Slightly off-topic: Red (as Béarla)

Redwolf · **Posted:** Fri 14 Feb 2014 7:47 pm

franc 91 wrote:

I wouldn't have thought that harpers went to battle - that would have been for the warrior class - na laochra - láech in Old Irish. (Mind you, Sileas did have a CD called Beating Harps)

Harpers rallied the troops for battle...it was one of their primary functions in Gaelic society (along with remembering all their history and making their chieftains feel important!).

Redwolf

An Lon Dubh · **Joined:** Fri 30 Sep 2011 10:08 pm **Posts:** 1313

The poem's main author is Gofraidh Fionn Mac Dálaigh* (d. 1387) who was from Westmeath's main Bardic family, it dates to the 1380s and is untitled. It has twenty three verses in total. Only the first ten were written by Gofraidh, with the remaining thirteen written by another anonymous poet. Here is the original of your verse (which is the second in the poem):

A chlár buadha as bláith mínlearg,
a mhonghárach mhéirdhearg,
a cheóladhach do chealg sinn,
a dhearg leómhanach láinbhinn.

*Apparently Gofraidh didn't like the church, as he felt they were biased against the bards.

beagle · **Joined:** Mon 05 Sep 2011 1:45 am **Posts:** 267

And don't forget The Minstrel Boy. The minstrel boy to the war has gone, his wild harp slung behind him

Redwolf · **Posted:** Sat 15 Feb 2014 1:13 am

An Lon Dubh wrote:

The poem's main author is Gofraidh Fionn Mac Dálaigh* (d. 1387) who was from Westmeath's main Bardic family, it dates to the 1380s and is untitled. It has twenty three verses in total. Only the first ten were written by Gofraidh, with the remaining thirteen written by another anonymous poet. Here is the original of your verse (which is the second in the poem):

A chlár buadha as bláith mínlearg,
a mhonghárach mhéirdhearg,
a cheóladhach do chealg sinn,
a dhearg leómhanach láinbhinn.

*Apparently Gofraidh didn't like the church, as he felt they were biased against the bards.

GRMA! Hmmm...we're definitely looking at "dearg" then.

Redwolf

Breandán · **Posted:** Sat 15 Feb 2014 1:41 am

Then perhaps it was painted red, which would be dearg rather than rua.

Red also symbolises the church, but I can't see how that would fit in here. :dhera:

MacBoo · **Posted:** Sat 15 Feb 2014 11:12 am

Later on in the poem it becomes dark red - doinndearg, even brown and speckled - donn, ballach, and dark yellow - donnbhuidhi, a purple star - réla chorcra with crimson spots - ball corcra.

To a (psychedelic) harp.

Don't know what those bards were on but I'll have a pint of it. :winkgrin:

Saoirse · **Posted:** Sat 15 Feb 2014 6:10 pm

MacBoo wrote:

Don't know what those bards were on but I'll have a pint of it.

By the way, when I saw the name of the thread, 'Slightly off-topic: Red (as Béarla)', I thought Redwolf was just signing it! I didn't realise it was about the colour! :facepalm:

Redwolf · **Posted:** Sat 15 Feb 2014 6:30 pm

MacBoo wrote:

Later on in the poem it becomes dark red - doinndearg, even brown and speckled - donn, ballach, and dark yellow - donnbhuidhi, a purple star - réla chorcra with crimson spots - ball corcra.

To a (psychedelic) harp.

Don't know what those bards were on but I'll have a pint of it. :winkgrin:

I've heard harp music described as "intoxicating," but never to that degree before! :darklaugh:

Redwolf

mhwombat · **Joined:** Mon 29 Aug 2011 3:36 am **Posts:** 247

I had another thought: maybe the fingers are "red" because red symbolises anger or violence, and the fingers plucking the strings would seem violent in contrast to the passive, gentle strings.

Redwolf · **Posted:** Sat 15 Feb 2014 10:37 pm

mhwombat wrote:

I had another thought: maybe the fingers are "red" because red symbolises anger or violence, and the fingers plucking the strings would seem violent in contrast to the passive, gentle strings.

That's a good thought! I must admit, I was just thinking the same thing, looking at the "dearg le fearg" signs people carried at the rally in Dublin today.

Redwolf

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