11 Aug 2025
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 An Eala Bhan

 Another Gaelic song, An Eala Bhan. I don't know if it is "The White Swan" or
 "The Fair Swan" because "bhan", or "ban" in its normal form can mean white or
 fair. I think just go with whatever suits one will be fine.

 The special thing about this song is that it is written by Domhnail Ruadh
 Choruna (Red Donald of Coruna), who was a veteran of the First World War.
 Domhnail wrote this song for his lover, Maghaidh (Maggie), when he was serving
 in the trenches.

 I especially love the Manran version. They really make you get that feeling
 about how powerless Domhnail was in the terrible war, not knowing whether he
 would die the next day or make it back home safe to reunite with Maghaidh. He
 told Maghaidh just not to be sad, because who would live forever. If it was for
 him to die in the battlefield, then let the maiden have all the best. But if
 he ever would return from the war, he just hope to hold her hands and put a
 ring on her finger.

 Not sure if it is a happy or unhappy fact - Domhnail did return home from the
 war but he didn't marry Maghaidh. Such is life...

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 An Eala Bhan

 in album "Manran" by Manran
 https://open.spotify.com/track/5pW2KvgNvUc4kmRop4Ao61