Óro ‘Se Do Bheatha ‘Bhaile (Oh, You’re Welcome Home)
This is a sean-nós (‘old style/custom’) song that came to be known as rebel song during the early twentieth-century when Padraig Pearse gave it new verses, changing it from the original Jacobite lyrics (which can be viewed here). Because it talks about welcoming the summer (along with famed pirate Gráinne Ní Mháille), some within Gaol Naofa like to sing it on Lá Bealtaine. Phonetics by Treasa Ní Chonchobhair; based on the pronunciation by Sinéad O’Connor in her version:
All mistakes belong to Treasa.
| Gaeilge (Irish) | Foghraíocht (Phonetics) | Béarla (English) |
| Sé do bheatha a bhean ba léanmhar B’é ár gcreach tú bheith i ngéibhinn Do dhúiche bhreá i seilbh méirleach Is tú díolta leis na Ghallaibh. |
Shey do vaha a van bah lain-war Bay air grakh tu veh ing ev-een Do ghuha vrahw ih shell-iv mair-lakh S’too jeel-ta lesh na Ghow-liv |
Welcome oh woman who was so afflicted, It was our ruin that you were in bondage, Our fine land in the possession of thieves… And you sold to the foreigners. |
|
Curfá: Óró, sé do bheatha ‘bhaile! |
Chorus: Oh-ro, shey do vaha waill-ya! |
Chorus: Óró you’re welcome home! |
| Gráinne Mhaol ag teacht thar sáile Oglaigh armtha léi mar gharda Gaeil iad féin ‘s ní Gaill ná Spáinnigh; ‘S cuirfid siad ruaig ar Ghallaibh. |
Grahn-ya Wail egg tyackht har sahl-ya Og-lee arm-ha ley mar gharda Gail eed hayne snee Gull nah Spawn-ee Is cur-fid she-ad roo-ig air Ghow-liv |
Gráinne O’Malley is coming over the sea, Armed warriors along with her as her guard, They are Gaels, not French or Spanish… And they will rout the foreigners! |
| Curfá x1 | Chorus x1 | Chorus x1 |
| A bhuí le Rí na bhfeart go bhfeiceam Muna mbeam beo ‘na dhiaidh ach seachtain Gráinne Mhaol agus míle gaiscíoch. Ag fógairt fáin ar Ghallaibh. |
A vee le Ree na vairt guh veck-um Muna mem byo na gheegh akh shockh-tun Grahn-ya Wail ogus meel-ya gash-keekh Egg fo-gurt fawhn air Ghow-liv |
May it please the King of Miracles that we might see, Although we may live for a week once after, Gráinne Mhaol and a thousand warriors… Dispersing the foreigners! |
| Curfá x1 | Chorus x1 | Chorus x1 |