Transcript

Ag bun Ros na Coille ar thitim don drúcht aréir
Do dhearcas ainnirbhean mhaiseamhail mhodhúil deas shéimh
Do ritheas 'na coinnibh le taitneamh agus grá dá scéimh
Sé dúirt sí, "(Airiú, a dhuine), (...) mé?"

D'fhiosraíos den ainnirbhean mhaiseamhail mhodhúil deas shéimh,
"An maireann do (dhuine) nó ar mhiste leat gabháil liom féin?"
D'fhreagair sí go gliste gur milis dom chomhrá béil
Go gcaithfinnse imirt i gcluiche (na gcárta) léi.

Do luíomair ar imirt, (is ní ligeadh liom áireamh) léi
An t-aon mar a chuireann, mar a chuirinn leis an gcuireata (...)
Do bhuaigh sise an cluiche, is milis a dúrtsa léi
Ní hamhail duit mise ó chailleas-sa (lúth na ngéag).

A shéimhfhir gan tsealbh ná tagair sin liom go fóill
Ach tar liom abhaile, gheobhair beathuisce agus fíon ag bord
(Léas ar tí leatharainn), taitneamh gan chíos go deo
(In aon) (...) caite, airiú, geallaim arís (...).

Translation

At the foot of Rossnakilla when the dew was falling last night
I saw a nice beautiful mild gentle maiden
I ran towards her with fondness and love for her appearance
What she said was, "So, my good man (?), (...)."

I asked of the nice beautiful mild gentle maiden,
"Does your man(?) live or would you take up with me?"
She answered cleverly that my conversation was sweet
That I would have to play a game of cards(?) with her.

We started playing, she wouldn't let me count with her (?)
The ace as is placed... as I placed it with the jack(...)
She won the game, and I told her sweetly
I'm no use to you (?) since I lost the use of my limbs (?).

Gentle man without possessions don't mention that to me yet
But come home with me, you will get whiskey and wine at the table
A lease on half a house (?), enjoyment without burden forever
In one (...) spent, oh, I promise again (...).

Commentary

The song recited here was published by Pádraig Breathnach in his Fuínn na Smól, Part 6 (Dublin, 1913), 5, and in his Ceól ár sínsear (Dublin, 1923), 28-9. He printed four verses, alongside tonic-solfa notation of the air. It has since appeared in other publications, some of which credit Breathnach as their source. For example: Carl Hardebeck, Amhráin na h-óige, Part 2 (Dublin, 1927-9), 11-12, and The Department of Education, Cuisle an cheoil (BÁC, 1976), 66-7. A sean-nós rendition of it by Máire Ní Cheocháin Uí Chrualaoi of Cúil Aodha, county Cork, appears on Cú-cú-ín (Acadamh Fodhla, 2006). It is also sung by Éilís Ní Shúilleabháin on Amhráin rithimiúla (Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, 1991).