Boyfo of Dung1oe,., Neil needs 110 introduction, for he has played· at concerts, fe~tival.s and feiseanna not only i.n Donegal but in scver:il ~other il'.OuniLies. He has also broadcaS(t more than once from Radio Eireann, and h~ls made numerous records which have been put o'.1 the commercial mark::t and are finding their 1way even to the U.S.A. In addition to the recordings, Seamus ~1acAonghusa collec1ted and committed to ma;nuscript 189 pieces of music, comprising airs, reels, jigs, ho:::-npipes and set-dances, as we11 as the lyrics and melodies of folk-songs. :Furthermore, Sean 0 hEocha~jh, full-time collector for the Commission in Donegal, who is himself a native of T1eelin and who has done yeoman service over the last 16 years or more, succeeded in re.s:cui.ng a big number of lyrtcs which, at one time, ·were sung to various aiirs, many of which are still familiar. These poems were written down Exactly as they existed in 1the mzmories of such renowned seanchaidMhe as Anna Nie a Luain from Na Cruach::i, Gle:ities, Maire Ni Chormaic, Na Brochaighe and a :µumber of others. Apart from the interesi:ing sidelight on music and song in Donegal which these official reicords give, we can ae.. duce from them the amount ~of valuable wo1k that the Folkilore Commissicin is doing 1throughout Ireland. And for anyone interested in OL1.J: national lore I can thi!"1.k: of no more useful wa,y of spend· ing hi·s spar1e time in Dublin than to call at the Folklore Office in 82, St.Stephens Green where he will get a he_arty welcome a.Yid where ev1ery faciliity for pursuing his resea11ch will be accorded him by a staff of 1geni::il ain.:l courteous officials. Tl·.-:.:nes of Songs-And now about the subjeot-matter of Iri·sh folk..,songs. \Vhere did our peG;ple find their themes ? They had s:;Jngs for every age, mood and state of life. Lt is usual to gr9up the song.s under the followii•1g :heads :- 1. Dinta Di:adh1a or Sia.cred Poems.~These were very common in this CJtT1ty. Henry Morris published a considerable numbe.r cf Doneg,al Danta. They ideal wi1th religious themd3 or embody a "long series of ,9rayers. In :o~e, for exam1Ple, the 15 ccnduding verses are devoted ;~o an account of the life of Our Lord. Another treats of the Marriage Feast of Cana. A ·singe.r in Bealtai':r:.~, Gortahork, Nora Ni Ghalkhobhair had a seri1es of se,ven of these poems, each dediaated tJ a seperate day of the week. iProin.sias 0 hlghne, Teelin is 1staid to have composed a D{m on the Crucifixion, as a result of which som~ speci.al ho.:10ur was 1conferred ·On him by the Pope. \2. !. ... ove Songs.-A1ll oveir Ire1E:1nd these are by far the most numerous. Typical of 1the finer tyipe in Donegal are "Thios i dTeach a' Torvaimh", "Brighid Og Ni Mhaille", and "An Cailin Gaedh2alach". Whe'.1 the Irishman fell in love his eloquenre'knew no bour.ds. and the inamorata must have been swrpt off heir feet by torrents of superlatives which find no para1lel even in Hollywood film' advertisements. The •w hifonr.ss of her skin is like the snow on the mo1,:.:it3.ins or the swan on Lough Erne or the lily in full bloom; her tac~ is radiant as the sun and her eyes sparkl1e as the morning dew; her lips and checks a~e like the ·summer rose; her hair r2splenden4:: falls in flowery tresses or pearly ringlets; her voice is sweeter than 298
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