A Stor, a stor, a ghra

Location: USA

One of my favorite Irish bands and favorite female singers, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh ..

Rosaleen - I was wondering and could not remember if you told me before..did you name your daughter after her? ... after all, she is from Donegal....smile..

Plus, a wonderful thing to me is that it is said that Mairéad's first language at home was Irish...

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh was born and raised in the Donegal Gaeltacht of Gaoth Dobhair. Her first language was Irish, and from her earliest years she was surrounded by music and song. Now one of the leading exponents of Donegal fiddle music, she received her start on the instrument from her father, Francie, a great fiddle teacher with a wealth of unusual local tunes, many learnt in turn from his mother, Roise. She also received tuition and inspiration from fiddler, Dinny McLaughlin, who was a frequent visitor to the home when she was young. Mairead has always had an equal love of singing and again learnt many songs from neighbours and friends in Gaoth Dobhair. As well as her work with Altan, Mairead over the years has presented traditional music programmes on radio and television, including the classic radio show, "The Long Note" and the television series, "The Pure Drop".

Now one of my favorite songs on my CD...

A Stor, a stor, a ghra

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and here are the words and translation..

Gaelic:

A stór, a stór, a ghra
A stór, a stór an dtiocfaidh tu?
A stór, a stór, a grha
An dtiocfaidh tu nó an bhfanfaidh tu?

Bhi me la brea samhraidh i mo sheasamh ar an mhargadh
'S is iomai fear a duirt lion: "Monuar, gan tu sa bhaile agam".

Gheall mo ghra domsa cinnte go dtiocfadh si
Ni raibh a culaith Déanta agus sin an rud a choinnigh i

Thart tóin an gharrai, a Mhaire, bhfuilan fhidil leat?
Aicearra na bpratai go dtéimid' sair an fhidileoir

Mhi mise lan den tsaoil is bhi cion amuigh is istigh orm
Nach mór a dathraigh an saol nuair nach bhfuil eion ag duine ar
bith orm?

English:

One fine summers day as I stood there in the market place
Many a fine young man remarked, “I’m sad you are not home with me.”

Chorus:

My darling, my darling, my love
My darling, my darling, will you come with me
My darling, my darling, my love will you come with me or settled be.

My true love promised kindly that she would surely come with me
Her wedding dress not ready, delayed her in joining me.

We have got water from the Eirne, and green grass from the heaven’s stems
Cows udders are near rending from the overflow of milk in them.

By the bottom of the garden, a Mary, is the fiddle there?
The shortcut by the praties, we’ll hasten to the fiddler.

At one time in my life I was dearly loved by everyone
Haven’t times changed when no one cares a whit for me?

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A Stor, a stor, a ghra

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