Transcript

Thug mé rúide go mullaigh na Cruaiche
Is an dara rúide ' an tSléibhe Ruaidh,
Ruaig ar an chailín a d'fhág m'intinn buarthaí
(...) mar gheall ar mhnaoi.

Rop mo ghlúine go dtí mo ghuailleacha
Is fuair mé fuagradh glan géar ón bhás,
Níl (aon duine) dár chualaidh mo scéal an lá sin
Nár úirt[1] gur thrua bocht an buachaill bán.

Footnotes

Commentary

These verses are most commonly sung as part of the well-known song 'An Caisideach Bán'. Mary Costello (Galway) and Pádraig Ó Néill (Galway) sing Connacht versions elsewhere in the Doegen collection. Cathal Goan notes that the verses on the present recording and verses from 'An Draighneán Donn' and 'Mailí Mhómhar' are often found together in Donegal, where the song is known as 'An Gaiscíoch Bán' or 'An Buachaill Bán'. See Cathal Goan (ed.), Róise na nAmhrán: songs of a Donegal woman (RTÉ, 1994), 39. Róise Bean Mhic Grianna ('Róise na nAmhrán') sings it under the title 'Dá mBeinn i mo Bhádóir' on the accompanying CD. Éamonn Mac Ruairí (Tory Island) and Áine Uí Laoi (Gaoth Dobhair/Gweedore) sing Donegal versions on Seoda sean-nóis as Tír Chonaill (Cló Iar-Chonnacht, 1996), where introductory notes and texts are provided by Lillis Ó Laoire. Ó Laoire (personal correspondence) notes that in Donegal versions the phrase 'An Buachaill Bán' is most often used instead of 'An Caisideach Bán' (see end of the second verse in the present recording). Altan include a version of the song on Celtic myths (Proper Recording Arts SA, 2002).