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The Great O' Malley from Slievemore Hill

from Oile​á​n m'Aislingí / Island of my Dreams by John Twin McNamara

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about

The first inhabitants of the deserted village in Slievemore were the O'Malley and Lavelle families.

The song is about the beauty of Achill and Slievemore and the great O'Malley who lived there. John learned this song from his father. It is sung to the same air as Cúl na Binn.

There are three separate parts to the deserted village namely Tuar, Tuar Riabhach and Faiche. The inhabitants of Faiche were evicted by Edward Nangle and they moved to what is now known as Dooagh and a lesser number moved to the shore in Pollagh. The way to establish who were evicted is to look at the title list of Slievemore - those evicted no longer held a title. For example, John Twin's family does not hold a title in Slievemore.

lyrics

Sure if I were able in Education
To scribe your praises with my slender quill
How in former ages were known to Achill
The Great O’Malley from Slievemore Hill

A sea bird glancing, a salmon prancing
A swan advancing o’er the flowing rill
And the small birds singing, their notes entwining
All harmonising ‘round Slievemore Hill

Assist me Genius, assist me fair one
Assist me genius, while I expound
My thousand praises of the many fair ones
That lie to South of Slievemore mound

The mould surrounding sweet Slievemore mountain
Lies there surmounted with a vernal hue
And the singing fountains are there resounding
And megalithic tombs they are there to view

The Golden Eagle with its strident whistle
From Oichín Nead an Iolar go Cruachán árd
In a bhfuil na h-ailtreacha farraige, ‘s iar de san óraibh
Agus gleann na Cuime go bródúil faoi

Sure if I were able in Education
To scribe your praises with my slender quill
How in former ages were known to Achill
The Great O’Malley from Slievemore Hill

credits

from Oile​á​n m'Aislingí / Island of my Dreams, released October 24, 2022
Written by: Unknown
Music: Air of Cúl na Binn - Track 3 CD Two
Musical accompaniment: Caoilte Ó Cuanaigh (Keyboard)
& Kieran O’ Malley (Uilleann Pipes)

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John Twin McNamara image

John Twin McNamara

John 'Twin' McNamara is one of Achill’s most important historians, folklorists and collector of songs, poetry and stories associated with Achill and its connections to significant aspects of our local and national cultural heritage. His life has been dedicated to the promotion of Achill and in particular its language, music, and culture. He was the driving force behind the revival of Scoil Acla, ... more

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