DO BHIOS-SA LÁ I bPORT LÁIRGE Song lyrics and guitar chords
(Amhrán Gaeilge Éireannach) To play along with the Clancy Brothers and Makem use a capo on the 3rd fret for a key of F major. The Clancies used a different last verse. Chords by Marc. This song is all about having a great day out in Waterford.
Intro: A - D-D-D-D D-A-D-A D-D-D-D D-A-D-D. Back to As Gaeilge songs .Portlairge sheet music and tin whistle notes included.
Intro: A - D-D-D-D D-A-D-A D-D-D-D D-A-D-D. Back to As Gaeilge songs .Portlairge sheet music and tin whistle notes included.
Ó do (D)bhíos-sa lá 'bPort Láirge
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle (A)dom
Bhí (D)fíon is puins ar chlár ann
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle dom
Bhí (D)lán an tí de mhnáibh ann
Fol (G)dú, fal dí, fal de (A)didle dom
Agus (D)mise ag ól a sláinte
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle dom
Repeat Intro
Agus (D)d'éalaigh bean ón ráth liom
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle (A)dom
Agus (D)triúr ó Thiobraid Árann
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle dom
Ní (D)raibh a muintir sásta
Fol (G)dú, fal dí, fal de (A)didle dom
Ní (D)rabhadar ná leathshásta
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle dom
Repeat Intro
Ó (D)raghad don Charraig amárach
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle dom
Agus (D)tabharfad cailín breá dom
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle dom
Ra(D)ghamid tríd an mBearnán
Fol (G)dú, fal dí, fal de (A)didle dom
d'Cuir (D)fios ar shagart láithreach
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle dom
Tune bridge (alternatively repeat Intro)
Ó do (D)bhíos-sa lá 'bPort Láirge
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle dom
Bhí (D)fíon is puins ar chlár ann
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle dom
Bhí (D)lán an tí de mhnáibh ann
Fol (G)dú, fal dí, fal de (A)didle dom
Agus (D)mise ag ól a sláinte
Fol dú, fal (A)dí, fal de (D)didle dom
🎸 Strumming Pattern (6/8 Jig Feel)In 6/8 time you count:
1 2 3 4 5 6
and feel it as (1-2-3) (4-5-6) — two pulses per bar, like a rolling jig.
Pattern:↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
(counted as 1 2& 3&)
That gives the lilt of “down–down-up, down-up” — exactly what you want for Irish 6/8 rhythm.
Example (D chord):
| D | D | ↓ ↓↑ ↓↑ 1 2& 3& Tips:
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (Verse + Chorus)We’ll use a rolling 6/8 arpeggio pattern that imitates the jig rhythm:
Thumb (p) → Index (i) → Middle (m) → Thumb (p) → Index (i) → Middle (m)
Each bar will have 6 notes, creating a gentle forward motion.
Use:
First Verse TabD A D A e|--------2-----------2----------|--------0-----------0----------|--------2-----------2----------|--------0-----------0----------| B|------3---3-------3---3--------|------2---2-------2---2--------|------3---3-------3---3--------|------2---2-------2---2--------| G|----2-------2---2-------2------|----2-------2---2-------2------|----2-------2---2-------2------|----2-------2---2-------2------| D|--0-----------0----------------|--2-----------2----------------|--0-----------0----------------|--2-----------2----------------| A|-------------------------------|0-------------------------------|-------------------------------|0-------------------------------| E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------| Ó do bhíos-sa lá 'bPort Láirge, fol dú, fal dí, fal de didle dom, D A D e|--------2-----------2-------|--------0-----------0-------|--------2-----------2-------| B|------3---3-------3---3-----|------2---2-------2---2-----|------3---3-------3---3-----| G|----2-------2---2-------2---|----2-------2---2-------2---|----2-------2---2-------2---| D|--0-----------0-------------|--2-----------2-------------|--0-----------0-------------| A|-----------------------------|0----------------------------|-----------------------------| E|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------| Bhí fíon is puins ar chlár ann, fol dú, fal dí, fal de didle dom,
Chorus TabD G A e|--------2-----------2----------|--------3-----------3----------|--------0-----------0----------| B|------3---3-------3---3--------|------0---0-------0---0--------|------2---2-------2---2--------| G|----2-------2---2-------2------|----0-------0---0-------0------|----2-------2---2-------2------| D|--0-----------0----------------|--0-----------0----------------|--2-----------2----------------| A|-------------------------------|----------------2---------------|0-------------------------------| E|-------------------------------|-3------------------------------|-------------------------------| Bhí lán an tí de mhnáibh ann, fol dú, fal dí, fal de didle dom, D A D e|--------2-----------2-------|--------0-----------0-------|--------2-----------2-------| B|------3---3-------3---3-----|------2---2-------2---2-----|------3---3-------3---3-----| G|----2-------2---2-------2---|----2-------2---2-------2---|----2-------2---2-------2---| D|--0-----------0-------------|--2-----------2-------------|--0-----------0-------------| A|-----------------------------|0----------------------------|-----------------------------| E|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------| Agus mise ag ól a sláinte, fol dú, fal dí, fal de didle dom.
1 2 3 4 5 6
and feel it as (1-2-3) (4-5-6) — two pulses per bar, like a rolling jig.
Pattern:↓ ↓↑ ↓↑
(counted as 1 2& 3&)
That gives the lilt of “down–down-up, down-up” — exactly what you want for Irish 6/8 rhythm.
Example (D chord):
| D | D | ↓ ↓↑ ↓↑ 1 2& 3& Tips:
- Emphasize the first downstroke (beat 1) and the fourth (beat 4) — those are your main pulses.
- Keep it swinging, not mechanical.
- Muting slightly with your palm can add rhythmic texture.
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (Verse + Chorus)We’ll use a rolling 6/8 arpeggio pattern that imitates the jig rhythm:
Thumb (p) → Index (i) → Middle (m) → Thumb (p) → Index (i) → Middle (m)
Each bar will have 6 notes, creating a gentle forward motion.
Use:
- Thumb (p) → bass strings (E, A, D)
- Index (i) → G string
- Middle (m) → B string
First Verse TabD A D A e|--------2-----------2----------|--------0-----------0----------|--------2-----------2----------|--------0-----------0----------| B|------3---3-------3---3--------|------2---2-------2---2--------|------3---3-------3---3--------|------2---2-------2---2--------| G|----2-------2---2-------2------|----2-------2---2-------2------|----2-------2---2-------2------|----2-------2---2-------2------| D|--0-----------0----------------|--2-----------2----------------|--0-----------0----------------|--2-----------2----------------| A|-------------------------------|0-------------------------------|-------------------------------|0-------------------------------| E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------| Ó do bhíos-sa lá 'bPort Láirge, fol dú, fal dí, fal de didle dom, D A D e|--------2-----------2-------|--------0-----------0-------|--------2-----------2-------| B|------3---3-------3---3-----|------2---2-------2---2-----|------3---3-------3---3-----| G|----2-------2---2-------2---|----2-------2---2-------2---|----2-------2---2-------2---| D|--0-----------0-------------|--2-----------2-------------|--0-----------0-------------| A|-----------------------------|0----------------------------|-----------------------------| E|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------| Bhí fíon is puins ar chlár ann, fol dú, fal dí, fal de didle dom,
Chorus TabD G A e|--------2-----------2----------|--------3-----------3----------|--------0-----------0----------| B|------3---3-------3---3--------|------0---0-------0---0--------|------2---2-------2---2--------| G|----2-------2---2-------2------|----0-------0---0-------0------|----2-------2---2-------2------| D|--0-----------0----------------|--0-----------0----------------|--2-----------2----------------| A|-------------------------------|----------------2---------------|0-------------------------------| E|-------------------------------|-3------------------------------|-------------------------------| Bhí lán an tí de mhnáibh ann, fol dú, fal dí, fal de didle dom, D A D e|--------2-----------2-------|--------0-----------0-------|--------2-----------2-------| B|------3---3-------3---3-----|------2---2-------2---2-----|------3---3-------3---3-----| G|----2-------2---2-------2---|----2-------2---2-------2---|----2-------2---2-------2---| D|--0-----------0-------------|--2-----------2-------------|--0-----------0-------------| A|-----------------------------|0----------------------------|-----------------------------| E|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------| Agus mise ag ól a sláinte, fol dú, fal dí, fal de didle dom.
Portlairge sheet music in D Major
Portlairge sheet music which is suitable for tin whistle is included below.
Portlairge sheet music and tin whistle notes
