Her family encouraged her to sing in the house, in a church choir and at school. At Waterford Regional Technical College she studied piano then took music at University College Dublin in 1987. Having learned to copy Ella Fitzgerald's scat singing, she performed in a Dublin bistro several nights per week while still a student. At the Royal Irish Academy of Music she studied classical music and sang in a jazz band, then a folk-ballad band, then another jazz band. She also fell under the influence of Dublin folk singer Frank Harte. During this time she also formed her own band, called Dorothy.
In 1993 Karan moved to New York City. There she studied jazz at Long Island University. When she encountered Irish traditional music sessions in New York she started singing Irish traditional music again. During this time she mostly sang in bars and locals. For most of 1994 she sang with a group called Atlantic Bridge. At the end of the year she joined Seamus Egan and others in Solas. She sang five songs on their first album in 1996. In the same year she sang in Tramps club in Manhattan, accompanied only by a percussionist. They mixed jazz and folk. In 1997 she recorded a solo album, Songlines, inspired by the novel of the same name by Bruce Chatwin. It was produced by Seamus Egan and included several members of Solas. There were a few traditional songs and some contemporary folk songs.
In 2000 Karan collaborated with several other singers on "Seal Maiden - A Celtic Musical". It was a musical version of the film "The Secret of Roan Inish", designed for children. It concerns the mythical creature called the selkie - a seal-woman. Since then Karan has recorded three further solo albums released in 2001, 2003 and 2005. In a salute to her Celtic roots, several tracks were recorded in her native Irish tongue. She also features on the DVD "Solas Live".
Her 2005 album Chasing the Sun includes a number of songs Casey wrote herself. Her records are released by Shanachie Records in the United States and Vertical Records in Europe.
Karan is now living in County Cork, and is married to Niall Vallely, a composer and player of traditional Irish music.
Solo albums
* Songlines (1997)
* Seal Maiden (2000)
* The Winds Begin To Sing (2001)
* Distant Shore (2003)
* Chasing The Sun (2005)
Recordings with Solas
* Solas (1996)
* Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers (1997)
* The Words That Remain (1998)
* Reunion: A Decade of Solas (2006, CD and DVD)
As session musician
* Dancing at Lughnasa (film) (1998)
* Waking Ned Devine (film) (1999)
* "Celtic Solstice" by Paul Winter
Maidin Luan Chincíse
Karan Casey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do bhailíodar na cága chun ábhacht a dheanamh ann
Do chruinníomar ina dtimpeall is do lasamar ár dtinte
Is do thógamar ceo draíochta go haoibheann ós a gceann
Is mó baile margaidh is cathair aoibhinn cheoil
Agus cúirt agus na Sasanaigh chun seasamh ann ‘n ár gcomhar
Beir scéala cruinn abhaile uainn Dé ?omhnaigh go dtí an Aifreann
Do tháinig aniar ó Chonnacht chughainn céad is mile laoch
An oiread céanna ó Ulaidh chughainn I bhfoirm cheart ‘is i bhfaobhar
Suaimhneas lae níor tugadh dóibh gur bhuaileamar bualadh ‘is fiche orthu
Mo lean mar sileadh fuil ‘is coirp ár bhfear i ndeireadh lae
Beir scéala suas chun Mumhan uainn a run ghil ‘s a stór
Agus inis an scéal faoi chumha dhóibh go bhfuil an sciúirse ‘nár gcomhar
Is mó leanbh fireann fionn geal agus ainnir mhilis mhúinte
Is ógfhear cliste lúfar san úir uainn ag feo
Mo lean ar an Mumhain nár éirigh nuair d'adhnamar an gleo
Faoi airm ghreanta ghreadhnmhar i bhfagairt acu ‘nár gcomhar
D'fhágadar go tréith sinn is neart ár namhad ‘nár dtimpeall
Ach grá mo chroí na Laighnigh b'iad d'adhain an tine leo
The song “Maidin Luan Chincíse” by Karan Casey is a traditional Irish song that talks about the struggle of the Irish people against their oppressors. The first verse says that the fairies in the valley woke up one Monday morning and gathered to create magic. They created a mist that rose over the hills to protect the people. The second verse talks about the market town and the pleasant city of music where the Saxons stood with the Irish. They were sent home with a clear message that they need not celebrate their victory because it was temporary. The third verse talks about the heroes of Ulster who came to aid the Irish as they battled oppression, and the heroes of Connacht who came to support the Irish. The fourth verse talks about the Munster, who could not fight during the battle, and how they were left alone in their grief. The last verse says that though they were left alone, the people of Leinster were with them in full force and never lost their love for the Irish people.
The song is a hauntingly beautiful tale of Irish history and perseverance. Although it is sung in Gaelic, the lyrics are powerful and evoke strong emotions. The song touches on the themes of struggle, loss, love, and hope. The lyrics convey the message that despite struggles and hardships, the Irish people did not lose faith and held onto the love and support of their allies.
Line by Line Meaning
Maidin Luan Chincíse labhar an síofra sa ngleann
On a Chinese Monday morning, the fairy spoke in the valley
Do bhailíodar na cága chun ábhacht a dheanamh ann
They gathered the berries to make something special
Do chruinníomar ina dtimpeall is do lasamar ár dtinte
We gathered around and lit our fire
Is do thógamar ceo draíochta go haoibheann ós a gceann
And we raised magical smoke above our heads
Is mó baile margaidh is cathair aoibhinn cheoil
There are many market towns and happy music cities
Agus cúirt agus na Sasanaigh chun seasamh ann ‘n ár gcomhar
And the English court standing alongside us in our partnership
Beir scéala cruinn abhaile uainn Dé ?omhnaigh go dtí an Aifreann
Take a clear message of our story home with you, God-willing until Mass
Gur chun sléibhe a chuireadh chun reatha sinn ‘n ár seasamh ins an gleo
To the mountains we were sent to run in our battle in the fray
Do tháinig aniar ó Chonnacht chughainn céad is mile laoch
From Connaught they came, a thousand and one hundred warriors
An oiread céanna ó Ulaidh chughainn I bhfoirm cheart ‘is i bhfaobhar
Just as many from Ulster came to us rightfully and fearlessly
Suaimhneas lae níor tugadh dóibh gur bhuaileamar bualadh ‘is fiche orthu
Peaceful days were not given to them, as we struck them a fierce blow
Mo lean mar sileadh fuil ‘is coirp ár bhfear i ndeireadh lae
My heart is broken like the pouring of blood and bodies of our men at the end of the day
Beir scéala suas chun Mumhan uainn a run ghil ‘s a stór
Take a message up to Munster for us, my bright love and treasure
Agus inis an scéal faoi chumha dhóibh go bhfuil an sciúirse ‘nár gcomhar
And tell the sad tale of how the squirrel is no longer with us
Is mó leanbh fireann fionn geal agus ainnir mhilis mhúinte
There are many young, fair-haired boys and sweet, educated maidens
Is ógfhear cliste lúfar san úir uainn ag feo
And a young, clever rogue in the east is whispering to us
Mo lean ar an Mumhain nár éirigh nuair d'adhnamar an gleo
My heart is with Munster, who did not succeed when we fought
Faoi airm ghreanta ghreadhnmhar i bhfagairt acu ‘nár gcomhar
Under the sharp, threatening sword they left us in our war
D'fhágadar go tréith sinn is neart ár namhad ‘nár dtimpeall
They left us weak and vulnerable amidst our enemies' strength
Ach grá mo chroí na Laighnigh b'iad d'adhain an tine leo
But the love of my heart, the people of Leinster, were the ones who fueled the fire
Contributed by Lincoln B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@77OSean
WOW. Thar barr!!!
@dbarnwell8224
Means Whit Monday Morning.
Refers to a massacre of Irish peasantry by British forces in 1798.
@Raichu234
This song is called:
MAIDIN LUAN CHINCÍSE
(Trad. Arr., Karan Casey)
Maidin Luan Chincíse labhar an síofra sa ngleann
Do bhailíodar na cága chun ábhacht a dheanamh ann
Do chruinníomar ina dtimpeall is do lasamar ár dtinte
Is do thógamar ceo draíochta go haoibheann ós a gceann
Is mó baile margaidh is cathair aoibhinn cheoil
Agus cúirt agus na Sasanaigh chun seasamh ann ‘n ár gcomhar
Beir scéala cruinn abhaile uainn Dé ∂omhnaigh go dtí an Aifreann
Gur chun sléibhe a chuireadh chun reatha sinn ‘n ár seasamh ins an gleo
Do tháinig aniar ó Chonnacht chughainn céad is mile laoch
An oiread céanna ó Ulaidh chughainn I bhfoirm cheart ‘is i bhfaobhar
Suaimhneas lae níor tugadh dóibh gur bhuaileamar bualadh ‘is fiche orthu
Mo lean mar sileadh fuil ‘is coirp ár bhfear i ndeireadh lae
Beir scéala suas chun Mumhan uainn a run ghil ‘s a stór
Agus inis an scéal faoi chumha dhóibh go bhfuil an sciúirse ‘nár gcomhar
Is mó leanbh fireann fionn geal agus ainnir mhilis mhúinte
Is ógfhear cliste lúfar san úir uainn ag feo
Mo lean ar an Mumhain nár éirigh nuair d’adhnamar an gleo
Faoi airm ghreanta ghreadhnmhar i bhfagairt acu ‘nár gcomhar
D’fhágadar go tréith sinn is neart ár namhad ‘nár dtimpeall
Ach grá mo chroí na Laighnigh b’iad d’adhain an tine leo
@kapeman
Thank you very much