Seanamhrán

Collected from Micheál Ó Coistealbha, an Spidéal, Co. na Gaillimhe, 1938-39. Preserved through the National Folklore Collection, UCD.

Terrible the farm worker I am at the start of March

I haven’t put in a loy spade for seven years

Terrible is my business with oars

And terrible the slogger I am on sea and on land

I don’t harvest the sheaf but to cut the joint

So that the grain would be shaken from them by the western wind

But definitely oh pretty girl, if you are destined for me

It is long the wandering I will be following you …

Is olc an talmhaí mé i dtús a’ Mhárta,

Níor chaitheas láí ar feadh seacht mblian’

Is olc mo ghraithe-se do mhaide rámha

agus is olc an fadhbálaí mé ar mhuir is ar thír

Ní bhainim punann ach an t-alt a ghearradh

Nó go gcrithfeadh an gráinne astu leis an ngaoth aniar

ach go deimhin a chailín dheas, má's tú atá in ann dhomh

Is fada an fán a bhéas ar do dhiaidh …

… My people are advising me

That I must move to Newfoundland

I am not suited for carrying manure or country work

Nor splitting trees

Nor if it would happen that my beloved and my house were forcibly seized

The cold wouldn’t let me stir from the tiny fire

But if [I had?] a hostel at the foot of the hill

Great would be my rank and I wouldn’t attempt to go overseas

… Tá mo mhuintir mo chomhairle liom

go gcaithfead gluaiseacht go Talamh an Éisc

Níl mé feiliúnach ag iompar aoiligh ná obair thuaithe

Ná ag scoilt na gcrann

Nó dá dtagadh mo stóirín agus mo theach á bhfuadach

Ní ligeadh an fuacht dhom corraí ón splanc

Ach dá mbeadh teach an ósta fé bhun na cruaiche

Ba mhór é mo steidhl ní iarrfainn anonn ann

Adapted from: “The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0063, Page 438” by Dúchas © National Folklore Collection, UCD is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.

For citation, please use: Ó Coistealbha, Micheál. 1938-39. “Seanamhrán.” Ó Dubhghaill, Dónall. 2024. Na Gaeil san Áit Ró-Fhuar. Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir: www.gaeilge.ca