagination. 

Featuring the sound of the beautifully haunting Irish Uilleann Pipes.

Please enjoy 'Lo, A Great Light Has Come/In the Company of Friends.'

May your every breath be peace.

/|\

Lo A Great Light Has Come/In The Company Of Friends

I was raised in an area of Canada with a deep Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) heritage.

When I play the native flute, it is more than just a physical act for me — it is a deeply spiritual act that connects me to the Creator — to Nature — and to people, history, culture and way of life that has been and is still continually marginalized — pushed to the fringes of modern society. 

This tune is one I wrote in honour of the land of my youth and the Anishinaabe people.

Cave Of The Great Spirit

This song originally appeared on the studio soundtrack recording of 'The Peace Project: Music For Prayer, Meditation, Movement & Healing.' This special version highlights the gentle strains of the 24-string lyre.

Buy The Holy Breath Of God on iTunes

The Holy Breath Of God (Instrumental w/Celtic Lyre)

English translation:

There’s a place in Lusgentyre on the west coast of Harris called Rosamal’s Fold. This is where the town’s cattle were milked, early in the morning and again in the evening. It’s here that the cattle started refusing to give milk and the townsfolk had a strong suspicion that it was the fairies the were stealing the milk.

Now, there was a young boy in the area called Luran. He was a fine, cheerful lad and they asked him to go and keep watch one night to see if he could catch the fairies milking the cattle. He hadn’t been watching very long when the little people gathered. After they had finished milking, they caught Luran and whisked him away with them to their home in the cliff. There they took out cups and started drinking wine.

Luran got his share of the wine as well, but as soon as he got the opportunity to escape, he poured the wine out of the cup and ran as quick as his body could move — and took the cup with him! 

Out came the fairies after him, but as quick as they were, they couldn’t catch him. When they noticed that, they began to chant a little song to him. It went something like this:

“Luran is fast, but Luran’s food is hard bread. But if Luran eats porridge, he’ll be faster than the deer!”

When Luran heard this, he returned home and started eating porridge —and plenty of it — until he was completely sure that the fairies would never catch him. 

But alas! Instead of becoming faster, he grew so heavy with all the porridge he ate, that the fairies caught him without any trouble at all!

Once again, they whisked him away and this time, he never got home. He is still with the fairies but he left the cup which held the wine. They say that that cup is now in Castle Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye.

It’s not known how it got there, but perhaps...

it was the fairies themselves that took it there!

taisdealach

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