Catuvellauni - Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór

A traditional Irish air attributed to the blind harpist, Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). The title Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór means 'Small Fairy Hill, Big Fairy Hill' and may refer to two ancient burial mounds in County Leitrim, which are believed by some to be inhabited by 'the good neighbours'! (Apparently it's bad luck to say the F word that rhymes with dairies!)
The inhabitants of each mound are said to have been in conflict with each other until deciding to unite against a common enemy.
Lyrics in Irish/as Gaeilge:
Imreas mór tháinig eidir na ríoghna,
Mar fhíoch a d’fhás ón dá chnoc sídhe;
Mar a dúirt an tsídh mhór go mb’fhearr i féin
Faoi dhó, faoi dho nán an tSídh Bheag.
“Ní raibh tú ariamh chomh uasal linn,
I gcéim dár ordaíodh i dtuaith nái gcill.
Beir uainn do chaint, níl suairceas ann,
Coinnigh do chos is do lámh uainn!”
An tráth chruinnigh na sluaighte bhí an buala teann
Ar feadh na machaireacha anonn ‘s anall;
‘s níl aon ariamh dar ghluais ón mbinn
Nar chaill a chionn san ar sin.
“Párlí! párlí! a cháirde ghaoil!
Sin chugaibh ár námhaid ó Charn Chlann Aoidh,
O Bhinn Eachluinn aníos na sluaighte dhíobh,
Is bímíd uile uile páirteach!”
Lyrics in English/as Beurla:
A great contention arose between the queens,
Swelling like a fury from the two fairy hills.
For the big fairy hill said that it was superior,
Twice over, twice over, to the little fairy hill.
"You were never as noble as us,
in degree conferred in tribe or church;
Take your talk away from us, it makes no sense,
Remove your foot and hand from us!"
When the hosts gathered there was a terrible battle
To and fro over the plains;
And there was none that descended from the peaks
Who did not lose his head in that slaughter.
"Truce! truce! dear friends!
Here come our enemies from Carn Clonhugh,
Down from Binn Eachluinn in great force,
And let us all stand together!"
(Lyrics source: www.irishpage.com/songs/carola...)
Written by Turlough O'Carolan,
Guitar Arrangement by Tony McManus,
Performed by Catuvellauni
catuvellaunimusic.co.uk

[@patrickjennings3786]

is there a place where I can learn the lyrics?

[@robinriley9798]

This is so beautiful! I know the tune but even without understanding Gaelic it is so moving, thank you!

[@lm8podtunes324]

I’ve been looking everywhere for a “si beag si mor” with a vocal. Finally someone sent a link of this video to me. This is awesome and thank you! Even though i saw the lyrics on some pages, I really had no idea how to pronounce those words. For an asian english speaker, Gaelic songs are so hard to sing but i’ll try to be better. Thanks again! ^^

[@catuvellauni2794]

Thanks for your comment Phyu! The pronunciation is quite difficult. I spent a lot of time checking how to pronounce each word, but I still make some mistakes with it. Let's both always try to be better! ~Joe

[@williammidgley3905]

Blimey, it's hard enough for me as an (ordinary british) english speaker, I can't imagine how it must be for you.

[@tonymolloy6165]

@@catuvellauni2794 No, from an irishman your pronunciation is very good. Bit of mixed dialects, Donegal and Connamara but all us non native speakers do that. Irish or Gaeilge as it's known is not that hard to learn. It's just that it's very different to the romance based european languages both is sound and syntax. Really enjoyed it.