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A beautiful lament closely associated with Ranafast in the Donegal Gaeltacht. It was written by Seán Bán Mac Grianna about the loneliness and emptiness he felt during the last days of his life. Better known as Seán Bán Fheidhlimí, the youngest of the family, he was an albino (as was his sister Annie Bhán). He was highly regarded as a master of lore and song, and as ollamh of Coláiste Bhríde, a teacher of considerable repute. He wrote many songs, both tune and lyrics, and one of these is ‘Cumhaidh an Fhile’. It was song over Seán Bán’s own grave at his funeral by Liam Ó Conchubhair. -Thanks to Sportymike on YouTube for this comment.
Is cumhaidhiúil thíos fá bhruach na mara, Is gruama an saol is mé liom féin, Gan sólás croí gan comhrá carad, A thógfadh cian domh ’s ’mhúchfadh an léan, Go doimhin san oích’ is mór mo mhearadh, ’Dúil go gcluinfinn ceol na n-éan, Ach mo bhrón níl ann ach tuaim an bharra, ’Gus uaigneas síor fá ghlinnte an aeir.
Níl ceiliúr cuach, níl blátha geala, Teacht an tsamhraidh ann mar ’bhíodh, D’imigh an smaolach, d’imigh an eala, Is tháinig smoladh ar gach craobh, Tá mo chairde gaoil go síor ’na gcodladh, Ins an tseanbhaile, faraor, Is tá mise fágtha fuar fann folamh, Mar each gan srian ag treabhadh an tsaoil.
Ní fheicim bádaí ’gabháil an barra, Ní fheicim daoine amuigh ag snámh, Ní fheicim slóite Domhnach earraigh, Síos fán Bháinsigh mar ba ghnách, D’imigh an spórt as Tóin an Bhaile, D’éag an seandream a bhí sámh, Mo chumhaidh ’na ndiaidh, nach mór an chaill é, Iad bheith scartha uainn mar atá.
Grá mo chroí na laetha fada, ’Chaith mé thíos fá bhruach na trá, Seal ag imirt le mo mhadadh, Seal ag súgradh le mo ghrá, Seal gan ghruaim fá bhruach an easa, ’Féachaint bradán ar an tsnámh, Is a Rí na nDúl, nach trua nach mairfeadh Saol na suáilce dúinn go brách.
The cumhaidhiúil below the edge of the sea, is a bleak life and I own, Without consolation heart without chat buddy, would lift depressed me and 'extinguish the sorrow, Go deep into the night I very much mhearadh, ' Want to hear at music birds, but my grief is just the bar tumulus, and under constant loneliness Glens air.
There propose cuckoo, white flowers there, come the summer there as 'formerly, went the smaolach, left the swan, is on every branch smoladh came, my friends relative to supposedly' asleep, In the Old Town, alas, a weak cold yours is left empty, as unbridled horse plowing all.
I see boats 'engaging the bar, I do not see people out swimming, I do not see Sunday slóite spring, details about Bháinsigh as usual, went out of the sport'd Town, died the old crew was asleep, my grief' after them, the loss is not great, them being separated from us as.
Love my heart these days long, 'I spent below under the shore, Seal playing with my dog, Seal playing with my love, Seal or grief was the bank of the waterfall, ' Watch salmon on the tsnámh, a King of the Elements, that would not last unfortunate Life us joy forever.
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