Song of the day (19th June) – Danú – “Molly Na gCuach Ní Chuilleanáin” (Molly Cullinane of the Ringlets).

And here’s yet another song by Danú that I want to share with you, my most favourite one of theirs. I fell in love with it the very first time I heard it, even though I had no idea what it was about. I love Muireann nic Amhlaoibh’s expressivity. I’ve found the translation of the lyrics on Song of the Isles, the website of David Wood.

I won’t go drinking anymore

I will not taste a drop of beer ever

Since I lost my little young girl

Who used to put money in my pockets

I miss her, I miss her

I miss her since she went away

I miss her in every way

Molly Cullinane of the ringlets.

I will build a house on the heights

And I will have four spotted milk cows

And I will allow nobody near them

Except for lovely fair Molly Cullinane.

If I were on my deathbed

And the people saying I would not recover

I would never make my will

Until fair Molly Cullinane would come.

One day I was in the wood

I caught a glimpse of a pretty girl

She would make a corpse live

Or turn an old man into a young fellow.

Song of the day (18th June) – Danú – “County Down”.

Danú is an Irish Celtic music band whose music I really like. In 2004, they won the Best Traditional Group award at BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (for the second time, making them the only group who has ever won that award more than once). That same year, this song I want to share with you now, County Down, won in the Best Song category as well. This song was originally written and performed by Tommy Sands, whose other song – There Were Roses – is also on my blog in the interpretation of Cara Dillon. – Sands himself, by the way, is from County Down. The group’s vocalist at the time – Muireann nic Amhlaoibh – is also a solo singer and takes part in some other music projects. I first heard about her because of her collabs with the Scottish singer Julie Fowlis whom I really really love. Muireann nic Amhlaoibh also is a known radio and TV personality in Ireland, from what I’ve heard, and has appeared in BBC Alba (Scottish TV).

Danú is the name of an ancient Irish triple goddess, also known as Dana, Anu, Ana etc. or simply as the Great Mother of Ireland, being the mother of the Irish gods (called Tuatha Dé Danann (people of Danu)). She is a goddess of things like fertility, prosperity, the land, water, knowledge and wisdom.