O’Donnell Aboo! (William Rhys-Herbert)
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- (Posted 2024-02-02) CPDL #78974:
- Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2024-02-02). Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 511 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: O’Donnell Aboo!
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)
Arranger: William Rhys-Herbert
Lyricist: Michael Joseph McCann
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Folksong
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
First published: 1909 J. Fischer & Bro.
Description: Irish: Ó Domhnaill Abú
Irish melody
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Loudly the note of the trumpet is sounding;
Proudly the war cries arise on the gale;
Fleetly the steed by Lough Swilly is bounding,
To join the thick squadrons on Saimear’s green vale.
On, ev’ry mountaineer,
Strangers to flight or fear,
Rush to the standard of dauntless Red Hugh.
Bonnaught and Gallowglass,
Throng from each mountain pass.
On for old Erin, “O’Donnell Aboo!”
Princely O’Neill to our aid is advancing
With many a chieftain and warrior clan.
A thousand proud steeds in his vanguard are prancing
‘Neath the borderers brave from the Banks of the Bann:
Many a heart shall quail
Under its coat of mail;
Deeply the merciless foeman shall rue.
When on his ears shall ring,
Borne on the breeze’s wing,
Tír Chonaill’s dread war-cry, “O’Donnell Aboo!”
Wildly o’er Desmond the war-wolf is howling;
Fearless the eagle sweeps over the plain;
The fox in the streets of the city is prowling--
All who would scare them are banished or slain!
Grasp ev’ry stalwart hand
Hackbut and battle brand--
Pay them all back the deep debt so long due;
Norris and Clifford well
Can of Tirconnell tell;
Onward to glory--”O’Donnell aboo!”
Sacred the cause that Clan Connell’s defending--
The altars we kneel at and homes of our sires;
Ruthless the ruin the foe is extending--
Midnight is red with the plunderer’s fires.
On with O’Donnell then,
Fight the old fight again,
Sons of Tirconnell,
All valiant and true:
Make the false Saxon feel
Erin’s avenging steel!
Strike for your country! “O’Donnell Aboo!”