Do Chuala Inné (17ú hAois)

Páidraigín Haicéad

Do chuala inné ag maothlach muinteartha

Mar nuacht scéil ó chéile Choinn is Choirc

Gur duairc le cléir an Ghaeilge ghrinnshlítheach

Suairceas séimh na saorfhear sinseartha

Ní bhuailfead féin i gcléith a gcointinne

Ó chuaigh an ré narbh fhéidir linn friotal

Gach smaoineadh d’éireódh d’éirim m’intinne

Uair fá bhaol faobhar m’intleachta

Fuafaidh mé mo bhéal le sreang fhite

‘S ní luafad réad dá bpléid bhig sprionlaithe

Ach fógraím tréad an chaolraigh chuimsithe

‘S a bhfuath, a Dhé, tar éis mo mhuintire

---

I heard from a decent relative

As news from the wife of Conn and Corc

Joyless to clerics is subtle penetrating Gaelic,

The gentle pleasure of our ancestral men

I will not spring at the flank of their contention

Now that the time we could speak has passed

Every thought rising from the scope of my mind

When my intellect’s edge was to be feared

I will stitch my mouth with a twisted string

And not mention any of their mean wrangling

But make known this congregation of censors

And their hatred, Oh God, for my people