Cailín na Gaillimhe lyrics and chords
Galway Girl Lyrics Chords In Irish / as Gaelige scríofa Steve Earle agus Sharon Shannon. Here's the song lyrics for Galway Girl in the English.
For YouTube version by Mundy (Ceol ’08) use capo on 2nd fret
Bhuel de (D)thug mé cos ar an siúlóid mhór
Thart ar lár an (G)lae
Is de (Bm)bhuail mé le cailín (G)breá da(D)thúil
Agus thosaío(A)mar ag (D)plé.
Curfá
Agus (G)n'fheadar (D)liom,
Cad a (G)thiocfaidh (D)orm.
Lena (Bm)gruaig chomh dubh
Is a (G)súile (D)gorm. -D
Ach (G)thóg mé a (D)lámh.
Thug mé (G)rince (D)di,
Agus (Bm)phóg mé cailín na (G)Gailli(D)mhe.
D-D-D-D-G-G-G-D
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
Bhíomar (D)leath-shlí tríd nuair a d'oscail an spéir
Níos déanaí ins an (G)lae.
Agus (Bm)rith muid síos chuig an (G)ára(D)sán
Chomh bog an (A)lae i-(D)ay.
Curfá
D-D-D-D-G-G-G-D
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
G-G-G-G-D-D-D-A
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
Bhuel de (D)dhúisigh mé agus mé liom féin
D'fhág sí mé i-(G)ay
Le mo (Bm)chroí bhríste bhí (G)pian (D)laistigh –D-G-D
Agus (G)n'fheadar (D)liom,
Cad a (G)tharlaíonn (D)linn.
Nuair a (Bm)chasamar leis an (G)gcailín (D)sin
Tá (G)feicthe a(D)gam
Gach (G)uile (D)naomh
Ach ní a (Bm)leithéid le cailín na (G)Gailli(D)mhe.
D-D-D-D-G-G-G-D
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
D-D-D-D-G-G-G-D
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
G-G-G-G-D-D-D-A
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
Gaelic Lyrics And Chords
Bhuel de (D)thug mé cos ar an siúlóid mhór
Thart ar lár an (G)lae
Is de (Bm)bhuail mé le cailín (G)breá da(D)thúil
Agus thosaío(A)mar ag (D)plé.
Curfá
Agus (G)n'fheadar (D)liom,
Cad a (G)thiocfaidh (D)orm.
Lena (Bm)gruaig chomh dubh
Is a (G)súile (D)gorm. -D
Ach (G)thóg mé a (D)lámh.
Thug mé (G)rince (D)di,
Agus (Bm)phóg mé cailín na (G)Gailli(D)mhe.
D-D-D-D-G-G-G-D
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
Bhíomar (D)leath-shlí tríd nuair a d'oscail an spéir
Níos déanaí ins an (G)lae.
Agus (Bm)rith muid síos chuig an (G)ára(D)sán
Chomh bog an (A)lae i-(D)ay.
Curfá
D-D-D-D-G-G-G-D
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
G-G-G-G-D-D-D-A
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
Bhuel de (D)dhúisigh mé agus mé liom féin
D'fhág sí mé i-(G)ay
Le mo (Bm)chroí bhríste bhí (G)pian (D)laistigh –D-G-D
Agus (G)n'fheadar (D)liom,
Cad a (G)tharlaíonn (D)linn.
Nuair a (Bm)chasamar leis an (G)gcailín (D)sin
Tá (G)feicthe a(D)gam
Gach (G)uile (D)naomh
Ach ní a (Bm)leithéid le cailín na (G)Gailli(D)mhe.
D-D-D-D-G-G-G-D
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
D-D-D-D-G-G-G-D
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
G-G-G-G-D-D-D-A
G-D-G-D-A-A-A-D
Gaelic Lyrics And Chords
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Folk Feel)
Count it: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
We’ll go for a “rolling folk strum” — upbeat, easy to sing over.
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(count: 1 2& &3 4&)
Beat 1: Strong downstroke on bass (root note)
Beat 2: Down-up on middle/treble strings
Beat 3–4: Flowing up-down-up for rhythm lift
Keep the feel bouncy but soft, not too percussive.
Example (D chord):
| D | D |
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
1 2& &3 4&
Bass Alternation ideas:
D → alternate 4th & 5th strings
G → 6th & 4th strings
A → 5th & 4th strings
Bm → 5th & 4th strings
This gives that nice folk “walk” pulse that suits the storytelling tone.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse)
We’ll use a steady alternating-bass pattern in 4/4, common in Irish and Scottish ballads.
Pattern per bar:
Thumb (p) on beat 1 → Fingers (i + m) on beat 2 → Thumb again on beat 3 → Fingers again on beat 4.
Use:
Thumb (p) → E, A, or D string (bass)
Index (i) → G string
Middle (m) → B string
First Verse Tab
D G Bm G D
e|--------2-----------2--------|--------3-----------3--------|--------2-----------2--------|--------3-----------3--------|--------2-----------2--------|
B|------3---3-------3---3------|------0---0-------0---0------|------3---3-------3---3------|------0---0-------0---0------|------3---3-------3---3------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2----|----0-------0---0-------0----|----4-------4---4-------4----|----0-------0---0-------0----|----2-------2---2-------2----|
D|--0-----------0--------------|--0-----------0--------------|--4-----------4--------------|--0-----------0--------------|--0-----------0--------------|
A|------------------------------|----------------2-------------|2----------------------------|----------------2-------------|------------------------------|
E|------------------------------|-3----------------------------|-----------------------------|-3----------------------------|------------------------------|
Bhuel de thug mé cos ar an siúlóid mhór, thart ar lár an lae,
D G Bm G A D
e|--------2-----------2---------|--------3-----------3---------|--------2-----------2---------|--------3-----------3---------|--------0-----------0---------|--------2-----------2---------|
B|------3---3-------3---3-------|------0---0-------0---0-------|------3---3-------3---3-------|------0---0-------0---0-------|------2---2-------2---2-------|------3---3-------3---3-------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-----|----0-------0---0-------0-----|----4-------4---4-------4-----|----0-------0---0-------0-----|----2-------2---2-------2-----|----2-------2---2-------2-----|
D|--0-----------0---------------|--0-----------0---------------|--4-----------4---------------|--0-----------0---------------|--2-----------2---------------|--0-----------0---------------|
A|-------------------------------|----------------2--------------|2-----------------------------|----------------2--------------|0------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-3-----------------------------|------------------------------|-3-----------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Is de bhuail mé le cailín breá dathúil, agus thosaíomar ag plé.
Count it: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
We’ll go for a “rolling folk strum” — upbeat, easy to sing over.
Pattern:
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(count: 1 2& &3 4&)
Beat 1: Strong downstroke on bass (root note)
Beat 2: Down-up on middle/treble strings
Beat 3–4: Flowing up-down-up for rhythm lift
Keep the feel bouncy but soft, not too percussive.
Example (D chord):
| D | D |
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
1 2& &3 4&
Bass Alternation ideas:
D → alternate 4th & 5th strings
G → 6th & 4th strings
A → 5th & 4th strings
Bm → 5th & 4th strings
This gives that nice folk “walk” pulse that suits the storytelling tone.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (First Verse)
We’ll use a steady alternating-bass pattern in 4/4, common in Irish and Scottish ballads.
Pattern per bar:
Thumb (p) on beat 1 → Fingers (i + m) on beat 2 → Thumb again on beat 3 → Fingers again on beat 4.
Use:
Thumb (p) → E, A, or D string (bass)
Index (i) → G string
Middle (m) → B string
First Verse Tab
D G Bm G D
e|--------2-----------2--------|--------3-----------3--------|--------2-----------2--------|--------3-----------3--------|--------2-----------2--------|
B|------3---3-------3---3------|------0---0-------0---0------|------3---3-------3---3------|------0---0-------0---0------|------3---3-------3---3------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2----|----0-------0---0-------0----|----4-------4---4-------4----|----0-------0---0-------0----|----2-------2---2-------2----|
D|--0-----------0--------------|--0-----------0--------------|--4-----------4--------------|--0-----------0--------------|--0-----------0--------------|
A|------------------------------|----------------2-------------|2----------------------------|----------------2-------------|------------------------------|
E|------------------------------|-3----------------------------|-----------------------------|-3----------------------------|------------------------------|
Bhuel de thug mé cos ar an siúlóid mhór, thart ar lár an lae,
D G Bm G A D
e|--------2-----------2---------|--------3-----------3---------|--------2-----------2---------|--------3-----------3---------|--------0-----------0---------|--------2-----------2---------|
B|------3---3-------3---3-------|------0---0-------0---0-------|------3---3-------3---3-------|------0---0-------0---0-------|------2---2-------2---2-------|------3---3-------3---3-------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-----|----0-------0---0-------0-----|----4-------4---4-------4-----|----0-------0---0-------0-----|----2-------2---2-------2-----|----2-------2---2-------2-----|
D|--0-----------0---------------|--0-----------0---------------|--4-----------4---------------|--0-----------0---------------|--2-----------2---------------|--0-----------0---------------|
A|-------------------------------|----------------2--------------|2-----------------------------|----------------2--------------|0------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-3-----------------------------|------------------------------|-3-----------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Is de bhuail mé le cailín breá dathúil, agus thosaíomar ag plé.
Song Lyrics Without The Chords
[Bhuel de thug mé cos ar an siúlóid mhór
Thart ar lár an lae
Is de bhuail mé le cailín breá dathúil
Agus thosaíomar ag plé.
Agus n'fheadar liom,
Cad a thiocfaidh orm.
Lena gruaig chomh [G]dubh
Is a súile gorm.
Ach thóg mé a lámh.
Thug mé rince di,
Agus phóg mé cailín na Gaillimhe.
Bhíomar leath-shlí tríd nuair a d'oscail an spéir
Níos déanaí ins an lae.
Agus rith muid síos chuig an árasán
Chomh bog an lae i-ay.
Agus n'fheadar liom,
Cad a thiocfaidh orm.
Lena gruaig chomh dubh
Is a súile gorm.
Ach thóg mé a lámh.
Thug mé rince di,
Agus phóg mé cailín na Gaillimhe.
Bhuel de dhúisigh mé agus mé liom féin
D'fhág sí mé i-ay
Le mo chroí bhríste bhí pian laistigh
Agus n'fheadar liom,
Cad a tharlaíonn linn.
Nuair a chasamar leis an gcailín sin
[Bhuel de thug mé cos ar an siúlóid mhór
Thart ar lár an lae
Is de bhuail mé le cailín breá dathúil
Agus thosaíomar ag plé.
Agus n'fheadar liom,
Cad a thiocfaidh orm.
Lena gruaig chomh [G]dubh
Is a súile gorm.
Ach thóg mé a lámh.
Thug mé rince di,
Agus phóg mé cailín na Gaillimhe.
Bhíomar leath-shlí tríd nuair a d'oscail an spéir
Níos déanaí ins an lae.
Agus rith muid síos chuig an árasán
Chomh bog an lae i-ay.
Agus n'fheadar liom,
Cad a thiocfaidh orm.
Lena gruaig chomh dubh
Is a súile gorm.
Ach thóg mé a lámh.
Thug mé rince di,
Agus phóg mé cailín na Gaillimhe.
Bhuel de dhúisigh mé agus mé liom féin
D'fhág sí mé i-ay
Le mo chroí bhríste bhí pian laistigh
Agus n'fheadar liom,
Cad a tharlaíonn linn.
Nuair a chasamar leis an gcailín sin
