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The origin of the slow air is quite disputed. Some say it was written in the early 1800s by Robert Tanahill of Paisley, Scotland. However, the use of the word “buachaill” as “young man” in Irish suggests that this song may be Irish in origin, since in Scottish Gaelic the word means “shepherd”.
The River Erne (Irish: An Éirne), in the northwest of Ireland flowing through several Ulster counties, rises in Beaghy Lough, two miles south of Stradone in County Cavan and flows 64 miles through Lough Gowna, Lough Oughter and Upper and Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, to the sea at Ballyshannon, County Donegal. The Erne is virtually littered with ancient ruins both Christian and Pagan. Boa Island is the home of one of most interesting pre-Christian statues in Ireland and Inismacsaint has, what is reputed to be, the oldest large stone cross in Ireland.
In the videos are two covers by Clannad and The Corrs. Clannad are an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal. Their music has been variously described as bordering on folk and folk rock, traditional Irish, Celtic and New Age, often incorporating elements of an even broader spectrum of smooth jazz and Gregorian chant. The Corrs are an Irish band which combine pop rock with traditional Celtic folk music. The brother and sisters are from Dundalk, Ireland. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea (lead vocals, tin whistle); Sharon (violin, vocals); Caroline (drums, piano, bodhrán, vocals); and Jim (guitar, piano, vocals).
“At first glance, it would seem to be a bragart’s song and rather insulting to the poor girl to whom it is sung. However, if you consider all the attributes claimed by the man in the song to actually be the exact opposites of his actual place in life, then you can see how ‘tongue-in-cheek’, flirtatious and teasing the song really is!”
Buachaill ón Éirne mé 's bhréagfainn féin cailín deas óg. Ní iarrfainn bó spré léithe tá mé féin saibhir go leor. 'S liom Corcaigh 'a mhéid é, dhá thaobh a' ghleanna 's Tír Eoghain. 'S mura n-athraí mé béasaí 's mé n' t-oidhr' ar Chontae Mhaigh Eo.
Rachaidh mé 'márach a dhéanamh leanna fán choill Gan choite, gan bád, gan gráinnín brach' ar bith liom Ach duilliúr na gcraobh mar éideadh leapa os mo chionn 'S óró sheacht mh'anam déag thú 's tú 'féachaint orm anall.
Buachailleacht bó, mo lao, nár chleacht mise ariamh Ach ag imirt 's ag 'ol 's le hógmhná deasa fá shliabh Má chaill mé mo stór ní dóigh* gur chaill mé mo chiall A's ní mó liom do phóg ná'n bhróg atá'r caitheamh le bliain.
A chuisle 's a stór ná pós an seanduine liath Ach pós a' fear óg, mo lao, mur' maire sé ach bliain Nó beidh tú go fóill gan ó nó mac os do chionn A shilfeadh a'n deor tráthnóna nó'r maidin go trom.
I'm a boy from the Erne and I could charm a nice young girl. I would not ask for her wealth as I am rich enough myself. I own Cork, as big as it is, two sides of the glen, and Tyrone. And not to repeat myself, I'm the heir of County Mayo.
I will go tomorrow to make ale in the wood Without a cot, without a boat, without a pinch of gruel with me But leaves of the branches as bedclothes over my head And O! good for you! and you looking across at me.
A cowherd, my pet, I've never been accustomed to be But playing and drinking and (being) with nice young women on the mountain Even though I lost my wealth it's not as though I lost my senses And your kiss is no more to me now than a shoe worn for a year.
My darling and my love don't marry the grey old man But marry a young man, my pet, if he only lives but a year Or you will be without a descendant to succeed you Who would shed their tears heavily at eve or at morn.
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