"Cúnla" is an Irish folk song, originally composed in the

Irish language Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

History

Cúnla is a sean-nós children's song believed to have been composed sometime in the 14th century. The song is still well known and widely sung in Ireland and recordings have been published by many artists including

Joe Heaney Joe Heaney (AKA Joe Éinniú; Irish: Seosamh Ó hÉanaí) (1 October 1919 – 1 May 1984) was an Irish traditional ( sean nós) singer from Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. He spent most of his adult life abroad, living in England, Scotland an ...

on the album '' The Road from Connemara'',

The Dubliners The Dubliners () were an Folk music of Ireland, Irish folk band founded in Dublin in 1962 as The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group, named after its founding member; they subsequently renamed themselves The Dubliners. The line-up saw many changes in pers ...

John Spillane John Spillane (born 1961) is a singer-songwriter from Cork, Ireland. Musical collaborations and beginnings In Spillane's early career he was involved with several bands but most notably were Nomos and The Stargazers. Playing with whistle p ...

The Chieftains The Chieftains were a traditional Irish folk band formed in Dublin in 1962, by Paddy Moloney, Seán Potts and Michael Tubridy. Their sound, which is almost entirely instrumental and largely built around uilleann pipes, has become synonymous w ...

Christy Moore Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore (born 7 May 1945) is an Irish folk singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was one of the founding members of the bands Planxty and Moving Hearts and has had significant success as a solo artist. His first albu ...

Gaelic Storm Gaelic Storm is an American Celtic music, Celtic band founded in Santa Monica, California, Santa Monica, California, in 1996. Their musical output includes pieces from traditional Music of Ireland, Irish music, Scottish music, and original tune ...

Planxty Planxty were an Irish folk music band formed in January 1972, consisting initially of Christy Moore (vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhrán), Andy Irvine (vocals, mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, hurdy-gurdy, harmonica), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, gu ...

and The Scratch. An original musical setting of a version of the text by composer

Michael McGlynn Michael McGlynn (born 11 May 1964) is an Irish composer, producer, director, and founder of the vocal ensemble Anúna. Career McGlynn was born in Dublin and attended Coláiste na Rinne and Blackrock College. He was a student of Music and Engl ...

entitled "Cúnnla" has been recorded by

Anúna Anúna (stylized in all caps) is a vocal ensemble formed in Ireland in 1987 by Irish composer Michael McGlynn under the name An Uaithne. Taking the current name in 1991,AllMusic Biography/ref> the group has recorded 18 albums and achieved a ...

Irish Version and translation

:''Véarsa a haon'' :Cé hé siúd thíos 'tá ag leagadh na gclaíochaí? x 3 :(Who is that down there knocking down the (stone) walls?) :"Mise mé féin" a deir Cúnnla. :("Me, myself" says Cúnla.) :''Curfá'' :A Chúnla a chroí ná tar níos goire dhom! x 3 :(Cúnnla dear don't come any nearer to me!) :Go deimhin muise tiocfaidh! a deir Cúnla. :("Surely I will!" says Cúnla.) :''Véarsa a dó'' :Cé hé siúd thíos 'tá ag buaileadh na fuinneoige? x 3 :(Who is that down there knocking the window?) :"Mise mé féin" a deir Cúnla. :("Me, myself" says Cúnla.) :''Véarsa a trí'' :Cé hé siúd thíos 'tá ag fadú na tine dhom? x 3 :(Who is that down there fanning the fire for me?) :"Mise mé féin" a deir Cúnla. :("Me, myself" says Cúnla.) :''Véarsa a ceathar'' :Cé hé siúd thíos 'tá a' cur uisce sa gciteal dhom? x 3 :(Who is that down there putting water into the kettle for me?) :"Mise mé féin" a deir Cúnnla. :("Me, myself" says Cúnla.) :''Véarsa a cúig'' :Cé hé siúd thíos 'tá ag tarraingt na pluide dhíom? x 3 :(Who is that down there pulling the blanket off me?) :"Mise mé féin" a deir Cúnnla. :("Me, myself" says Cúnla.) :''Véarsa a sé'' :Cé hé siúd thíos 'tá ag tochas mo bhonnachaí? x 3 :(Who is that down there tickling the soles of my feet?) :"Mise mé féin" a deir Cúnla. :("Me, myself" says Cúnla.) :

English Versions

There are various English versions translated from the Irish language. Here are two commonly-sung versions: Version #1 :As recorded by Planxty on the album 'The Well Below the Valley'spotify:track:1NiFAfPjJukUceg0etgxGC :And who is that there knocking the window pane? x 3 :'Only me' says Cúnnla :'Chorus' :Cúnla Dear, Don't Come Any Nearer Me x 3 :Maybe I Shouldn't, Says Cúnla :And who is that there tickling the toes of me? x 3 :'Only me' says Cúnnla :And who is that there tickling the thighs of me? x 3 :'Only me' says Cúnnla

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunnla Irish folk music The Dubliners songs Songs in Irish

History

Irish Version and translation

English Versions

See also

References