Songs of Aran: Gaelic Singing from the West of Ireland

This 1957 field recording, Songs of Aran, documents some of the vocal traditions of the Aran Islands, located off of the west coast of Ireland. Sung for the most part in Irish Gaelic, these songs bring to life the barren and sparsely populated islands of Inishmore, Inisheer, and Inishmaan. Included are lullabies, songs to accompany spinning, and two Irish "Caoines," traditional expressions of grief characterized by wailing or crying. Extensive and affectionate liner notes paint a portrait of the island' cultural history, the people, and the music. Among the performers are Margaret Dirrane, one of the lead characters in the noted 1934 film Man of Aran, and her son Sean.

Track Listing

101	Lilting: Beídh Ríl Againn (We Will Have a Reel) / The Ten-Penny Bit / Smash the Windows Seán Dirrane and Pat Wallace	03:24
102	Máire Stánton (Mary Stanton) Seán Dirrane	03:18
103	A Song in Praise of Captain George O'Malley Seán Dirrane	02:06
104	Amhrán Na Trágha Báine (Song of Trabane) Margaret Dirrane	02:55
105	Twas Early, Early in the Spring Margaret Dirrane	01:58
106	Óró Mhíle Gràdh (Oro, My Thousand Treasures) Margaret Dirrane	01:36
107	An Cailín Fearamhail Fíonn (The Fair Brave Girl) Miles Joyce	01:46
108	Sagart Na Cuile Báine (The Priest of Coolbawn) Miles Joyce	02:49
109	A Sheáin a Mhic Mo Chomharsan (O John, Son of My Neighbor) Miles Joyce	03:10
201	An Droighnean Donn (The Blackthorn) Seán Dirrane	02:21
202	Má Théann Tú'un a Aonaigh (If You Go to the Fair) Seán Dirrane	03:20
203	Peigí Misteál (Peggy Mitchell) Seán Dirrane	03:35
204	Bean A'Leanna (The Ale Woman) Seán Dirrane	03:32
205	Amhrán An Téi (Song of the Tea) Margaret Dirrane	01:40
206	An Túirnín Lín (The Flax Spinning Wheel) Seán Dirrane	01:14
207	Milking Croon / An Tsin, an Tsin Margaret Dirrane	01:04
208	Do-Een Do A-Diddle Am (Vocables) Margaret Dirrane	00:41
209	Three Lullabies: Thobha Mo Leanbh (Hush-O My Child) / Seo-Thin Seo / 'S Tu Mo Leanbh (You're My Little One) Kate Faherty, Margaret Dirrane, and Peg Flaherty	02:57
210	Caoineadh na Marbh (1) Aran female singer	02:53
211	Caoineadh na Marbh (2) Bridget Mullin	02:10