Roisin_Dubh

Róisín Dubh (song)

Róisín Dubh (song)

Irish political song

For the venue, see Róisín Dubh (music venue).

"Róisín Dubh" (Irish: [ˈɾˠoːʃiːnʲ ˈd̪ˠʊw]; "Dark Rosaleen" or "Little Dark Rose"), written in the 16th century,[citation needed] is one of Ireland's most famous political songs. It is based on an older love-lyric which referred to the poet's beloved rather than, as here, being a metaphor for Ireland. The intimate tone of the original carries over into the political song. It is often attributed to Antoine Ó Raifteiri, but almost certainly pre-dates him.[1]

"Róisín Dubh"

Background

The song is named after Róisín Dubh, one of the daughters of Aodh Mór Ó Néill, Earl of Tyrone in the late 16th Century. The song is reputed to have originated during the Nine Years War in the camps of Red Hugh O'Donnell. This is because Róisín Ní Néill, the daughter of Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and his fourth wife, Catherine O'Neill, Countess of Tyrone, was either betrothed or married to Aodh Rua in 1587, when they were both teenagers.[2]

This song is traditionally sung in the Irish language, with only a few recordings of the English existing. It has been translated from the Irish language by James Clarence Mangan and Patrick Pearse. The following translation is by Thomas Kinsella (The New Oxford Book of Irish Verse, 1986).



More information Irish, English ...

Renditions

Róisín Dubh has been frequently performed and recorded, both in its own native Irish and translated into English. (However, quality of the translations vary greatly, from strict ones to those bearing no relationship to the original Irish.) It has been sung by numerous Irish traditional singers including the late Joe Heaney and Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, as well as in genres ranging from classical to rock and jazz.

The instrumental range is as wide as the vocal, but the instruments best suited to render this air authentically are the native Irish uilleann pipes, flute, fiddle, and whistle, as these are capable of making the "caoine" ("cry"), the note-shaping and changing that is characteristic of the native Irish music. However, other versions using different instruments are also widely available.

Musicians/composers who have performed or recorded the song include these:

Instrumental

Others

See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    Duanaire, 1600–1900: Poems of the Dispossessed; Thomas Kinsella (Editor), Seán Ó Tuama (Editor); ISBN 0851053645
  2. [2]
    O'Donnell, ‘Red’ Hugh (Ó Domhnaill, Aodh Ruadh), Dictionary of Irish Biography
  3. [3]
    Ó hAodha, Séamus. Óir-Chiste Filíochta. (Comhlucht Oidechais na hÉireann, Teóranta: Baile Átha Cliath, 1922)
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