Irish sean-nós singing and dancing in 1929 | RARE footage restored

Amhránaíocht agus damhsa ar an sean-nós ar Oileáin Árann, 1929 [físeán/fuaime athchóirithe]

This video exists for educational purposes. The audio, which was very poor in the original footage, has been significantly restored. The film has been artificially colorized and edited to remove outtakes and repeats.

Pádraig Ó Maoláin (Pat Mullin) was blind man from Inis Oírr, one of the Aran Islands on the west cost of Ireland. Inis Oírr remains a strong Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) region today. However, when Pádraig was born, around half of Ireland would have spoken Irish as a first language.

The song he sings is a traditional love song called 'An Droighneán Donn' ('The Brown Blackthorn Bush'). Partial lyrics are written in Irish below. If you are able to fill in the gaps and provide a translation, please do so in the comments.

0:00 Introduction

0:23 Pádraig Ó Maoláin sings 'An Droighneán Donn' (Take 1)

'Fuair mé féirín ó lá aonaigh óm bhuachaill deas
Céad a póg ----- dhéidh --- ó phlúr na bhfear
Cuirim Léan ar an té a déarfadh nach thú mo ghean
Lá ina dhiaidh sin ---- mar d’éalóinn faoi na coillte leat.'

1:00 Pádraig Ó Maoláin sings 'An Droighneán Donn' (Take 2)

'-------
I ngleanntán sléibhe le h-éirí gréine, is an drúcht 'na luí.

Na hoileán --- nach mise fheicfich --- gabháil go mall,
Is glaise a shúiI ná an féar 's ná an drúcht 's ná duilliúr na gcrann
Go bhfuil mo ghrá-sa mar bhláth na n-áirní --- an ndroighneán donn.'

1:50 Pádraig Ó Maoláin sings 'An Droighneán Donn' (Take 3)

'Fuair mé féirín lá aonaigh óm bhuachaill deas,
Is céad póg an lá 'na dhéidh --- ó phlúr na bhfear;
Lán léan ar an té a déarfadh nach tú mo ghean,
Lá ina dhiaidh sin nach deas a d’éalóinn faoi na coillte leat.

‘S neach b’fhearr dom cheile ---- lena háit gconaí
Na d'fhaca -----
------- grá mo chroí.
I ngleanntán sléibhe le h-éirí gréine, is an drúcht 'na luí.

3:45 'Mrs McCleod's Reel' on melodeon / dancing by Pádraig Ó Maoláin

5:59 Other melodeon reels / group dancing

8:02 End

[TheFolkRevivalProject]

The main purpose of this channel is to conserve and share authentic recordings of all kinds of traditional music, and to increase awareness and historical understanding. To support this goal, simply subscribe to this channel and explore what it has to offer.


If you're interested in hearing more traditional music in the Irish language, have a look at these three videos I uploaded:

Amhrán Mhuínse | Traditional sean-nós song with transcription and lyrics

Traditional Irish music in Spiddal, Co. Galway (c.1962)

Sean-nós singing (1907) | Traditional songs in the Irish language: Waterford, Kerry, Dublin, Donegal

Six authentic recordings of keening from Ireland and Scotland (1955-1965)

Authentic Irish sean-nós singing | Jack Ághas, 1960s, County Kerry [restored video/audio]

[SH-lxre]

What an incredibly beautiful film. It is a privilege to see and hear this magical clip of folk history. I love all the Island cultures, so unique and important. Fantastic singing and music, sung and played with such feeling. Amazing gentlemen and ladies. Their dancing shows such enthusiasm, just wonderful. Poor geese were a little spooked. The faces of these lovely Islanders will stay with me.❤ More please ❤

[pyromantiszegma]

Currently writing a paper on the caoineadh. These recordings are very insightful!

[johnmc]

This is definitely one of the earliest audio/video clips of Irish music.

[terencemagee]

It's so good, I can't believe it. 1929? My Irish grandmother and her big family were there then in Galway, my Dad 20 and he could dance like that. I was brought up in England with a fantastic English Mum, though when it comes to the joy, the Irish have it with that music and dancing. And they're still whooping today as in the film!

[metamaggot]

the shoes they wear from 6:24 on look like turnshoes that would have been worn a thousand years ago, incredible footage.

[stevemcgarrett]

This is fantastic. What a treasure to have this preserved.

[frogmarch]

What a pearl. Tap dancing surely must have been taken from the Irish jig.

[noelryan]

Buíochas mór as mo thocht do'n píosa fís cartlainne úd! Iontach thar an barr! Hup! 👏Agus lean araighdh leis an spóirt agus scléap!

[wicklowpiper]

I wonder what they would think if Lord of the Dance showed up wearning a headband, with no shirt on him, baby oil, leather pants, and a matador jacket... and someone told them "-this is the future lads"

[heyodi]

Sounds a lot like early country music. How beautiful!

[earhart]

Buen archivo sonoro visual, 👏👏👏👏From Spain.

[jamesbradshaw]

Irish sean-nós singing is the real and true soul music. It is music heart and soul music.

[hetedeleambacht]

wow. how come the audio and video quality is so good??!! 1929 in rural ireland for christ sake

[jodypaulson]

One of the songs reminded me of the American tune "Old Dan Tucker."

[SH-lxre]

Please give an English translation as well. X

[interstellarsurfer]

He'd fit right in with an Appalachian church choir. 👍

[LanguageCrab]

Fantastic footage. My grandmother would have grown up in amongst that generation. I'm just wondering about the complexion of the men, though. The women seem fair and healthy (and more on the lovely side than I was expecting!). It really does look like those men at least were wretched from drink and fieldwork. The man at around 7:00 looks half mummified! They had tough lives, that's for sure.

[FrancesMor]

Certainly know where tap dancing originated from

[triggerfish]

Wow. Check out the homemade shoes. They obvs had little or no money at all.