She Moves Through the Fair: Áine Ui Cheallaigh

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5281767/SMTTF/Aine%20Ui%20Cheallaigh%20-%20Out%20of%20the%20Window.mp3″

Áine Ui Cheallaigh, “Out of the Window” (1992).

From the album Idir Dha Chomhairle (In Two Minds), this is one of only three tracks in English. The rest, naturally, are in Irish Gaelic. The CD booklet says that, “The English songs on this recording come from the Ulster singing tradition”.

“Out of the Window” is clearly related to “She Moves Through the Fair”; the lyrics of the first verse are practically identical to Colum’s poem. However, the tune does not appear to be the same. The full lyrics of this song are printed in the CD booklet; I have transcribed them here. Áine sings them unaccompanied, and it is a beautiful rendition.

A short biography of Áine Ui Cheallaigh, born Ann McPartland in Belfast, is also included in the CD booklet. It has been transcribed at the Dutch site Gaelforce.

As noted in the post on the lyrics to this song, Paddy Tunney may also have recorded this. However, I have been unable to track down a copy, which may be known under this title or as “My Young Love Said To Me”.

Note: I discovered the existence of this song via this Mudcat thread. Mudcat is a discussion site dedicated to traditional music; the discussions often range far and wide but nuggets of valuable information are frequently to be found on the site.