Is there a website with easy songs in Irish with the words? BBC has some for Scottish but not Irish.

Bump.

I don't know of any, but somebody else may.

http://martindardis.com/
You could start here Jodie. Mostly songs 'as Bearla' but also a lot'as gaeilge'. As someone with a great interest in the gaelic songs I would caution about 'easy Irish songs'. I have spent years trying to figure out what is being said, implied etc in some of these songs. It's well worth the effort to trawl through these songs line by line, I have learned a lot this way.
A lot of the really popular songs like An Poc Ar Bhuile, Oró Sé Do Bheatha 'Baile, An Maidirín Rua, have some tongue twisting lyrics for a beginner. So take your time with them, you will be learning heaps! Have your dictionaries at the ready and, of course, theres lots of talented daltaiboarders who will see you right. I ought to know, as I've had tremendous help and support on this forum. You will probably want to get your hands on some recording of course, but even without them you will be able to study the lyrics and get a feel for the structure of the rhymes.
I hope this is of some help to you.
DMD

Go raith maith 'ad
I have been studing for a over a year now and it seems as if I get no where. I am a quick study with songs and thought it may be a fast way to pick up some new words.

Two very nice cds are Gúgalaí Gúg le Tadg Mac Dhonagain,and Irish songs we learnt at school le John Spillane.Both contain mostly children's songs.

PS I could have sworn I stumbled upon a website with song lyrics one time.....

Tá a leithéidí ann. There is such a site being developed at the moment.

www.studybase.com has begun publishing songs and words as part of their Irish courses. I think this "course" is free but you must enrol and identify yourself.

It is just a series of old songs sung by one of the tutors without accompaniment. They are intended for learners and not for Corn Uí Riada.

The essentials of Irish pronunciation are generally correct but not necessarily of help to those wishing to study a dialect. The Irish is that of a good learner rather than that of a traditional native-speaker.

Nevertheless if dialect is required to fill the internal and end-of-line rhymes as in "Na Connaries" or if customary poetic licence is required to improve the sound of a word sung "Má bhíonn tú liúm" instead of the flat "liom" such required pronunciations are included.

You will hear the broad and slender d and t as well as the broad and slender r. You will hear the diphthongs ~ua~ and ~ia~ and the hidden vowel between r and g in fearg etc. All the most important issues regarding the pronunciation of Irish are observed.

You can even join in yourself and write messages (of encouragement - not criticism) to the singer. You may even be able to record and send them your own attempts at pronunciation for correction but that may require enrolment on one of the fee-paying courses.

There is a forum associated with the songs so that people can discuss the meanings (in English or Irish) and it is hoped by this means and with the help of the participants to build up a compprehensive set of notes and explanations for each song. This forum is monitored by an editor and only "good stuff" is accepted for permanent publication.

New songs can be added at will if any of the tutors know the air and can sing them. Just ask.

The site itself provides e-marking of grammar exercises (for a modest fee) at intermediate and advanced levels. Nothing for beginners -- unless you're willing to struggle through Irish grammar explained in Irish. All introductory pages are in both Irish and English. Some are in English only.

My main goal is to speak Irish without an American accent. And pick up new words and verbs.

Songs are a good route to develop pronunciation, especially if you're a good singer. I have found that mimicking speaking can be hard at times, but lay it down with a nice melody and I tend to enjoy the sounds much more and loosen up the mouth. After doing this enough I can then pronounce the words well when speaking (I think).

Two songs I've enjoyed are "Is Fada Liom Uaim Í" & "Caidé Sin Don Té Sin". Search the phrases and you can find videos of people singing them. They're also versions on one of Ronán's shows in which he was promoting the Ceol Cheann Dubhrann (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceol_Cheann_Dubhrann) album.

The songs are maybe like 30-40 minutes in. I can't remember exactly, but when I am on a computer in which I can listen to it, I can supply the point in the show so you can listen to it, if you want.

http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2009/pc/pod-v-111209-120m32s-ronanbeo.mp3



Is Fada Liom Uaim Í

Is fada liom uaim í ar uaigneas gach baile a mbíonn sí
Is le gach ógánach suairc a ghluaisfeadh in aice na dí
Dá dtigtheása anuas ar chuairt fá bharra na gcraobh
Le goirm na gcuach go ngluaisfinn leatsa mar mhnaoi

A Mhalaidh, a chéadsearc, ná tréig thusa mise go brách
Is go bhfuil in do dhiaidh gach aon lá fá mhallaigh na n-ard
Is tú cruithneacht ar mhnáibh Éireann, is tú b'fhéile dar ghlac ariamh lámh
Is dar mionna mo bhéil, ní bréag a bhfuil mé is tú a rá

Is a Mhalaidh mo ró-ghrá atá an t-órfholt snoite glan réidh
Cum cailce atá ró-dheas a chuirfeadh bród ar fhearaibh an tsaoil
Béilin meala mar na rósaí, súil mhódhmhar ghorm gan chlaon
Is i gcoillídh ag buain chnónna, sé mo bhrón gan Malaidh agus mé


Caidé Sin Don Té Sin

Chuaigh mé 'un aonaigh 's dhíol mé mo bhó
Ar chúig phunta airgid 's ar ghiní bhuí óir
Má ólaim an t-airgead is má bhronnaim an t-ór
Ó caide sin don té sin nach mbaineann sin dó?

Má théim 'na choilleadh chraobhaigh 'cruinniú sméara nó cnó
A baint ullaí do ghéaga nó a buachailleacht bó
Má shínim seal uaire faoi chrann a dhéanamh só
Ó caide sin don té sin nach mbaineann sin dó?

Má théimse chuig airnéal 's rince 's spórt
Chuig aonaigh nó rásaí, 's gach cruinniú den tseoirt
Má bhíonn daoine súgach, 's má bhím súgach leo
Ó caide sin don té sin nach mbaineann sin dó?

Deir daoine go bhfuil mé gan rath is gan dóigh
Gan earraí, gan éadal, gan bólacht nó stór
Ach má tá mise sásta mo chónaí i gcró
Ó caide sin don té sin nach mbaineann sin dó?

Chuaigh mé 'un aonaigh 's dhíol mé mo bhó
Ar chúig phunta airgid 's ar ghiní bhuí óir
Má ólaim an t-airgead is má bhronnaim an t-ór
Ó caide sin don té sin nach mbaineann sin dó?

Have fun!