I'm a folk musician from North Carolina. There's an old hymn here called the Bright Morning Star. https://youtu.be/Su6EqilJb7s?si=Z-8FWJOxTGYfbQPP

I sang it once to a man from the Falls Road who had moved to North Carolina in the 90s. He said he'd once known it in Irish, and sang a bit of it for me but could not remember all of it. He wrote down the name for me, "se fainne an lae" which supposedly is a direct translation (or, rather, the English version is a translation of it). He said he heard it as a child (in the 50s) but only learned his Irish as an adult during the war. Unfortunately my friend died shortly thereafter, so I don't know much more about it. I miss him.

North Carolina was heavily settled by Ulstermen (both Scots and native) so it makes sense that that song might could have come along for the ride, and I'm curious to know if it was an Irish-language hymn before arriving in Amerikay, or anything I can learn about it really. Gorgeous song. Any of y'all recognize it, or got a line on a good place/person to ask? No one I talked to in Armagh had heard of it, but i'll be back in the north next summer and might have some time to poke around in Belfast.

Thanks so much!

by 3overJr

6 comments

  1. I suspect he was referring to. Fainne Gael an Lae which he would have likely learned in Irish. It is one of the first melodies that students of Irish music are taught. Translating as the Bright Ring of the day or sometimes called the Golden Star.

    Interestingly it later became the basis of the Dawning of the Day which in turn became the melody of the famous Raglan Road.
    However melody-wise it seems quite removed from the melody of Bright Morning Star, so I’m struggling to connect the two.

    https://youtu.be/y0Z4iMRKBc4?si=HludfpfZu9F6kyqT

    https://youtu.be/qRh3NL0lc68?si=c7HuQ1toqwxBKXbl

    https://youtu.be/GxAio-XMpBI?si=xakffQKpa-tQV_3d

  4. Maybe this? [An raibh tú ar an gCarraig (Were you on the rock) – Liam O Maonlai ft. The Swell Season (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je3GoZw1W3w) but I agree with the other commenter, it was most likely Fáinne Geal an Lae

    Otherwise, shoot an email/message to Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich – it’s a cultural centre on the Falls Road in Belfast focuses on Irish language and heritage and might have resources or know local historians or musicians who could shed light on the song your friend remembered.

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