The Irish Lament That Survived Time | Amhrán na Leabhar | Celtic Fiddle & Ancient Greek Lyre |

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Ἡμῖν δ’ οὐ βιαστέον τύχην.
It is not for us to force the will of fortune.
— Euripides (traditionally credited)

Amhrán na Leabhar is a lament for lost books, not simple possessions, but manuscripts that carried one of the last living links to the literary and historical soul of Ireland, a nation shaped by time and hardship.
Written by Tomás Rua Ó Súilleabháin, a hedge-school master who taught in secret to keep Ireland’s language, history, and song alive, the poem arose from personal tragedy. When he moved to Portmagee for a new teaching post, he sent his most treasured books by boat. The vessel sank in a sudden storm, taking with it his life’s work and a fragile inheritance of a people. Out of this loss came Amhrán na Leabhar.
In this performance, the Irish lament meets the ancient voice of the Greek lyre; two traditions shaped by endurance and time. Featuring Órna Loughnane on Celtic fiddle and vocals, with Theodore Koumartzis on the Lyre of Orpheus and Eleni Sinjari on the Lyre of Thamyris, both handcrafted in Greece by the Koumartzis family.

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🎞️ A SEIKILO Original
A music film by Nikolaos Koumartzis, D.Phil.
Filming & color grading by Yiannis Karakatsianis
Audio mix by Evagoras Bekiaris

🎙️ About Órna Loughnane
Órna is a classical violinist and piano teacher, born in Melbourne and raised in Dublin before continuing her musical studies in Vienna, where she worked as a professional violinist. While raising her children, she discovered her true calling in early childhood education, teaching English and music through singing — a practice rooted in the Irish traditional songs she learned from her mother.
Meeting Eleni Tzimkas and Theodoros Koumartzis introduced Órna to the ancient Greek lyre. She was immediately drawn to its authenticity and the resonance of Greek song, whose sound reminded her of both the ancient Gaelic tones of her heritage and the musical traditions she encountered growing up in the culture of Aboriginal Australia.

🎙️ About Theodore Koumartzis
Theodore is the youngest brother of the Koumartzis family. Being part of the family's endeavor since its early stage, he soon came to be an inspiring top-notch lyre player, constantly learning and experimenting with musicians around the world.
He is the founder of the PAUSIS Project, a curator at the SEIKILO Museum of Ancient Music in Greece (Thessaloniki), and an integral part of LUTHIEROS Music Instruments.
🌱 Listen to Theodore's music at    • Ancient Lyre on Mount Olympus - "Awake" by...  

🎙️ About Eleni Eljona Sinjari
Eljona – Eleni Sinjari is a versatile artist with studies on piano and vocals. With participation in many festivals, recordings and activities from classical music orchestras and chamber music ensembles (as pianist), book presentations (as composer and singer), children & mixed choirs (as conductor, accompanist, and choral arranger), vocal ensembles (as a vocalist and acapella arranger), theatrical performance (as actor and singer) as well as large jazz and rock's scenes (as singer and keyboard player).
She collaborates with the Contemporary Conservatory of Music in Thessaloniki, the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, and the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamaria, where she teaches piano, choir lessons, acapella groups, and chamber music.

🎶 Original Lyrics in Irish (Gaeilge) and in English

Go Cuan Bhéil Inse casadh mé
By Valentia Harbour I happened once

Cois Góilín aoibhinn Dairbhre
Near sweet Goleen Dairbhre

Mar a seoltar flít na farraige
Where ships set sail

Thar sáile i gcéin.
For the ocean deep.

I Portmagee do stadas seal,
In Portmagee, I stayed for a while,

Fé thuairim intinn maitheasa
with a good intention

D'fhonn bheith sealad eatarthu
to stay a while

Mar mháistir léinn.
Among them as a teacher.

Is gearr gur chuala an eachtara
The incident was soon heard of

Ag cách mo léan!
To all my sorrows!

Gur i mBord Eoghain Fhinn do chailleathas
That all on board Eoghain Fín

An t-árthach tréan
The mighty vessel was lost

Do phreab mo chroí le hatuirse
Throbbed my heart with pain

I dtaobh loinge an taoisigh chalma
for the ship that failed;

Go mb'fhearrde an tír í 'sheasamh seal
Better for this land (Éire) had it not set sail

Do ráib an tséin.
And survived the gale.

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