Women of Ireland
Encyclopedia
"Women of Ireland", or "Mná na hÉireann" in Irish, is a song composed by Seán Ó Riada
(1931–1971). The poem, on which the music is based, was written by Peadar Ó Dornín (?1704–1769). Usually it falls under the category of Irish rebel music
. It honours the memory of the women dedicated to Ireland
, specifically the Irish nationalist movement.
, with lead vocal by Sean O Sé (on the 1969 live album O'Riada Sa Gaiety), then later done instrumentally by The Chieftains
and Na Connerys.
Alan Stivell
has made another version, sung in Irish, accompanying himself with a metal strung Celtic harp, on his 1995 album Brian Boru. Mike Oldfield
made another version of the song on his 1996 album, Voyager. Kate Bush
recorded a rendition for the 1996 compilation, Common Ground - Voices of Modern Irish Music. Guitarist Ronnie Montrose
recorded an instrumental version for his 1986 recording Territory. The song was also arranged by Bob James
and included in his 1976 album Bob James Three.
Sinéad O'Connor
recorded a version for the 1995 compilation CD, Ain't Nuthin' But a She Thing, in connection with a multi-artist television special for MTV
.
Sarah Brightman
also made her version which is called "So Many Things" on her album Eden
released in 1998. Brightman also performed the song at her One Night in Eden
concert, recorded at Sun City
, South Africa, later released on DVD. Another version of this song, with the name of "Words
", was recorded in 1989 by the English soul
band The Christians. This song reached the No. 18 position in the UK Singles Chart
.
French singer Nolwenn Leroy
also recorded her own version on her album Bretonne, released on December 6, 2010.
, who at times performs it with Irish violinist Sharon Corr
. It also appears on her first solo album, Dream of You.
Seán Ó Riada
Seán Ó Riada , was a composer and perhaps the single most influential figure in the revival of Irish traditional music during the 1960s...
(1931–1971). The poem, on which the music is based, was written by Peadar Ó Dornín (?1704–1769). Usually it falls under the category of Irish rebel music
Irish rebel music
Irish rebel music is a subgenre of Irish folk music, with much the same instrumentation, but with lyrics predominantly concerned with Irish republicanism.-History:...
. It honours the memory of the women dedicated to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, specifically the Irish nationalist movement.
Recordings
It was first recorded by Ceoltóirí ChualannCeoltóirí Chualann
Ceoltóirí Chualann was an Irish traditional band, led by Seán Ó Riada, which included many of the founding members of The Chieftains. Ceoltóirí is the Irish word for musicians, and Cualann is the name of an area just outside Dublin where Ó Riada lived...
, with lead vocal by Sean O Sé (on the 1969 live album O'Riada Sa Gaiety), then later done instrumentally by The Chieftains
The Chieftains
The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:...
and Na Connerys.
Alan Stivell
Alan Stivell
Alan Stivell is a Breton musician and singer, recording artist and master of the celtic harp who from the early 1970s revived global interest in the Celtic harp and Celtic music as part of world music.- Background: learning Breton music and culture :Alan was born in the Auvergnat town of Riom...
has made another version, sung in Irish, accompanying himself with a metal strung Celtic harp, on his 1995 album Brian Boru. Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
made another version of the song on his 1996 album, Voyager. Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
recorded a rendition for the 1996 compilation, Common Ground - Voices of Modern Irish Music. Guitarist Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose, is an Amercian rock guitarist who has headed his own bands as well as performing with a variety of musicians, including Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, Boz Scaggs, Beaver & Krause, Gary Wright, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Dan Hartman, Edgar...
recorded an instrumental version for his 1986 recording Territory. The song was also arranged by Bob James
Bob James (musician)
Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date...
and included in his 1976 album Bob James Three.
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
recorded a version for the 1995 compilation CD, Ain't Nuthin' But a She Thing, in connection with a multi-artist television special for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
.
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
also made her version which is called "So Many Things" on her album Eden
Eden (Sarah Brightman album)
Eden is a 1998 album by English soprano Sarah Brightman. It was released under license by Nemo Studios to Angel Records.Like Brightman's later album, La Luna, Eden juxtaposed mostly English pop songs with mostly Italian opera songs. This was a departure from her previous albums which was almost...
released in 1998. Brightman also performed the song at her One Night in Eden
One Night in Eden
One Night in Eden is a live concert recording by Sarah Brightman, inspired by her Eden album. The premiere concert held in Johannesburg, South Africa was recorded in 1999 and has been released on DVD and VHS.- Track listing :# "Introduction"...
concert, recorded at Sun City
Sun City, North West
Sun City is a luxury casino and resort, situated in the North West Province of South Africa. It is located about two hours' drive from Johannesburg, near the city of Rustenburg. The complex borders the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.- History :...
, South Africa, later released on DVD. Another version of this song, with the name of "Words
Words (The Christians song)
"Words" is a 1989 song recorded by the English band The Christians. It was their first single from their second album, Colour. Released in December 1989 in Ireland and UK and in the first months in other Europeans countries, the song was the first major hit from the band outside the UK.-Song...
", was recorded in 1989 by the English soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
band The Christians. This song reached the No. 18 position in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
French singer Nolwenn Leroy
Nolwenn Leroy
Nolwenn Leroy, , is a French singer and songwriter, discovered by the French television reality show Star Academy. She is best known for her two Number One singles "Cassé" and "Nolwenn Ohwo!"....
also recorded her own version on her album Bretonne, released on December 6, 2010.
Live performances
The song is also a frequently played song at concerts. One example of a notable act performing "Women of Ireland" is guitarist Jeff BeckJeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, who at times performs it with Irish violinist Sharon Corr
Sharon Corr
Sharon Helga Corr is a musician and member of the Irish pop-rock band The Corrs along with elder brother Jim and younger sisters Caroline and Andrea. She plays the violin, piano, and guitar, and sings backing vocals. She began learning the violin when she was six years old...
. It also appears on her first solo album, Dream of You.
Use in media
"Women of Ireland" has been used in various media, primarily in film and television. Such examples include:- The Chieftains version of the song features prominently on the soundtrack to Stanley KubrickStanley KubrickStanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
's 1975 film Barry LyndonBarry LyndonBarry Lyndon is a 1975 British-American period romantic war film produced, written, and directed by Stanley Kubrick based on the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray which recounts the exploits of an 18th century Irish adventurer...
. - Soundtrack of a Levi's jeansLevi Strauss & Co.Levi Strauss & Co. is a privately held American clothing company known worldwide for its Levi's brand of denim jeans. It was founded in 1853 when Levi Strauss came from Buttenheim, Franconia, to San Francisco, California to open a west coast branch of his brothers' New York dry goods business...
advertisement. - This was also the slow air whistled by Emilio EstevezEmilio EstevezEmilio Estevez is an American actor, film director, and writer. He started his career as an actor and is well-known for being a member of the acting Brat Pack of the 1980s, starring in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire...
as Billy the KidBilly the KidWilliam H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
in the 1988 western film, Young GunsYoung GunsYoung Guns is a 1988 action/western film, directed by Christopher Cain and written by John Fusco. The film was the first to be produced by Morgan Creek Productions...
. - An instrumental version of the song was used as background music in the 2009 BBC documentary about the mixed fortunes of the Harris TweedHarris TweedHarris Tweed is a cloth that has been handwoven by the islanders on the Isles of Harris, Lewis, Uist and Barra in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, using local wool....
industry. - An adaptation of the Chieftains version is featured in Carl ColpaertCarl ColpaertCarl Colpaert is an American film director and the founder of Cineville, a production and distribution company based in Los Angeles.-Background:...
's 2010 film The Land of the Astronauts. - Used in courtship scene of RobinRobin HoodRobin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
& MarionMaid MarianMaid Marian is the wife of the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood. Stemming from another, older tradition, she became associated with Robin Hood only in the 16th century.-History:The earliest medieval Robin Hood stories gave him no female companion...
in Ridley ScottRidley ScottSir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
's 2010 film Robin HoodRobin Hood (2010 film)Robin Hood is a 2010 British/American adventure film based on the Robin Hood legend, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett...
.