Before you edit: All changes are checked by a moderator before being published to the site and could take a few days.
From a recording of Máire Áine Nic Dhonnchadha on Céirníní ‘Cladagh’ / Cladagh Records. Translation by Seán MacMathghamhna. The following notes are by Seán Ó Baoill: ‘Come live with me and be my love’ A poet invites his lady to an earthly paradise where all is peace, sweetness and prosperity. This characteristic folk-theme, heare as ever, is worked out with more praise of the poet’s local scene than of the lady he invites to live with him. The tye is perhapes best exemplified in Ó Doirnín’s Úr-chnoic Chéin Mhic Cáinte but the song here is less sophisticated and all the more human for that. In Tacar Amhráin (M H MacGuill 1925) the poem is attributed to Séamus Mac Oscair from Beannchor, Iarros, Conndae Mhuigheo (Co Mayo). Séamus, who died in 1847, was the author of several other songs.”
In the videos are two recording by sean-nós singer Mairéad Ní Fhlatharta. Mairéad has a unique and distinctive singing voice, which remains faithful to her people, her native place and to Conamara in general – register, accent and regional variation as well as the impressive repertoire of songs she employs. Her singing first made its appearance on record on just one track (An Buachaillin Muinte) of the live CD of acts from the 1999 staging of Connemara’s annual Cumar arts-school, since which time she’s been studying for a masters degree in traditional music and competing in sean-nós competitions.
Is a Mháire tá díchéile ort mura dté tú liom ‘un a tsléibhe Ná fág anseo liom fhéin mé go huaigneach ins an oíche, Tá do theach mór á dhéanamh faoi sheomraí geala in éadan Agus beidh muid ann go haerach go héag ar bheagán cíos.
Is dá bhfeicfeá barr an tsléibhe nuair a bhíonns an ghrian ag éirí Níl duibheagán sa spéir ann ná gangaid ins an ngaoth. Tá an broc ar thaobh an léanna ann, tá an sionnach rua ar na péaca Tá an giorria ag boc-léimneach le pléisiúr insa bhfraoch.
Tá úth na mba ag pléascadh ag teacht abhaile 'géimneach Nach binn deas ceol na n-éan ann sna gleannta teacht na hoíche Tá an fear 's a bhean in éindí go grámhar lena chéile. Is an seanduine bheadh na céadta bliain níorbh fhada leis a shaol.
Tá coirce bán is eorna ann tá fataí 's rud go leor ann Tá cuireadh ag lucht bóthair ann is tá fáilte roimh gach n-aon Tá O'Reilly seinm cheoil ann, tá fíon tá brandy 's beoir ann I gcomhluadar daoine móra is an t-airgead dhá roinnt.
Tá an stiléara i gcónaí ann is na baraillí á líonadh Tá cead ag clann na ríthe bheith go síoraí ann ag ól Tá an sagart ann is córtha dhá bhfaighfeá-sa in aon deoise Is a Mháire tóg mo chomhairle ó tar is éalaigh liom.
O Máire be wise, come with me to the mountain And leave me not to pine at night all alone; I'm building a fine bright-roomed house for you Where we shall live without a care and little rent to pay.
How grand to see the mountain top at sunrise; No cloud in the sky, no venom in the air, The badger in the meadow, the fox on the peak And the hare leaping for joy in the heather.
At evening, cows come lowing home, udder-ripe for milking; Birds sing sweetly from the glen at nightfall; Man and wife live happily together there Abd the old do not weary of being old.
Oats and barley grow there, potatoes and all other plants too; The traveller is invited and all are welcome; O'Reilly plays music there; there's brandy, wine and beer there for goodly company with money flowing free.
The still is ever working and barrels ever filling; Princes and nobles come and drink there; The nicest priest you'll find is there; ó Máire heed me, and come along with me.
SongsInIrish.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com or amazon.co.uk.