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I like Mo Ghile Mear a lot. I started looking for the origins of the song. Most of the information credits it as being based on a poem by Seán Clárach. I've found it referred to as a tribute to Bonnie Prince Charles and the CW version sounds like it fits that. However, I've also found it referred to as a lament for him http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%A1n_Cl%C3%A1rach_Mac_Domhnaill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%A1n_Cl%C3%A1rach_Mac_Domhnaill).

As I said, I love the CW version which sounds more like a tribute, I wonder. Would this not be a terrific song for Orla done as a lament, in the style of Mary Black: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDlCM_Mwtys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDlCM_Mwtys).

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I love this song.  The best version of this song that I've every heard, however, is Mairin Fahy's version.  When I saw Mairin live in Galway, she explained it...I don't really remember 100% what it was....but she said it was something like...there was a war going on, and the Irish army wanted to enlist the help of this scottish guy....I guess he was like some sort of equivelent to a general.....but he ran away to France because he lost a battle and was humiliated...

this is just bits and pieces of what I remember.  I'm sure Maggie knows.  She is, after all, our source for all things Irish.

I've posted about Mo Ghile Mear a couple of times, this was one:
    
Re: Evolution of Song
« Reply #16 on: November 02, 2007, 05:41AM »

Here is Sting's version, accompanied by the Chieftains:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auSa0YfkxFE

Yes, we have already done quite a thread on "Mo Ghile Mear" including Sting's version etc...

 BUT.....we DID NOT have  this marvelous LINK...Maggie...thank you so much...for this I couldn't believe I got to listen
 to it again, and can now when I want to. I gave my chieftain's album and 2 CW albums to a YOUNG Single Chaplain
' who had just been called to Mortuary Duty in Kuwait... So I thought it would be a while before I had the time and
  money to replace the albums...

  Yes, the way C W sang it, it sounds so joyous and a regular happy birthday song...Then I stumbled on to Sting's Version
  and was so perplexed until Forum members came to my rescue explaining the lament and nature of the
  sad song...etc...I also know now who MARY BLACK is from Maggie's link about the FLEADH in Ireland...i clicked on a video  of her singing...now I want to watch her version of "Mo Ghile Mear"

Thanks to our friend and Irish consultant, Maggie, we can now ALL on this Forum listen to Sting sing his version of the stirring song....thanks again..

Shankdee

Thanks everyone. I'd seen a couple of the threads about Mo Ghile Mear that were basically people saying how much they liked it. Thanks for the links. I understand that in particular the traditional songs evolve over time and often change quite dramatically. I have no problem with that. I really do like the CW interpretation of Mo Ghile Mear. I like it a lot.

Orla's voice is so unique and haunting. It's just ethereal. I really miss having her as part of CW. I started thinking that the slower, more lament-like version would be perfect for her. I think this got started, back before I had Orla's CD, when I thought that She Moved Thro' The Fair would be a good song for Orla. Lo and behold, I found that she had done it on her CD. Okay, that was the tipping point that, of course, forced me to buy Orla's CD.  ;)

I would still love to hear her do Mo Ghile Mear.

Gary

Wow! I listened to Sting and The Chieftans version of Mo Ghile Mear and I don't like it at all, but I really really like Mary Black's version of Mo Ghile Mear.

I agree with you, Gary.  I would love to hear Orlagh do this as you suggested.

I think I just recently heard that it has something to do with Bonnie Prince Charlie. But I can be mistaken.

 I just can't get Meav's part of this  song out of my head...whenever she gets to the point where she tells us to follow her I reply " sounds good to me!"  ;D