Autoharp: Gartan Mother’s Lullaby (Including lyrics)

THE ANNOTATIONS APPEAR NOT TO BE WORKING ANY MORE, SO IF YOU WANT THE LYRICS AND CHORDS, SEND ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND I WILL SEND YOU THE FILE I WORKED FROM, FROM MY OWN COLLECTION. Today being St Patrick's Day, I thought I would upload something Irish. I did a version of this lullaby about six years ago when I first began uploading to YouTube, but that was using my guitar for accompaniment. One of the ladies who joins us on a Tuesday night sings this from time to time and did so last week, reminding me of it. I wondered if I might be able to play it on my autoharp and this is the result. Wikipedia has the following article about the song: "Gartan Mother's Lullaby" is an old Irish song and poem written by Herbert Hughes and Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil, first published in Songs of Uladh [Ulster] in 1904. Hughes collected the traditional melody in Donegal the previous year and Campbell wrote the lyrics. The song is a lullaby by a mother, from the parish of Gartan in County Donegal. The song refers to a number of figures in Irish mythology, places in Ireland and words in the Irish language. According to another site, (http://wolven-slave.deviantart.com/): Aibheall, pronounced Ee-vahl; Aibheall is the Fairy Queen of northern Munster, Ireland and guardian spirit of the Clan O'Brien. She is the Banshee of the O'Brien clan, but rather than wail, she signals her presence and the forthcoming death via the songs of her golden harp. Before the battle of Clontarf in 1014 CE, Aibheall manifested to Ireland's High King, Brian Boru, warning him of his death and advising which of his sons rule after him. She may be a spirit if Ireland's sovereignty. Siabhra I believe is another fairy in Irish folk lore. The Wikipedia article also included the complete poem so I have been able to sing an extra verse that I had not previously know of.