a thing of beauty

I love this song. A waulking song in Scots Gaelic sung by six people from Donegal in 1981. At the time, they were mildly famous in Ireland, two brothers and two sister and two cousins, known as Clannad. That was years before the younger sister, Eithne or, as she later called herself, Enya, became famous with her warbling hazy musical carpets which waft away like empty clouds.

We sat in the audience when they played in Dublin, just days after the album had come out. I was wearing pretty much the same type of dress and exactly the same shoes as Maire, the other sister and lead vocalist. Total coincidence and of no deeper meaning but involving a trip to London's Natural Shoe shop in Covent Garden. Which at the time was a tiny little workshop in a narrow lane off the main drag.

Earlier that day I had found out that I was pregnant and I remember thinking that hearing this music will make my baby happy. And it did.

I don't understand a word they are singing but I have been told by someone who actually understands the lyrics that it's about love and love sickness and weaving tartan cloth.

It's called Mlorag`s Na Horo Gheallaidh.