Transcript

Bláth bán na n-airní do bhíonns ag fás i dtús an tsamhraidh
Agus na faoileáin bhoga bhána do bhíonns ag snámh ins na gleanntaí,
Mar bheadh an ghrian os cionn tráighe nó an dealramh ag goil timpeall,
Is mar siúd a bhíonns mo ghrá bán ag déanamh rámhailtí in m'intinn.

Éireoidh mé amárach, ó, le bán an lae ghléigil
Agus bhéarfaidh mé an chuairt seo amach suas fó na sléibhtí,
Óra, fágfaidh mé mo chuanbheannacht ag buachaillí an tsaoil seo
'S a dheamhan a bhfillfidh anuas daoim nó go ngairfidh an chuach ins gach uile réigiún.

Translation

The white blossom of the sloe which grows at the start of summer
And the soft white seagulls who swim in the glens,
Like the sun above the beach or the radiance going round,
That is how my bright love goes making dreams in my head.

I will get up tomorrow, oh, at the bright break of day
And I will take this course out up into the hills,
Oh, I will bid my fond farewell to the boys of this world
And I won't return down again until the cuckoo calls in every region.

Commentary

These verses appear in some versions of other love songs, including: 'Séamas Ó Murchú' (see Proinnsias Ní Dhorchaí, Clár amhrán an Achréidh (Dublin, 1974), 21), 'Mainistir na Buaile' and 'Taimín Bán Ó Luaithre' (see Ríonach Ní Fhlathartaigh, Clár amhrán Bhaile na hInse (Dublin, 1976), 43, 151). A four-verse version of the song 'Éireoidh mé Amáireach' (see Clár amhrán an Achréidh, 30) begins with the two verses sung here in reverse order. Interestingly, the fourth verse of 'Éireoidh mé Amáireach' is also sung as part of the song 'Mainistir na Buaille'. The sean-nós singer Seán 'ac Dhonncha sings a version of 'Mainistir na Buaille' on An spailpín fánach (Cló Iar-Chonnacht, 1994) where the lyrics of the third verse are closely related to the first verse sung here by Ó Maoilchiaráin.