tuireadh

Tuireadh is an Irish Gaelic term commonly translated as lament or elegy. In Irish-language literature and music, tuireadh refers to a mourning piece performed to honor the dead and to reflect on loss. The form has deep roots in traditional Gaelic culture, where poets and musicians voiced communal grief during rituals, commemorations, and moments of collective memory. While the exact boundaries of the genre have varied across periods, tuireadh is generally associated with themes of remembrance, sorrow, and the fragility of life.

In historical contexts, tuireadh figures within the broader tapestry of Gaelic laments and elegiac poetry, where poets would invoke the deceased, lament personal or societal changes, and elicit an emotional response from the audience. The tradition emphasizes expressive mourning as a means of preserving memory and identity within a community.

In contemporary usage, the term remains a literary and musical category within Irish-language works. Authors and composers may use tuireadh as a title or descriptive label for pieces that engage with mourning, national memory, or personal loss. Scholarly discussions of Gaelic laments and elegiac forms frequently reference tuireadh as part of the heritage of Irish poetic and musical expression.

See also: Lament, Elegy in Irish literature, Gaelic poetry, Irish music.