Bó na Leathadhairce - Choral Scholars of University College Dublin

Bó na Leathadharice - Choral Scholars of University College Dublin & Desmond Earley (Official Music Video)

From our second album, 'Perpetual Twilight' - available to buy and stream on all major music platforms. http://hyperurl.co/PerpetualTwilight

Traditional (arr. Desmond Earley)

Solo: Ciarán O’Donovan
Bodhrán: Conor Lyons

Website: http://www.choralscholars.ie
Facebook:   / ucdchoralscho.  .
Twitter:   / ucdchoral  
Instagram: @ChoralScholars

A Gavin Coll/PassionHouse Production, with November Seven Films.

Executive Producer: Desmond Earley
Directed & Produced by Gavin Coll
Director of Photography: Daragh Murphy

Associate Producer: Jules Coll
Edited by Gavin Coll & Daragh Murphy
Costume & Production Designer: Jules Coll
Makeup Artists: Amanda Conlon & Charlene Flanagan

Colourist: Daragh Murphy
Audio Playback by Andrew Farrell
Production Coordinator: Lara McDermott
Production Assistant: Henry Cahill
Continuity Advisor: Glenn Murphy

BTS Photographer: Emilija Jefremova
BTS Videographer: Helio León

Record Label: Signum Classics

Ensemble Manager: Aoife Perry
Vocal Coach: Síle McCarthy-Cannon and Glenn Murphy

Conducted by Desmond Earley
Produced by Nigel Short
Recording Engineer: Andrew Mellor
Mixed and Mastered by Andrew Mellor

Audio recorded in All Hallows Church, Dublin, Ireland, 2018

Video recorded outdoors in Belvedere House & Gardens, under strict COVID19 protection measures. Our warmest thanks to Stephen Masterson, Mary Bannon, and all of the welcoming staff that allowed us to shoot in this beautiful venue in July 2021. We also thank Elizabeth and Kevin of CaToCa Find Foods for providing catering and excellent hospitality on the day.

This video was produced under strict safety protocols from the Government of Ireland and University College Dublin's Safety Office. Thank you in particular to Peter Coulahan of the Safety Office for his continued guidance. All those not in front of the camera wore masks at all times, with social distancing, hand sanitising, and regular temperature checks in operation throughout the production.

©℗ The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, 2021

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Music to hear our latest releases with Signum Classics.

Bó na leathadhairce ('The one-horned cow') is a playful song learned by many children in school. With origins in county Kerry, located on the south-west coast of Ireland, the one-horned cow is a metaphor for a poitín still (think Irish home-brewed alcohol) and the lyrics become more peculiar as the song unfolds, perhaps reflecting the increased level of intoxication of the singer, ‘B’fhearr liom ná scilling go bhfeicfinn mo chaora ’Teacht chun an dorais' ('I would prefer to a shilling to see my sheep come to the door’).


Lyrics:

Thíos cois na toinne
’sea beathaíodh mo chaora
Ag Diarmuid Ó Dioláin
ó Bharra na hAoine
Mac dearthár athar dom
a chuir le haill í
Easpa tobac a bhí ar an gcladhaire.

Curfá
Bó, bó, bó na leathadhairce
Bó, bó, ’sí an tsean-chaor adharcach
Bó, bó, bó na leathadhairce
Bó dhroimeann dhearg
is ní fheadair cá bhfaighinn í

B’fhearr liom ná scilling go
bhfeicfinn mo chaora
’Teacht chun an dorais
ar maidin nó istóiche
Thálfadh sí bainne dom,
bheathódh sí uan dom
Chuirfeadh sí seaicéidín deas
ar mo ghualainn.

Curfá

Chonacsa beirithe í,
chonacsa á roinnt í
Chuireas-sa dúil inti
ach blaise ní bhfaighinn di
Ó nár dheas í,
ó nár mheidhreach
Ó nár dheas í
an tsean-chaor adharcach.

Curfá

Dá mbeinnse i rachmas,
i ngradam ‘s in oidhreacht
Thabharfainnse giní
ar chúpla slaghas di
Ó nár dheas í,
ó nár mheidhreach
Ó nár dheas í an
tsean-chaor adharcach.

D’íosfainn lán píce di,
d’íosfainn lán oighinn di,
D’íosfainnse stráice
den tseana chaora adharcach
Ó nár dheas í!
ó nár mheidhreach!
Ó nár dheas í
an tsean-chaor adharcach

Curfá