Rosc Catha Bhriain i gCluain Tairbh
Ansin d’ardaigh sé a ghlór agus sheinn a ghuth mar a sheinnfeadh fuaim adhairce, i dtreo gur airíodh agus gur tuigeadh an uile fhocal uaidh ó cheann ceann den mhórshlua:
Then he raised his voice and utterance sounded out as would sound out the noise of a bugle horn, in the manner that every word from his was perceived and understood by each one of the great host:
“Féach ansiúd iad!” ar seisean, ag síneadh a chlaíomh i dtreo na Lochlannach, “cruinnithe os bhur gcomhair. Tá rian bhur lámh go daingean cheana orthu. Ní thugann sa chiall dóibh. Is minic le fiche bliain a chuireabhairse anfa agus teitheadh agus ár agus deargruathar orthu, ar fud réite agus gleannta agus machairí Éireann. Is mór dá gcuid fola agus feola atá ag cur geamhair agus féir ghlais ag fás in Éirinn inniú. Go dtí seo ba chuma iad nó corrmhíola; dá mhéid a maraítí dhíobh ní samhlaítí easnamh ná laghad orthu.
“See them there!” he said, stretching his sword in the direction of the Norse, “gathered before you. The trace of your hand already intensely upon them. They do not give in to sense. It is often in the twenty years that you put terror and flight and slaughter upon them, through the level grounds and valleys and plains of Ireland. It is much of their blood and meat that is causing springing oats and green grass to grow in Ireland today. Until this they were the same as midges; however many were killed of them, a lessening or weakening of them could not be imagined.
Is fada sinn cráite acu, iad ag faire ar ár gcuanta agus ar ár mbailte poirt, ag preabadh chughainn isteach nuair nach mbíodh coinne leo, ag bradaíl agus ag sciobadh agus ag coscairt. Is minic a ligeadh as iad agus an chroch tuillte acu. B’é a mbuíochas teacht arís agus feall ní ba mheasa a dhéanamh. An fada a cuirfear suas leis an obair sin? Is dócha gur dóigh leo go ligfear as inniú iad mar a ligeadh chomh minic cheana. Bíodh sin de dhearmad orthu, a chlann ó! Ní rachaidh fear insinte scéil ar ais abhaile dhíobh.
It is long that we are tormented by them, them keeping watch over our harbours and over our port towns, rushing in towards us when they were unexpected, raiding and plundering and slaughtering. It is often that they were allowed to escape though the noose deserved by them. It was their thanks to come again and a worse betrayal to make. Is it long that this work will be put up with? It is likely that they think that they will be allowed to escape today like they were allowed so often before. Let that be their mistake, oh children oh! No man to tell the story will go back home from them.
Níor cuireadh fios orthu. Thánadar uathu féin. Is minic a dúradh leo go dtiocfaidís agus nach n-imeoidís. Déantar deimhin inniú dhe dhóibh. Cad a thug siad? An amhlaidh a cheapadar nach raibh éinne ina chónaí san oileán seo? Má rinne siad dearmad bíodh orthu féin anois. Tá aon mhaith amháin sa dearmad atá déanta acu.
They were not informed. They came on their own. It is often that it was said to them that they would come and that they wouldn’t leave. That will be made certain today for them. What did they intend? It is thus that they thought that no one was living in this island? If they forgot, let it be upon them now. There is a single benefit in the mistake that they have made.
Thángadar go léir. Féachaígí, a Chlann ó, féach an tsloigisc sin. Tá “an chráin 's a hál go léir” ansin agaibh. Tá a bhfuil beo de chlainn Lochlann ansin agaibh. Tá siad bailithe ansin agaibh ó Bhreatain agus ó Shasana, ó Albain agus aduaidh óna hOileáin, anall ó Mhanainn agus anoir ó chríocha Danmhairge. Níl a thuilleadh ina ndiaidh sa bhaile gur fiú iad a áireamh. Múchaígí an saithe sin inniú agus tá deireadh le réim Lochlann go brách na breithe.
They all came. Look, oh Children oh, look at that rabble. You have “the sow and all her brood” there. You have all that are living of the clans of the Norse there. You have them gathered there from Wales and from England, from Scotland and from the north from the Hebrides, across from the Isle of Man and from the east from the lands of Denmark. There is not more following from home that are worth counting. Extinguish that swarm today and there will be an end with the rule of the Norse until the end of time.
Feicim cuid agaibh ag amharc anonn trasna na páirce sin. Ní ró-mhaith an radharc atá ann le feicsint. Is mairg do Laighnigh agus do Mhac Giolla Phádraig caismirt an lae inniú do sheachaint. Déanfar an gníomh seo gan a gcabhair. Béarfar an bua seo os comhair a súl is gan iad páirteach ann. Beidh sin ina mhasla agus ina ghuth ar a gclú agus ar a gcáil an fhad is a bheidh grian ar spéir agus daoine ar talamh.
I see some of you looking over across that field. It is not too good the view that is to be seen there. It is woe to the people of Leinster and to Mac Giolla Phádraig [king of Ossory] to evade today’s call to arms. This deed will be done without their help. This victory will be brought before their eyes and without them being part of it. That will be to their insult and reproach in conversations about their fame and about their renown for as long as the sun will be in the sky and people will be on the ground.
Tá cuid dár muintir féin amuigh uainn. Ná bac sin. Tá oiread anseo agus socróidh cúntas leis an sloigisc sin thall. Is cúntas fada é. Is mithid é a shocrú. Anois an t-am chuige. Is iad ár namhaid iad. Cad é an lá é seo inniú againn? Inniú an Aoine.”
Some of our own people are out against us. Don’t bother about that. There is enough here and the account will be settled with that riff-raff over there. It is a long reckoning. It is about time that it is settled. Now is the time for it. They are our enemy. What is this day we have today? Today is Good Friday.”
Adapted from: Ó Laoghaire, Peadar. 1907. “Rosc Catha Bhriain i gCluain Tairbh” from Niamh. Brún agus Ó Nuallán: Baile Átha Cliath.
