TÌR - Highland Life & Lore is a musical and visual arts project lead by Highland based duo Brian Ó hEadhra & Fionnag NicChoinnich.  The duo have collected and written songs from the Highlands & Islands dealing with both traditional and contemporary subject matter which is still relevant to life in the Highlands today.  The subject matter include customs, beliefs and folklife, engagement with our natural environment, emigration and immigration, land reform, and sustainable living.  

Over the summer of 2018 Brian Ó hEadhra | Fionnag NicChoinnich recorded the album of twelve songs with Keith Morrison of the Wee Studio in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis and acclaimed musician/composer Mike Vass at GloWorm Recording, Glasgow.  Other musicians featuring on the album are Innes White and Anna Murray. Mike Vass co-produced TÌR and help provide the cinematic soundscape which has made this innovative recording stand out sonically and musically.  Sound engineer, Iain Hutchison of GloWorm expertly mixed and mastered the album. 

The illustration elements of the project were drawn by the talented Highland artist - Rachel Cush of Crafty Marten Art who has used the music to inspire her work and has created a contemporary vision for each song and the project as a whole.  

O cò bheir mi leam air an luing Èireannaich
O cò bheir mi leam

Dol a dh’America null air an luing Èireannaich
Tormod am bàrr a’ chroinn
Dòmhnall Iàin air an stiùir
Gille smioral ‘s am beil suim
'S aithne dha àmhuilt an t-siùil
An ailm fo achlais an t-suinn
Leannan Màiri ‘n Aonghuis duinn
Leannan cruinneag a’ chinn chruim
Chan innis mi ainm idir dhuibh
Chi mi i caogadh a sùil
Théid sinn uile a-null

O who will take me on the Irish galley
O who will take me

Going across to America on the Irish ship
Tormod at top mast
Dòmhnall Iain steering
The powerful lad who has respect
He knows the way of the sail
The tiller under the oxter of the hero
Beloved Màiri of brown haired Aonghas
Beloved bonny lass of the fine features
I won't say the name to you
I see her winking her eye
We'll all go abroad  

Deus auribus nostris audivimus
Patres nostri adnuntiaverunt nobis
Opus quod operatus es in diebus eorum in diebus antiquis
Manus tua gentes disperdit et planteisti eos

Glèidh m' anama; glèidh m' anama
Glèidh mi anmoch
Glèidh mi moch
Glèidh mi nòin
An cùrsa garbha
Còmhn' is tèarmaid
Mo shealbh a-nochd
Tha mi sgìth is clì is cearbach
Dìon mi o chealg 's o lochd

We have heard, o God, with our own ears
Our fathers have announced to us the work that you wrought in their days
And in the days of antiquity
Your hand dispersed the Gentiles, and you transplanted them
You afflicted a people, and you expelled them

Shield my soul, protect my soul
Protect me at eventide
Protect me in the morn
Protect me at noontide
On rough course
Aid and give sanctuary
To me this night
I am tired, astray and stumbling
Defend me from treachery and fault

Beannaich, a Thriath nam flath fial
Mi fèin 's gach sìon a ta na m' chòir
Beannaich mi nam uile ghnìomh
Dèan mi tèarainte ri m' bheò
Dèan mi tèarainte ri m' bheò  

Bho gach gruagach is ban-sìth
Bho gach mì-rùn agus bròn
Bho gach glaistig is ban-nìgh
Gach luch-sìth agus luch-feòir
Gach luch-sìth agus luch-feòir

Bho gach fuath bhiodh feadh nam beann
Bho gach greann bhiodh teann d' am thoir
Bho gach uruisg measg nan gleann
Teasraig mi gu ceann mo lò
Teasraig mi gu ceann mo lò 

Bless, O Chief of generous chiefs
Myself and everything anear me
Bless me in all my actions
Make thou me safe forever

From every brownie and banshee
From every evil wish and sorrow
From every nymph and water-wraith
From every fairy-mouse and grass-mouse

From every troll among the hills
From every siren hard pressing me
From every ghoul within the glens
Oh, save me till the end of my day

Cha bhi mi buan ’s tu bhith bhuam
Thug mi luaidh òg dhut
Cha bhi mi buan ’s tu bhith bhuam

Chì mi ’m bàta dol seachad
Muir a’ sgapadh na bòrdan 

Mura deachaigh mi mearachd
Bha mo leannan ga seòladh

Bha mo leannan ga stiùireadh
Òigear ùr a’ chùil bhòidhich

Òigear ùr a’ chùil bhuidhe
O, b’ aithne dhomh òg thu

’S e do bhòidichean fada
’S ghaol, a Lachlainn, a leòn mi 

O, nam faicinn thu tighinn
’S mi gu ruitheadh nad chòmhdhail

’S mi gu ruitheadh na do choinneimh
Air mo bhonnan gun bhrògan

Ged tha reothadh glè chruaidh ann
’S sneachda fuar air a’ mhòine

I will not last while you are away from me
I gave my young love to you
I will not last while you are away from me

I see the boat going by
The sea scattering about her sides

If I’m not mistaken
My sweetheart was sailing her

My sweetheart was steering her
The fair young man of the beautiful hair

The fair young man of the yellow hair
O, I’ve known you since I was young

It is your lasting vows
And your love, Lachlann, that have afflicted me

O, if I should see you coming
I would run to meet you

I would run to meet you
On the soles of my bare feet

Though there’s a very hard frost
And cold snow on the moor

In ò, hò rò
Hoirinn eile o, hò rò
In ò, hò ro
Hoirinn eile o

Lorg mi an-dè, an-dè, an-dè
Lorg mi an-dè mo bheatha nad shùil

Chunna mi ‘n uair sin, ‘n uair sin, n’ uair sin
Chunna mi ‘n uair sin thusa ri m’ thaobh

Chunna mi an fhìrinn, an fhìrinn, an fhìrinn
Chunna mi an fhìrinn glaiste nad shùil

Chuala mi dàn, dàn, dàn
Chuala mi dàn, ‘s mise ri d’ thaobh

I found yesterday, yesterday, yesterday
I found yesterday my life in your eyes

Then I saw, I saw, I saw,
Then I saw you by my side

I saw the truth, the truth, the truth
I saw the truth locked in your eyes

I heard a poem, a poem, a poem,
I heard a poem and I by your side

​Salt and sea blows through the air
A new cloud will form a darkness there
The cry of gull in its despair
When 'Ben Lomond' comes we’ll taste their fear

'Carella', won’t you turn away
To seek out your finds in waters clear
For what was once the island’s pride
Now seeps dark sorrow with the tide

The masks of guilt to hide your face
The wind that blew with chance of fate
Your monkey blood washed on the shore
Now Tolsta’s bloom is pure no more

'Porton Down', you’ve called our name
Your secrets of shame burn deep within
The death and pain you brought us near
Obanaghoro can you hear

The Isle of Gruinard weeps through time
The devil has landed with his mines
With anthrax soil you're past repair
The wrath of the people; 'Dark Harvest' is here

Thigibh, togamaid bothan sa choille sa ghleann
Air fail e li leo, air fail e li leo
Far am faigh sinn fois aotrom bho smuaintean tha trom
Air fail e li leo, air fail e li leo

Fad fad às a' bhaile, taobh siar is ceann thall

Air làrach cruinn lurach far an togadh sinn fonn 

Bidh na h-oidhcheannan goirid is ar n-iomagain gann

Bidh na boisean a' bualadh a' bhùird leis gach rann

Agus togaidh sinn glainne dar muinntir 's dar clann

Tha an saoghal cruaidh an àirigh air falbh san sgleò

'S ann leinn-ne am fearann is cumar e beò

​Come, let us build a bothy in the forest in the glen
Air fail e li leo, air fail e li leo
Where will we get a reprieve from heavy thoughts
Air fail e li leo, air fail e li leo

Far from the town, to the west, over yonder

On a wee camp where we'd have a tune

The nights will be short and our worries few

The hands will beat the tables with every verse

And we will raise a glass to our people and to our children

The hard life of the sheiling is gone in the mist

We own the land and we will keep it alive

Iomairibh eutrom ho o
Huraibh eile hoireanan
Iomairibh eutrom ho o

Chaidh a' bhanarach dhan tràigh

Dèanamh rud nach dèanadh càch

Bhuain a' mhaoraich ri muir làn

Bhrist i cas is gheàrr i làmh

Dheoghail 's gun dheoghail i sàl

Row lightly ho o

The dairymaid went to the beach

She did something others wouldn't 

Gathering mussels at full tide

She broke her leg and cut her hand

She drank and drank seawater 

Chan ann ach thu, chan ann ach thu
Bho bhonn gu bàrr, aig deireadh an latha
Chan ann ach thu

Nuair a bhios do làithean làn
Is chì thu d' fhaileas sa' sgàthan àrd 

Aig a' bhòrd le planaichean mòr'
Le dòchas ann, an aghaidh an t-sruth

Nuair a bhios do spiorad fann
Cuimhnich do chridhe is tog do cheann

'S iomadh brath ag ionnsaigh ort
Cum d' ùine fhèin airson do shlàint' 

Ag òl is ag ith' is ag ith is ag òl
'S e 'n tagh agad fhèin bho latha gu latha

____

Mo chraobh ùbhla dhubh ghaolach thu
Mo chraobh ùbhla dhubh o ho

Tha ise 's fearann saor aice 

Tha gobhair is crodh laoigh aice

Tha buidheann mhòr de chaoraich aic'

Tha ise 's fearann saor aice

Tha gobhair is crodh laoigh aice

Tha buidheann mhòr de chaoraich aic'

'S ged tha sùilean claon aice

Chan eil san gill' ach slaodanach

There's only you, there's only you
From bottom to top, at the end of the day,
There's only you

When your days are full
And you see your reflection in the high mirror

At the table with big plans
Full of hope, against the tide

When your spirit is weak
Remember your heart and lift your head

Multiple messages overpowering you
Manage your time for the sake of your health

Drinking and eating and eating and drinking
It's your decision day to day 

____

My darling lovely black apple tree
You are my lovely black apple tree

She is the owner of freehold land

She has goats and calves and cattle

She has a great herd of sheep

She is the owner of freehold land

She has goats and calves and cattle

She has a great herd of sheep

But although she has squint eyes

The lads are nothing but slowcoaches

​A million new faces to my eyes - Maria
A stolen heart, a purple gown - Mo chridhe
A scorching sun to this cold ground - Cara mia
A father’s love, a whispered plan

Turn me around and let in the light
Open the door to my life

Five blooms flying through the storm - Maria
Carries us on and makes us strong - Mo chridhe
Another world held back by fear - Cara mia
A ship now laid deep down in the dark

Turn me around and let in the light
Open the door to my life

​​Tha mi dol dhachaigh leat
Gu do thaigh; gu do thaigh
Tha mi dol dhachaigh leat
Gu do thaigh geamhraidh

Tha mi dol dhachaigh leat
Gu do thaigh; gu do thaigh
Tha mi dol dhachaigh leat
Go do thaigh foghair is earraich is samhraidh

Tha mi dol dhachaigh leat
A leanaibh mo luaidh
Dha do leaba bhiodh-mhaireann
Dha do chadal bhiodh-bhuan

Tha mi dol dhachaigh leat
A leanaibh mo luaidh
Gu macan nam beannachd
Gu athair nam buadh

I am going home with thee
To thy home; to thy home
I am going home with thee
To thy home of winter

I am going home with thee
To thy home; to thy home
I am going home with thee
To thy home of autumn, of spring, of summer

I am going home with thee
Thou child of my love
To thine eternal bed
To thy perpetual sleep

I am going home with thee
Thou child of my love
To the dear son of blessings
To the father of grace

​​Mar an fhiadh a bhios mi
Mar bhan-dia a bhios mi
Mar ghuthan nam mìltean
A' seinn gu h-àrd, gu treun

Bheir mise sùil air an t-saoghal le sùilean ùra
Duisgidh mi bho m' aisling agus seasaidh mi gu h-àrd

Bidh mi cruaidh mar chloich is bog mar bhùrn
Leughaidh mi an tìr mar na gaisgaich a chaidh

Èistidh mi ris na craobhan a lùbas sa ghaoith
Is gheibh mi neart bhon ghrèin gach là

Fuirichidh mi san dè, san diugh is san màireach
Is cha bhi an t-eagal orm ro olcas sam bith

Gabhaidh mi am fulangas a thig le bròn
Agus cumaidh mi slàn nam anam is bodhaig

Ruithidh mi ris an treud ach seasaidh mi nam aonar
'S bidh mi stolta mar neòinean sa mhàgh

Like the deer, I will be
Like a goddess, I will be
Like voices of the thousands
Singing loudly, strongly

I will look upon the world with a new vision
I will awake from my slumber and stand tall

I will be hard like a rock and soft like water
I will read the land like the heroes of old

I will listen to the trees that sway in the wind
And I will gain strength from the sun each day forever

I will live in the yesterday, today and the morrow
And I will fear no evil

I will endure suffering that comes with sadness
And I will nurture my spirit and my body

I will run with the herd but I will stand alone
I will be still like a daisy on the plain