Song Fragments (1906)
Collected by the Gaelic Revival Association of Ottawa, Ontario
In the accounts of the society, a few fragments of songs known to the members were recorded, possibly coming from their manuscripts, showing some variants from the now-accepted standards.
Anois ar dTeacht an Earraigh
Anois ar dteact an earraigh beidh an lá síneadh
Anois ar dteact na Féil’ Bríde ‘s ea tógfad mo cheol,
Ó chuir mé in mo cheann é ní stopfaidh mé choíche
Go seasfaidh mé siar i lár Chontae Mhaigh Eo
Now on the coming of Spring the day will be lengthening
Now on the coming of St. Brigid’s Day I will take up my music
Since I put it in my head I will not stop henceforth
Until I stand back in the middle of County Mayo.
Aisling Sheáin Mhic Domhnaill
I go to the dwelling of Mac Lir of the mounds
To the Red Branch, and I go to Tara
To the dwelling of Cnoc Fhírinn, beautiful, cold,
And Red Aoibhill beside the craigs
Téim go sí Mhic Lir na gcruach,
Go Craoibh Rua, ‘s téim go Teamhair;
Go sí Chnoc Fhírinn, aoibhinn, fhuar,
‘S Aoibhill Rua le taoibh na créige;
There was one hundred young women of gentlest form
Listening to music and making in,
In the company of Aoibhill and the royalty of Thomond
And one thousand bright champions with weapons!
Bhi céad bean óg, ba séimhe cló,
Ag éisteas ceoil ‘s ag déanamh istigh,
I bhfochair Aoibhill ‘s ríora Thuadh-Mhumhain,
‘S míle gruagach glé le gaisgí!
Bánchnoic Éireann Óighe!
Bear a blessing from my heart to the land of Ireland
The white hills of beautiful Ireland
Where survives the descendants of Ír and Éibhir
In the white hills of beautiful Ireland
The place where there is the sweet voice of birds
As a gentle harp remembering the Gaels
It is my case to be one thousand miles away
From the white hills of beautiful Ireland.
Beir beannacht óm chroí go tír na hÉireann
Bánchnoic aoibhinn Éireann,
Chun a maireann do shíolra Ír is Éibhir
I mbánchnoic aoibhinn Éireann,
An áit ionárbh aoibhinn binn guth éan,
Mar shámhchruit chaoin ag cuimhne Gael;
‘Sé mo chás a bheith míle míle i gcéin,
Ó bhánchnoic aoibhinn Éireann.
He is ringleted, luxuriant, tressed, curly
Dark Uileacán oh!
Each warrior that moves from the harbours of Ireland
Dark Uileacán oh!
I will go on a visit, if permanent my life be,
To the land of pleasantness as would be natural for your life to be,
It would be better than your duty however great the boast be,
On the white hills of holy Ireland!
Is bachallach, buacach, dualach, droimnach
Uileacán dubh o!
Gach faraire a ghluaiseas ó chuantaibh na hEireann,
Uileacán dubh o!
Raghadsa ar cuairt, más buan mo shaol bheas,
Go talamh an tsuaircis mar ar dual do shaol bheith,
Dob fhearr liom ná bhur ndualgas cé mór le maíomh bheith,
Ar bhánchnoic Éireann ó!
Source: Gaelic Revival Association of Ottawa. 1906. Ottawa University Review. Various.
For citation, please use: Gaelic Revival Association of Ottawa. 1906. “Song Fragments.” Ó Dubhghaill, Dónall. 2024. Na Gaeil san Áit Ró-Fhuar. Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir: www.gaeilge.ca
