Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Coaineadh Na Dtrí Muire - Lament Of The Three Marys
This is one of the oldest known songs written in the Irish language, dating back to the 5th or 6th century. It's earthy and spiritual sounds are from the ancient Irish tradition of 'keening' - or lamenting at funerals, often carried out by women with a highly ornamented and emotional delivery.
This Sean-nós (old style) song is characterised by it's unaccompanied, ornamented and expressive nature, through which the sorrow of the grieving souls can be felt. Although the original melody for this song has been lost, this version is widely known and deeply rooted in history, having been passed down orally over generations of Irish people.
The Lament Of The Three Marys is often sung during Easter at religious ceremonies in the west of Ireland, as it recounts the crucifixion of Christ and the grief of the Virgin Mary, who laments the death and suffering of her son.
The lyrics are a form of conversation between Mary Magdalene, Mary of Cleophas and the Virgin Mary and it's one of the few surviving songs to come from the transition between Paganism and Catholicism in Ireland.
Learn to play it on tin whistle with my free YouTube tutorial at CutiePieTinWhistle.
#beautifulirishmusic #irishmusic #keening #lament #tinwhistle #irishtinwhistle
Coaineadh Na Dtrí Muire - Lament Of The Three Marys
This is one of the oldest known songs written in the Irish language, dating back to the 5th or 6th century. It's earthy and spiritual sounds are from the ancient Irish tradition of 'keening' - or lamenting at funerals, often carried out by women with a highly ornamented and emotional delivery.
This Sean-nós (old style) song is characterised by it's unaccompanied, ornamented and expressive nature, through which the sorrow of the grieving souls can be felt. Although the original melody for this song has been lost, this version is widely known and deeply rooted in history, having been passed down orally over generations of Irish people.
The Lament Of The Three Marys is often sung during Easter at religious ceremonies in the west of Ireland, as it recounts the crucifixion of Christ and the grief of the Virgin Mary, who laments the death and suffering of her son.
The lyrics are a form of conversation between Mary Magdalene, Mary of Cleophas and the Virgin Mary and it's one of the few surviving songs to come from the transition between Paganism and Catholicism in Ireland.
Learn to play it on tin whistle with my free YouTube tutorial at CutiePieTinWhistle.
#beautifulirishmusic #irishmusic #keening #lament #tinwhistle #irishtinwhistle
