Fri 7th - Thur 13th | July 2023

Workshops

Ros Catha na Mumhan [‘the battle cry of Munster']

Eibhlís Ní Ríordáin

60 mins

Level: All

Tuesday July 11th

17:30 - 18:30 GMT +1

Support Material

Must have appropriate ticket to download support material

Programme

Event Overview

Learn to sing this wonderful, well-known Irish language song - a lively Jacobite song which is in the living Irish song tradition. The poem is by the Munster poet Piaras Mac Gearailt (c.1709-1792), who was one of the most influential of the Jacobite and Déiseach poets of the 18th century. 

The tune to which the poem has traditionally been sung is 'Boyne Water' - a tune originally associated with the Protestant, Williamite (winning) side in the historically important Battle of the Boyne (1690). In Rosc Catha na Mumhan  the tune is successfully appropriated by the 'other side' - i.e., the song is a 'battle cry' of the Jacobites. Like other 18th-century Irish Jacobite poetry and songs, Rosc Catha na Mumhan nostalgically longs for the return of the deposed Catholic king, James II, who it had been hoped, would be sympathetic to the plight of the Irish.

(Eibhlís's new setting for voice and early Irish harp will also be provided)  

Eibhlís would like to gratefully acknowledge Éamonn Ó Bróithe's kind assistance with textual matters for this song.

Terms of Service