The Cliffs Of Dooneen Lyrics And Chords
The Cliffs Of Dooneen [ Irish Folk Song ] lyrics and easy guitar chords was Recorded by Christy Moore and by Paddy Reilly who is playing in the youtube video.The 5 string banjo chords for the key of G Major are included. A traditional song. The Cliffs are in County Kerry. Also sang by Irish country singer Margo, Tommy Fleming, Mary Duff, Johnny McEvoy and John McDermot who does the finest rendition of The Old House song I ever heard. The guitar / ukulele chords are in the keys of G and D and are in chordpro.The music time signature is 3/4. The song is popular all around Ireland and a regular at ballad sessions.The Cliffs Of Dooneen Sheet music for tin whistle .tenor guitar tab in CGDA tuning plus the standard tab included.
You[G] may travel far,[C]far from your[F] own native[G] home,
Far[C] away o're the mountains,far a[G]way o're the[Am] foam,
But of[C] all the fine places that[G] I'ver ever[Am] been,
Sure there's[C] none to compare with the[F] cliffs of[G] Doneen,
[2]
In's a nice place to be on a fine summer's day,
Watching all the wild flowere that ne'er do decay,
Oh the hares and lofty pheasants are plain to be seen,
Making homes for their young,round the cliffs of Doneen.
[3]
Take a view o're the mountain,fine sights you'll see there,
You'll see the high rocky mountains of the west coast of Clare,
Oh the towns of Kilkee and Kilrush can be seen,
From the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Duneen.
[4]
Fare thee well to Duneen,fare thee well for a while,
And to all the kind people im leaving behind,
To the streams and yhe meadows,where late I have been,
And the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Duneen.
The Cliffs Of Dooneen Road Sign
🎵 “The Cliffs of Dooneen” in G Major,
with all verses matched for rhythm and a smooth folk strumming pattern that fits the gentle, nostalgic feel of the song. 🌊🇮🇪
🎸 The Cliffs of Dooneen
Key: G Major
Tempo: ~85–90 BPM
Time Signature: 3/4 (Waltz time)
🎶 Chords Used
G (320003)
C (x32010)
Am (x02210)
F (133211) or easy Fmaj7 (x33210)
🪘 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz Feel)
↓ ↓ ↓↑
1 2 3&
or more traditional:
Bass ↓ Down ↓ Up-down ↑
Pick the bass note on beat 1, then strum lightly on 2 and 3 — flowing and steady.
🎸 — here’s a gentle 4-bar fingerpicked intro for
🎵 “The Cliffs of Dooneen” (Key of G),
crafted in a 3/4 Irish waltz style to flow naturally into your first verse.
It works beautifully on either guitar or tenor guitar, and gives that wistful Atlantic air you’d expect for this song. 🌊
🎶 Intro TAB (Fingerpicking – 3/4 Time)
Key: G Major
Tempo: ~85–90 BPM
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Style: Slow, harp-like, steady thumb on the bass
G C Fmaj7 G
e|--------3-----------3-----------|--------0-----------0---------|
B|------0---0-------1---1---------|------1---1-------0---0-------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----2-------2---0-------0-----|
D|----------------2---------------|--3---------------------------|
A|----------------3---------------|--3---------------2-----------|
E|--3-----------------------------|------------------3-----------|
G C Fmaj7 G
e|--------3-----------3-----------|--------0-----------3---------|
B|------0---0-------1---1---------|------1---1-------0---0-------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----2-------2---0-------0-----|
D|----------------2---------------|--3---------------------------|
A|----------------3---------------|--3---------------2-----------|
E|--3-----------------------------|------------------3-----------|
🎵 Play each measure slowly, letting the notes ring together.
The thumb (P) plays bass (E, A, D), while index (I), middle (M), and ring (A) gently pluck G, B, and E strings.
💡 Transition into Verse
After the last G measure, let it ring softly, then begin:
“You [G]may travel far, far from your [C]own native [F]home...”
That single held G will sound like a natural breath before the vocal begins.
✨ Optional Ornament
To make it sound more Irish-traditional:
Hammer-on from open A → 2nd fret (B note) in the second G bar.
Lightly roll your fingers on the final G chord for a shimmering finish.
🎵 Lyrics with Chords
You [G]may travel far, [C]far from your [F]own native [G]home,
Far [C]away o’er the mountains, far a[G]way o’er the [Am]foam,
But of [C]all the fine places that [G]I’ve ever [Am]been,
Sure there’s [C]none to compare with the [F]Cliffs of [G]Dooneen.
It’s a [G]nice place to be on a [C]fine summer’s [F]day,
Watching [C]all of the wildflowers that [G]never de[Am]cay,
Oh the [C]hares and the pheasants are [G]plain to be [Am]seen,
Making [C]homes for their young ‘round the [F]Cliffs of [G]Dooneen.
Take a [G]view o’er the mountain, fine [C]sights you’ll see [F]there,
You’ll see the [C]high rocky mountains of the [G]West Coast of [Am]Clare,
Oh the [C]towns of Kilkee and of [G]Kilrush so [Am]green,
Can be [C]seen from the slopes ‘round the [F]Cliffs of [G]Dooneen.
Fare thee [G]well to Dooneen, fare thee [C]well for a [F]while,
And to [C]all of the kind people I’m [G]leaving be[Am]hind,
To the [C]streams and the meadows where [G]lately I’ve [Am]been,
And the [C]high rocky slopes ‘round the [F]Cliffs of [G]Dooneen.
🎵 Optional Outro (Repeat Slowly)
And the [C]high rocky slopes ‘round the [F]Cliffs of [G]Doo[C]neen. [G]
🎶 Hold the final G — let it ring gently.
💡 Playing Tips
If full F barre chords are hard, use Fmaj7 (x33210) — it blends beautifully in waltz rhythm.
Add a little arpeggio picking on verses for a more emotional, folk feel.
Between verses, strum G → C → F → G once as an instrumental turnaround.
with all verses matched for rhythm and a smooth folk strumming pattern that fits the gentle, nostalgic feel of the song. 🌊🇮🇪
🎸 The Cliffs of Dooneen
Key: G Major
Tempo: ~85–90 BPM
Time Signature: 3/4 (Waltz time)
🎶 Chords Used
G (320003)
C (x32010)
Am (x02210)
F (133211) or easy Fmaj7 (x33210)
🪘 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz Feel)
↓ ↓ ↓↑
1 2 3&
or more traditional:
Bass ↓ Down ↓ Up-down ↑
Pick the bass note on beat 1, then strum lightly on 2 and 3 — flowing and steady.
🎸 — here’s a gentle 4-bar fingerpicked intro for
🎵 “The Cliffs of Dooneen” (Key of G),
crafted in a 3/4 Irish waltz style to flow naturally into your first verse.
It works beautifully on either guitar or tenor guitar, and gives that wistful Atlantic air you’d expect for this song. 🌊
🎶 Intro TAB (Fingerpicking – 3/4 Time)
Key: G Major
Tempo: ~85–90 BPM
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Style: Slow, harp-like, steady thumb on the bass
G C Fmaj7 G
e|--------3-----------3-----------|--------0-----------0---------|
B|------0---0-------1---1---------|------1---1-------0---0-------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----2-------2---0-------0-----|
D|----------------2---------------|--3---------------------------|
A|----------------3---------------|--3---------------2-----------|
E|--3-----------------------------|------------------3-----------|
G C Fmaj7 G
e|--------3-----------3-----------|--------0-----------3---------|
B|------0---0-------1---1---------|------1---1-------0---0-------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|----2-------2---0-------0-----|
D|----------------2---------------|--3---------------------------|
A|----------------3---------------|--3---------------2-----------|
E|--3-----------------------------|------------------3-----------|
🎵 Play each measure slowly, letting the notes ring together.
The thumb (P) plays bass (E, A, D), while index (I), middle (M), and ring (A) gently pluck G, B, and E strings.
💡 Transition into Verse
After the last G measure, let it ring softly, then begin:
“You [G]may travel far, far from your [C]own native [F]home...”
That single held G will sound like a natural breath before the vocal begins.
✨ Optional Ornament
To make it sound more Irish-traditional:
Hammer-on from open A → 2nd fret (B note) in the second G bar.
Lightly roll your fingers on the final G chord for a shimmering finish.
🎵 Lyrics with Chords
You [G]may travel far, [C]far from your [F]own native [G]home,
Far [C]away o’er the mountains, far a[G]way o’er the [Am]foam,
But of [C]all the fine places that [G]I’ve ever [Am]been,
Sure there’s [C]none to compare with the [F]Cliffs of [G]Dooneen.
It’s a [G]nice place to be on a [C]fine summer’s [F]day,
Watching [C]all of the wildflowers that [G]never de[Am]cay,
Oh the [C]hares and the pheasants are [G]plain to be [Am]seen,
Making [C]homes for their young ‘round the [F]Cliffs of [G]Dooneen.
Take a [G]view o’er the mountain, fine [C]sights you’ll see [F]there,
You’ll see the [C]high rocky mountains of the [G]West Coast of [Am]Clare,
Oh the [C]towns of Kilkee and of [G]Kilrush so [Am]green,
Can be [C]seen from the slopes ‘round the [F]Cliffs of [G]Dooneen.
Fare thee [G]well to Dooneen, fare thee [C]well for a [F]while,
And to [C]all of the kind people I’m [G]leaving be[Am]hind,
To the [C]streams and the meadows where [G]lately I’ve [Am]been,
And the [C]high rocky slopes ‘round the [F]Cliffs of [G]Dooneen.
🎵 Optional Outro (Repeat Slowly)
And the [C]high rocky slopes ‘round the [F]Cliffs of [G]Doo[C]neen. [G]
🎶 Hold the final G — let it ring gently.
💡 Playing Tips
If full F barre chords are hard, use Fmaj7 (x33210) — it blends beautifully in waltz rhythm.
Add a little arpeggio picking on verses for a more emotional, folk feel.
Between verses, strum G → C → F → G once as an instrumental turnaround.
The cliffs of doneen lyrics
Guitar tab for The Cliffs Of Dooneen In G Major.
Tenor guitar tab in CGDA tuning
Here's an easy to play version in D Major.
You[D] may travel far,[G]far from your[C] own native[D] home,
Far[G] away o're the mountains,far a[D]way o're the[Em] foam,
But of[G] all the fine places that[D] I'ver ever[Em] been,
Sure there's[G] none to compare with the[C] cliffs of[D] Doneen,
Return to Irish Lyrics And Chords C-f
You[D] may travel far,[G]far from your[C] own native[D] home,
Far[G] away o're the mountains,far a[D]way o're the[Em] foam,
But of[G] all the fine places that[D] I'ver ever[Em] been,
Sure there's[G] none to compare with the[C] cliffs of[D] Doneen,
Return to Irish Lyrics And Chords C-f
Below is the ebook list of Irish Folk Songs with guitar chords
in 3 keys. Price €8.90 and I'll email the ebook after purchase .
The chords are suited to ukulele, banjo or mandolin also.
Martin
Below is the ebook list of Irish Folk Songs with guitar chords
in 3 keys. Price €8.90 and I'll email the ebook after purchase .
The chords are suited to ukulele, banjo or mandolin also.
Martin
🇮🇪 The Cliffs of Dooneen
Type: Irish Folk Song
Composer: Jack McAuliffe (early 1930s)
Made famous by: Planxty, Christy Moore, Paddy Reilly, and countless traditional singers
Themes: Nostalgia, longing for home, the beauty of the Irish coastline, and the ache of exile
🪶 Origins and Authorship
“The Cliffs of Dooneen” is a relatively modern Irish folk song, written around 1936 by Jack McAuliffe, a schoolteacher from Lixnaw, County Kerry.
According to local lore, McAuliffe was staying near the cliffs at Dooneen Point, just outside Beale in North Kerry (near Ballybunion and the Shannon Estuary), when he was inspired to write this hauntingly beautiful ballad about home, belonging, and memory.
However — and this is part of the song’s mystery — many people associate it with County Clare, believing that the “Cliffs of Dooneen” refer to the famous Cliffs of Doonbeg or Cliffs of Kilkee, across the estuary in Clare.
That confusion is so common that in many recordings, singers refer to both counties — Kerry and Clare — within the lyrics.
🎤 Famous Versions
The song became widely known during the Irish folk revival of the 1960s and 1970s.
Notable renditions include:
Planxty (with Christy Moore) – a haunting, slow version with bouzouki and whistle
The Wolfe Tones – a passionate, harmony-rich version
Paddy Reilly – perhaps the most popular solo recording, gentle and full of nostalgia
The Dubliners – often performed in their live sets
Sinéad O’Connor and The Chieftains – gave it a modern, ethereal tone in later performances
Today, it’s a staple of Irish sessions and a favorite among emigrant communities for its wistful melody and sentimental lyrics.
Type: Irish Folk Song
Composer: Jack McAuliffe (early 1930s)
Made famous by: Planxty, Christy Moore, Paddy Reilly, and countless traditional singers
Themes: Nostalgia, longing for home, the beauty of the Irish coastline, and the ache of exile
🪶 Origins and Authorship
“The Cliffs of Dooneen” is a relatively modern Irish folk song, written around 1936 by Jack McAuliffe, a schoolteacher from Lixnaw, County Kerry.
According to local lore, McAuliffe was staying near the cliffs at Dooneen Point, just outside Beale in North Kerry (near Ballybunion and the Shannon Estuary), when he was inspired to write this hauntingly beautiful ballad about home, belonging, and memory.
However — and this is part of the song’s mystery — many people associate it with County Clare, believing that the “Cliffs of Dooneen” refer to the famous Cliffs of Doonbeg or Cliffs of Kilkee, across the estuary in Clare.
That confusion is so common that in many recordings, singers refer to both counties — Kerry and Clare — within the lyrics.
🎤 Famous Versions
The song became widely known during the Irish folk revival of the 1960s and 1970s.
Notable renditions include:
Planxty (with Christy Moore) – a haunting, slow version with bouzouki and whistle
The Wolfe Tones – a passionate, harmony-rich version
Paddy Reilly – perhaps the most popular solo recording, gentle and full of nostalgia
The Dubliners – often performed in their live sets
Sinéad O’Connor and The Chieftains – gave it a modern, ethereal tone in later performances
Today, it’s a staple of Irish sessions and a favorite among emigrant communities for its wistful melody and sentimental lyrics.
