Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh

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The Story of Dúlamán: 1. Carrickfin Beach, The Rosses, Co. Donegal

I suppose the story begins in 1927 – well, actually, that date probably marks the end of the song’s era because the rich Gaelic traditions of South Armagh were slipping away by then. Máire Bean Uí Arbhasaigh sang it then for An tAth. Réamonn Ó Muireadhaigh and he jotted down the words and melody. I believe he made a phonographic recording as well.

I picked up a copy of Ó Muireadhaigh’s old book in Temple’s Book Shop in Dundalk in the early 1970s. The book was called “Amhráin Chúige Uladh” with traditional Irish tunes written in tonic sol-fa notation. I was unable to read the notes of the Dúlamán song properly – the time signature in particular – so I interpreted it as I thought it should have sounded. The correct dotted rhythm would have made it a kind of Scottish strathspey rhythm but I gave it a straight 4/4 by mistake. The mistake was passed on to Clannad – who were very excited by the song’s possibilities – then, through listening to Clannad, to Dónal Lunny, then to Anúna and then to a whole host of other bands including a techno outfit called Lovely Thunder who gave it the real disco treatment. They all copied my mistake! But I think the error lead to a more interesting tune.

Dúlamán

Dúlamán

The story begins with me on Carrickfin Beach with the old book on my lap trying to pick out the melody on my guitar. My companion is not pleased.

“Stop! Stop! For Christ’s sake! That tune is doing my head in!”

But I kept tinkering with it.

“Actually, I think I’m on to something here… give me a minute… please.”

Composed by Anon

Composed: 2075 BC

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, guitar

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Lyrics for The Story of Dúlamán: 1. Carrickfin Beach, The Rosses, Co. Donegal

 

Dúlamán na Binne Buí, Dúlamán Gaelach

Dúlamán na Binne Buí, Dúlamán Gaelach

 

A níon mhin ó sin anall na fir shuirí

A mháthair mhín ó cuir mo roithleán go dtí mé.

 

Tá ceann buí óir ar an dúlamán Gaelach

Tá dhá chluais mhaol’ ar an Dúlamán Gaelach

 

Rachaimid ‘un an Iúir leis an Dúlamán Gaelach

Ceannóidh mise bróga daora ar an Dúlamán Gaelach

 

Bróga breaca dubha ar an Dúlamán Gaelach

Tá bairéad agus triús ar an Dúlamán Gaelach

 

Ó chuir mé scéala chuici go gceannóinn coir di

Is é an scéala a chuir sí chugam go raibh a ceann cíortha

 

“Cad é thug tú ‘n na tire?” arsa an Dúlamán Gaelach

“Ag suirí le do níon” arsa an Dúlamán Gaelach

 

“Chan fhaigheann tú mo níon” arsa an Dúlamán Gaelach

“Bhuel fuadóidh mé í liom,” arsa an Dúlamán Gaelach

 

Dúlamán na Binne Buí, Dúlamán a’ tSléibhe

Dúlamán na Farraige is Dúlamán a Déididh

The Story of Dúlamán: 2. A Song is Born

Sometime over the following weekend in our lodgings, Cathal Póirtéir (now in RTÉ), who was working with me at Coláiste Bhríde, Rann na Feirste at the time, showed a great interest in the song. He got his bodhrán out immediately and we played around with it for a while.

“Right!” said Cathal, “Let’s go down to Leo’s Tavern with this!”

I don’t have the cassette of the original session with Cathal but I have this one recorded years later in Cologne with Damien Quinn. His bodhrán solo here was once described as the first ever bodhrán concerto . Who am I to argue with that?

Composed by Trad. Arr by Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh

Composed: 1975

Musicians

Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh, vocals & guitar,
Damien Quinn, bodhrán.

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Lyrics for The Story of Dúlamán: 2. A Song is Born

Yellow-Horned Seaweed

(Horned Wrack fucus cernanoides)

Seoirse’s translation

 

Sweet daughter O! Here comes the courting men!
Dear little mother, toss my spinning-wheel to me!

Chorus:

Yellow-Horned Seaweed, Irish Seaweed,

Yellow-Horned Seaweed, Irish Seaweed.

 

1
Irish Seaweed has a yellow head of gold;

Edible Seaweed has two blunt ears.

2

Irish Seaweed wears a beret and a trouser;
Edible Seaweed wears black speckled shoes.

3
O, we’ll go off  to Newry with Irish Seaweed;
I’ll buy expensive shoes for Irish Seaweed.

4
I sent her a message that I would buy her a comb.

The message she sent me back was that her hair was already combed.

5

“What brought you to this country?” asks Irish Seaweed.
“Courting  with your daughter,” says Edible Seaweed.

6

“Well, you won’t get my daughter,” says Irish Seaweed.

“Well, indeed, I’ll force her with me”, says Edible Seaweed.

7

Yellow-Horned Seaweed, Seaweed of the Mountain,

Seaweed of the Ocean, Seaweed of the Teeth.

Chorus:

Yellow-Horned Seaweed, Irish Seaweed,

Yellow-Horned Seaweed Irish Seaweed.

 

 

NOTE: It’s difficult to determine if the descriptions of the seaweed refer to the

product itself or the men who are selling it. “Dúlamán Maorach” could be the

nickname of the man selling the edible variety. “Dúlamán an Déidí” is understood

to be a seaweed for curing toothaches. Other kinds of Dúlamán were used for dying

clothes and fertilizing the soil. Valuable stuff in those days!