Transcript

Cloisim le spás beag go bhfuil an ráfal so fíor,
Ar an dtaobh thoir do Dhóinneach go bhfuil ceol ann is (spraoi)[1],
Tá buachaillín óg ann go bhfuil eolgaiseach (binn)
Is é ag cailliúint a shláinte i ndiaidh Máire an Chúil Bhuí.

Nuair a ghabhaimse na cóngair trí Dhóinneach anonn
Is dóigh liom gach neomat mo stór do chím chugham,
Do bhfearr liom bheith báite nó tráite sa toinn
Nuair ná faighim in aon áit romham mo Mháire an Chúil Bhuí.

Translation

I hear for a while now that this chatter is true,
That there is music and sport on the east side of Dóinneach,
There's a young boy there who is learned and sweet(?)
And he is losing his health after golden-haired Mary.

When I head over on the way through Dóinneach
Every minute I think I see my beloved coming towards me,
I would rather be drowned or going out with the wave
When I don't find my golden-haired Mary anywhere before me.

Footnotes

Commentary

This love song appears in Breandán 'ac Gearailt, An blas Muimhneach II (Howth, 2010), 355-6. According to 'ac Gearailt, it was composed by Murtí Learraí Ó Súilleabháin, a carpenter in Dóinneach. The subject of the song, Máire an Chúil Bhuí ('Máire of the Fair Hair'), worked in a public house in the town and would later marry Seán Ó Síocháin of Cuas na gCoileach and settle in Kenmare, county Kerry. The verses sung on the present recording correspond to the first and fourth verses published in 'ac Gearailt's ten-verse version. It is not to be confused with the song 'Máire Dheas na Gruaige Báine' (Énrí Ó Muirgheasa, Dhá chéad de cheoltaibh Uladh (Dublin, 1934), 70), or 'Máire An Chúil Óir Bhuí' as sung by Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill on Mairéad Ní Dhomhnaill (Gael-Linn, 1976).