Báidín Fheilimí is a

traditional A tradition is a system of beliefs or behaviors (folk custom) passed down within a group of people or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examp ...

Irish song, which originates in the

Gaeltacht A ( , , ) is a district of Ireland, either individually or collectively, where the Irish government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant vernacular, or language of the home. The districts were first officially recognised ...

region in the north-west of

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county of the Republic of Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and is the northernmost county of Ireland. The county mostly borders Northern Ireland, sharing only a small b ...

. It is often taught to young children. The song, in Irish is about a small boat owned by a man called Feilimí (Phelim). While not specified in the song, it refers to ''Feilimí Cam Ó Baoill'', who was chieftain of the Rosses in the 17th century and his escape to nearby Islands from his archenemy . It has been covered by artists such as

Na Casaidigh Na Casaidigh or The Cassidys are an Irish traditional group. They have been based in Dublin for many years, but they originally hail from Gweedore, County Donegal. The group consists of brothers Aongus, Seathrún, Ciarán, Fionntán, Feargus, a ...

Sinéad O'Connor Shuhada' Sadaqat (born Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor; , ; 8 December 1966 – 26 July 2023) was an Irish singer, songwriter, record producer and activist. Her debut studio album, ''The Lion and the Cobra'', was released in 1987 and achieve ...

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, Emmet Spiceland, and

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. There are some alternative versions of the last verse, either mentioning the boatload of fish or omitting it. The latter is common in more recent versions, wherein the easier verse ''Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann'' is used.Traditional lyrics and translation
/ref> The lyrics refer to the islands of Gola and

Tory A Tory () is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The To ...

off the coast of

Gweedore Gweedore ( , officially known by its Irish language name, ) is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) district, and parish, located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal in the north-west of Ireland. It stretches some from Glasserchoo and Bloody For ...

Lyrics

The lyrics, which are in the public domain, are as follows: :Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Gabhla, :Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann. :Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Gabhla, :Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann. ::Curfá :Báidín bídeach, báidín beosach, :Báidín bóidheach, báidín Fheilimí. :Báidín díreach, báidín deontach, :Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann. :Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Toraí, :Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann. :Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Toraí, :Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann. :Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí, :Báidin Fheilimí is Feilimí ann. :Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí, :Báidin Fheilimí is Feilimí ann. :Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí, :Iasc ar bhord agus Feilimí ann. :Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí, :Iasc ar bhord agus Feilimí ann. ;English translation :Felimi's little boat went to Gola, :Felimi's little boat and Felimi in it. :Felimi's little boat went to Gola, :Felimi's little boat and Felimi in it. ::Chorus :A tiny boat, a lively boat, :A charming boat, Felimi's little boat. :A straight boat, a willing boat, :Felimi's little boat and Felimi in it. :Felimi's little boat went to

, :Felimi's little boat and Felimi in it. :Felimi's little boat went to Tory :Felimi's little boat and Felimi in it. :Felimi's little boat broke on Tory, :Felimi's little boat and Felimi in it. :Felimi's little boat broke on Tory, :Felimi's little boat and Felimi in it. :Felimi's little boat broke on Tory, :Fish on board and Felimi in it. :Felimi's little boat broke on Tory, :Fish on board and Felimi in it.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baidin Fheilimi Year of song unknown Songs with unknown songwriters Songs in Irish