Cur síos

Tá cáil i bhfad agus i ngearr ar an Trá Bháin, baile ar oileán Gharmna i gCeantar na nOileán, mar áit a bhfuil na trí ní nach féidir a fhoghlaim – fonn, féile agus filíocht – le fáil go fairsing ann. Ní gan údar a tugtar an baile beag géimiúil air.

Faoi chlúdaigh an leabhair seo, agus ar an dlúthdhiosca atá ag dul leis, tá sé amhrán déag a cumadh ar an mbaile nó a bhfuil dlúthbhaint acu leis an mbaile. Tá cuid acu i mbéal an phobail le fada an lá, leithéid ‘Amhrán an Bháthadh’ (nó ‘Amhrán na Trá Báine’ mar atá aithne ag go leor air), ‘Ócam an Phríosúin’ agus ‘Pluid Dhorcha Leára”.  Tá cuid eile nach bhfuil an cur amach céanna orthu taobh amuigh den Trá Bháin féin, leithéid ‘Amhrán Tarpey’ agus ‘Bróga Khennedy’. Tá an greann agus an ghruaim ina n-orlaí tríd an gcnuasach seo, agus tá aiste chuimsitheach eolais ag dul le chuile amhrán maille le réamhrá a thugann a chúlra staire, cultúir agus eacnamaíoch.

An Trá Bháin –– in Connemara, is widely known for its folklore and traditional song. This book and the enclosed CD, contain sixteen songs which were composed either in the area itself, or by people from the area who had emigrated.

Some of the songs are widely sung and known by the singing community, the likes of ‘Amhrán an Bháthadh’ (or ‘Amhrán na Trá Báine’ as it is more commonly known), ‘Ócam an Phríosúin’ and ‘Pluid Dhorcha Learaí’; there are others that are not as well known outside of An Trá Bháin, songs like ‘Amhrán Tarpey’ and ‘Bróga Khennedy’ are included in this list. The songs vary in tone and emotion and run the gamut from funny songs to sad songs. The collection also includes a comprehensive essay for each song as well as a foreword, which gives the historical background of the songs, and their cultural and economic context.