Caiptín na hÉireann - Mícheál Ó hInnéirghe


Recording: [Download audio file] [Download AIFF audio file (of processed ‘user’ version)] [Download AIFF audio file (of archive version)]

Transcript

Caiptín mise a bhí in Éirinn a...
Caiptín mise a bhí in Éirinn,
Chaith mé mo théarma ar loing,
Bhaininnse scil as na spéarthaí
Agus (chomhairfinn) na réaltaí liom.
Gheobhfainn bean óg ar an tsaol seo
A shiúilfeadh ar... A shínfeadh a taobh gheal liom,
Nach rachainnse anonn go Júméice dhaoithe
I gcoinne lucht tae agus rum.

Translation

I am a captain who was in Ireland...
I am a captain who was in Ireland,
I did my time on a ship,
I could read the skies with skill
And count the stars (?).
I could get a young woman in this life
Who would walk... Who would stretch her bright side beside me,
Wouldn't I go over to Jamaica for her
To those who make tea and rum.

Commentary

These lines are from the song 'Is gearr ó rinne mé an pósadh'. Micheál Ó Tiománaidhe published a version of this song in Abhráin Ghaedhilge an Iarthair (Dublin, 1906). See new edition by William Mahon: Amhráin Ghaeilge an Iarthair: Micheál Ó Tiománaidhe a chruinnigh (Indreabhán, 1992), no. 32. Ó Tiománaidhe states that he collected the song from Pádraig Breathnach, Belmullet, county Mayo. The song is told from the point of view of a pleasant sea-captain who, according to Ó Tiománaidhe, carried cargo from Spain to Erris, county Mayo (see Amhráin Ghaeilge an Iarthair, 55-6). A recording of Frank McGinty singing a fuller version of this song can be heard elsewhere in the Doegen collection.

Title in English: The captain of Ireland
Digital version published by: Doegen Records Web Project, Royal Irish Academy

Description of the Recording:

Speaker: Mícheál Ó hInnéirghe from Co. Mayo
Person who made the recording: Karl Tempel
Organizer and administrator of the recording scheme: The Royal Irish Academy
In collaboration with: Lautabteilung, Preußische Staatsbibliothek (now Lautarchiv, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)
Recorded on 09-09-1930 at 11:30:00 in University College, Galway. Recorded on 09-09-1930 at 11:30:00 in University College, Galway.
Archive recording (ID LA_1111g2, from a shellac disk stored in Galway) is 00:26 minutes long. Archive recording (ID LA_1111g2, from a shellac disk stored in Galway) is 00:26 minutes long.
User recording (ID LA_1111g2, from a shellac disk stored in Galway) is 00:23 minutes long. User recording (ID LA_1111g2, from a shellac disk stored in Galway) is 00:23 minutes long.