Carrigdhoun Lyrics
Cherish The LadiesMusic Video
Carrigdhoun
On Carrigdhoun the heath is brown.
The sky is dark over Ardnalee,
And many's the stream comes rushing down
To swell the angry Owen na Buidhe.
The moaning blast goes sweeping past
Through many's the leafless tree,
And I'm alone, for he is gone,
My hawk has flown, ochone mo chroidhe.
The heath is green on Carrigdhoun.
Bright shines the sun over Ardnalee
The light green trees bent trembling down
To kiss the slumbering Owen na Buidhe.
That happy day 'twas but last May
It's like a dream to me,
When Donal swore, aye o'er and o'er,
We'd part no more a stór mo chroidhe.
Light April showers and bright May flowers
Will bring the summer back again,
But will they bring me back the hours
I spent with my brave Donal then?
Tis but a chance, he's gone to France
To wear the Fleur-de-Lis.
I'll follow you, my Donal Dhu,
For still I'm true to you mo chroidhe.
Song Details
✍️ Lyricist: Denny Lane (1818-1895) - an Irish businessman and nationalist from Cork who also wrote Irish nationalist and romantic lyrics. This was perhaps his most popular poem which was originally called Lament of the Irish Maiden.
🎶 Composer: Traditional Irish Folk tune
Note: The same tune was used by Thomas Moore for his song Bendemeer's Stream, and by Percy French for his song The Mountains of Mourne.
📝 Song Brief:
Set along the Owenabue River in County Cork, it tells the story of a young woman mourning her beloved Donal, who has left Ireland to join the Wild Geese after the Williamite War. Through vivid images of the Cork landscape — the brown heath, the sweeping wind, and the trembling trees — the song captures the sorrow of parting, the loyalty of lovers, and the long history of Irish soldiers forced into exile.
The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia in relation to The Flight of the Wild Geese:
The Flight of the Wild Geese was the departure of an Irish Jacobite army under the command of Patrick Sarsfield from Ireland to France, as agreed in the Treaty of Limerick on 3 October 1691, following the end of the Williamite War in Ireland. More broadly, the term "Wild Geese" is used in Irish history to refer to Irish soldiers who left to serve in continental European armies in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.📖 Glossary:
- Carrigdhoun
Carrigdhoun (Carraig Dhonn, “Brown Rock”) is the name of a historic barony in south County Cork, covering the area around Carrigaline, Crosshaven, and the Owenabue River. - Owen na Buidhe
Owen na Buidhe (Abhainn na Buidhe) means “the Yellow River” in Irish. It refers to the Owenabue River in County Cork, which flows through Carrigaline toward Crosshaven. Also spelled as "Owenboy". - mo chroidhe
Mo chroidhe (pronounced roughly muh kree) means “my heart” in Irish. - ochone mo chroidhe
Ochón, mo chroidhe means “Alas, my heart” or “Oh, my sorrowing heart.” It is a traditional Irish lamenting phrase, expressing grief, heartbreak, or emotional pain. - Fleur-de-Lis
The Fleur‑de‑Lis is a stylised lily symbol long associated with France, especially the French monarchy. ⚜
In the context of Carrigdhoun, it represents the Wild Geese — the Irish soldiers who left for France after the Treaty of Limerick (1691) and served under the French crown. The symbol evokes their exile and their loyalty to Ireland.
🍀 Genre: Irish Folk Song
👥 Covers: Mary O'Hara, The Davitts, Mary Doumany & Annalisa Kerrigan, Jimmy Crowley & Maírtín de Cógáin.
🎤 Featured Artists: Cherish The Ladies - American female super group that plays Celtic music, showcasing the brightest female musicians in America.
💿 Album: The Back Door
Released: 1992
Country: US
Format: CD
Label: Green Linnet
