Transcript

Ó, a Mháire óg na gcian (do mhór-chuimrí) Dia,
Ná hísligh is ná hardaigh, ná fuiling mé i bpian,
Gluais liom faoin tsliabh san áit a (gcodlaíonn) an fia,
Ó, sna gleanntaí ag déanamh lionn dubh, ó, is gur leat a chaill mé mo chiall.

Gheofainn go leor, lucht síodaí agus sróil,
An muislín ag dul le gaothaigh is an fáinne buí óir,
Ní leofa a bhím ag (gabháil) ach leat, ó, a mhíle stór,
A (cheolshearc) an Iarla Antroim, ó, is tú an brainse fionn óir.

Translation

Oh, young Mary of the sorrows (...),
Don't lower and don't raise, don't let me remain in pain,
Go with me to the mountain where the deer sleeps(?),
To the glens in sorrow, oh! it is you who caused me to loose my sense.

I could get plenty, people of silk and satin,
Muslin blowing in the wind and the ring of yellow gold,
It is not with(?) them I (...) but with(?) you, my darling,
O love(?) of the Earl of Antrim, oh, you are the fair golden branch.

Commentary

This love song appears under several different names in various publications, including: 'Máire Óg na gCliabhann', 'Máire Óg na gCian', 'Bríghid Óg na gCiabh', 'Bríghid Nic Dhómhnaill' and 'The Fourth Song for Bridget Cruise'. Seven verses, including two similar to those sung on the present recording, were published in Micheál Ó Tiománaidhe, Abhráin Ghaedhilge an Iarthair (Dublin, 1906), no. 13. See new edition by William Mahon: Amhráin Ghaeilge an Iarthair (Indreabhán, 1992), 27. Patrick Lynch collected versions of the song in the early nineteenth century. See Colette Moloney, The Irish music manuscripts of Edward Bunting 1773-1843: an introduction and catalogue (Dublin, 2000), 208, 223, 283. Edward Bunting published a melody entitled 'Máire Óg na gCliabh' in The ancient music of Ireland (Dublin, 1840), 49. Some manuscript versions attribute this song to the celebrated bardic harper Turlough Carolan (1670–1738) and it is sometimes entitled 'The Fourth Song for Bridget Cruise'. See Donal O'Sullivan, Carolan (2 vols, London, 1958), vol. 1, 180. It appears as 'Bríghid Óg na gCiabh' in Tomás Ó Máille, Amhráin Chearbhalláin (London, 1915), 233. Other authorities attribute it to the poet Séamas Mac Cuarta (c.1650–1732/3). See Lorcán Ó Muireadhaigh, Amhráin Sheumais Mhic Chuarta: an cheud chuid, (Dundalk, 1925), 80-2. For further discussion see Donal O'Sullivan, Carolan, vol. 2, 21-2, and Donal O'Sullivan and Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Bunting’s ancient music of Ireland (Cork, 1983), 105-6.