In this Tír Enda “About the Song” video, I take a closer look at an Irish song I first learned in school — one of those songs that’s often treated as a children’s song, even though it carries a surprisingly tragic ending.

The real hero of the song is Feilim’s little boat: a brave wee vessel that has battled the oceans, brought in the catch, and done its work faithfully — only to meet a sad fate in the end.

It’s also trickier to sing than it might first appear, which is often the way with these old school songs. They stay with you for years, and then one day you realise there’s far more going on in them than you understood as a child.

Here I’m trying it out with the bodhrán which seems to be working nicely.

Thanks, as always, for being part of Tír Enda and for giving these songs a warm place to land. there's an mp3 for those who might like to add it to their USB stick. 

There's a song only version of it too that you might see on Youtube.

Translation of Báidín Fheilimí

Feilimí's little boat went to Gola,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it,
Feilimí's little boat went to Gola,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it.

Chorus

A tiny little boat, a lively little boat,
A buoyant little boat, Feilimí's little boat,
A straight little boat, a willing little boat,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it.

Feilimí's little boat went to Tory,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it,
Feilimí's little boat went to Tory,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it.

Chorus

Feilimí's little boat crashed on Tory,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it,
Feilimí's little boat crashed on Tory,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it.

Chorus

Feilimí's little boat crashed on Tory,
Fish on board and Feilimí in it,
Feilimí's little boat crashed on Tory,
Fish on board and Feilimí in it.
 

Enjoy!

I've been working on this song a long time and I think it's nearly there. Here's an explanation of what it's about and a first listen for you. The lyrics and a few pictures of the island are below to give you a feel for it. Thanks for listening and let me know your thoughts! Have you got a special place you think of in the hustle and bustle of modern life?

Lyrics 

The 12 Bens Of Galway

I dreamt in the night I went to Inishbofin. 

Took a plane, then a bus, then a boat to the island. 

Through Connemara, Clifden and Cleggan. 

Over rough seas to a piece of heaven.

To a bay with a beach like the Mediterranean,

And the Stags at the cliffs with dark waves thundering,

Two Island swans in a lake in the middle

And a white cow standing proud on a hill.

Past the hay-fields to the seaweed shore,

spend the day fishin’, reelin’ wrasse galore,

Out to Cromwell's fort by the boats in the bay.

Then back for a session with the lads at the Days,

Down the purple valley and out to the sea, 

The 12 Bens of Galway smiling at me.

There’s ten ton boulders flung by the Atlantic 

Where sheep eat greedily a green grass carpet

On a black peat bog a declaration 

I love you In white stone writing

Waking to the sound of the cock as he crows 

a walk around the island

On the wee windy roads 

Through the Summer Meadow the delicious air

I really caught a taste of heaven there

Down the purple valley and out to the Sea,

The 12 Bens of Galway smiling at me. 

Skies turn redder as the day is ending

Can I stay in this dream? Keep pretending

Its my memory I'm taking it with me

As I drive the streets of Detroit City.

Waking to the sound of the cock as he crows. 

A Walk round the island, 

On the wee windy roads 

through the summer meadow,

the delicious air

I really caught a taste of Heaven there 

Down the purple Valley out to the sea. 

The 12 Bens of Galway smiling at me.

Waking to the sound of the cock as he crows. 

A walk round the island, 

On the wee windy roads 

through the summer meadow,

the delicious air

I really caught a taste of Heaven there 

Down the purple valley out to the sea. 

The 12 Bens of Galway smiling at me.

Down the purple valley and out to the sea. 

The 12 Bens of Galway are still waiting for me.

Thanks again for joining me on the Easter Rising live Stream. On youtube you can navigate easily back to a particular song with or without my introduction by either clicking the timestamps below or in the description or on the video itself. Kinda handy! i've made a separate video of Óró Sé Do bheatha Bhaile but all other songs can be seen again below! bye for now!

00:00 Introduction 05:19 Mise Eire Intro 07:15Mise Eire Song 10:00 More about Mise Eire 16:50 The Foggy Dew Intro 17:14 The Foggy Dew Song 22:16 More Context about The Foggy Dew 23:40 Blood On the Rose and Francis Ledwidge 26:24 Lament For Tomas McDonagh 37:14 Who Fears to speak of a Nation Once Again? 42:00 Here Comes the Sun 46:58 The Rose Tree - WB Yeats Intro 47:47 The Rose Tree - WB Yeats 43:35 The Watchword of Labour by James Connolly intro 51:00 The Watchword of Labour by James Connolly 57:53 About The Bodhran 1:00:25 Oro Se Do Bheatha Bhaile Sean Nos Looping 1:05:36 Connolly Quote via Tim 1:08:35 Grace 1:27:22 Easter 1916 - WB Yeats (Exerpt) 1:23:30 A Sign Of Rain (by request) 

Many of you have probably seen it by now but here's march's Live Stream.

There were a good few in there that i've been trying out. Do let me know your favourites!

Here's the songs I did in march! lots of new performances here. Let me know your favourites and if you like the Lower sound of the classical guitar or not!

On the youtube page you should be able to go direct to a song to hear it again. (Skip the waffles Feature!)

00:00 - Introduction 5:38 My Lagan Love 11:21 Siúl a Rún / Johnny's Gone for a Soldier 19:14 La belle Dame sans Merci 29:30 Ualach Ó mo Chroí 35:20 Pócaí Stróice - Torn Pockets 41:00 The Curragh of Kildare 47:49 The Blarney Roses

A Sign of Rain (mp3 available for download below!) 

A song inspired by Irish weather lore recorded in 1935 in the National Folklore Archive at UCD. These are the signs people once watched for—the small details in nature that told them rain was on the way.
And if you ever go to Ireland you'll know what to look out for!

Filmed live at The New School Church in Mill Race Village, Northville, which is a cool little park by the river with old buildings that have been kept looking new. real fun place.

A little bit more about the venue other than it being very reverby!
Built in 1845 by a splinter group of the Presbyterian Church of Northville, the building served as a church for just four years before taking on many lives—as a school, township hall, Salvation Army barracks, and Northville’s library for over 70 years. Saved from demolition in 1964 and moved to Mill Race Village in 1972, it remains a beautiful space for gatherings and music.

Many thanks to Samantha and the Friends of the Northville District Library, Wendy at Mill Race Village, and Mayor Brian Turnbull for their support.

Thanks also to my Tir Enda patrons and to all who came out to support the show. See you there next year for my WB Yeats program!

After a rocky technical start we had a nice one on Saturday. 

The Roaring Cliffs of Moher

Bainis Mhairi - Mairi's Wedding - A new version Enda will be releasing.

The Fiddler Of Dooney - WB Yeats - New melody!

Poem - The Faeries - William Allingham
Up the Airy Mountain!

Ag ól Ag Ól Ag An Garbhóg! From my New Songs in irish Album. written with Pearse McGloughlin fom Sligo.

Mary and the Soldier .. Classic trad song i haven't played in a long time1

Ualach Ó mo Chroí - Song about going home which  for me is in Tallaght Dublin

Dublin's on my Mind - It was inevitable that I'd write a song about emigrating. here it is!

Enda tries a hornpipe on his new fiddle!

Come Back Paddy Reilly To Ballyjamesduff .. The classic from my Whisperings album!

Hey Tír Enda friends! have a great Valentines. here's a love song i wrote for my wife Anne Marie!