Óró 'Sé do Bheatha Abhaile

Tá dhá leagan den amhrán seo ann.  There are two versions of this song.  An bunleagan faoi Shearlas Óg, agus leagan Phádraig Mhic Phiarais.  The original version about Young Charles, and Patrick Pearse's version.

The original had to do with the Jacobite rebellion (1745) in support of "Bonny Prince Charlie" as rightful successor to the throne of the "United Kingdoms", the Stuart succession from his grandfather James II.  Why should the Irish care?  Because he was Catholic and wanted to restore the faith to the kingdoms (giving the oppressed Catholics in Ireland their freedom, property, and power back).  Charles was ultimately defeated at the battle of Culloden in Scotland (where Gaelic Scotland was murdered) and went on the run and into exile.  Other songs about him (and his flight) are The Sky Boat Song and Mo Ghile Mear.  So these are all 18th century songs.

Seo an bunleagan:
Séarlas Óg (from a wonderful CD which I highly recommend, by Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, A Stór is a Stóirín)

Seo Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin á channadh beo, ar an sean nós.  Here she is singing it live, in sean nós style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBPfoYByOpg

 

Note the loosey-goosey translation...

Patrick Pearce wanted to show that unlike in the 18th century, the Irish in the 20th century didn't want or need to rely on foreign powers to help them gain the independence.  So he rewrote it.

Pearse's version. 

This version is also called An Dord Féinne.  There's an excellent short article (Dord an Chéid, in Fonn an Phíobaire) about it by Lugh DePaor in An Gael, Earrach 2016.

Here's a traditional rendition of this more well known / popular version:

Darach Ó Catháin 

Loads and loads of famous people have recorded this song.  

Here are the Wolfe Tones doing it (on their only all Irish language record - which is great!)

Here are The Dubliners doing it.

Notes:

'Sé do bheatha a Mhuire - Hail Mary

chun an bhaile - to home, towards home

dob, do ba - Munster use of the do past particle.
leis na Gallaibh - aibh endings on plural nouns are the (not used much anymore) dative plural.
A bhuí le... - thanks (be) to...
go bhfeiceam, Mura mbeam - synthetic (attached ending) form of the verbs.  This is future  - Feicfimid, beimid. Original version nach bhfeicim, mura mbeinn - if I don't see, if I won't be (conditional).

Munster Irish