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THis is one of Ireland’s oldest love songs and variants of it are to be found in the Kerry, Connemara, and Donegal Gaeltacht regions. This is a love song from a woman’s perspective full of beauty and emotion. It is among the most poetic effusions of the Gaelic tradition. In this song the girl is broken hearted because the boy with whom she is love has left her for another, and gone to the castle of the O’Neills. She is grief stricken as he has not only broken his promises to her but has also betrayed her child.
In the first video is a nice rendition by Máirín Uí Chéide. Mairin was born in July, 1958 in Leitirmoir, the heart of the rural Conamara Gaeltacht, like other rural places in Ireland except that Irish was spoken by almost everyone except those in authority or the professions. Most of the food came from the surrounding land, with farm neighbors fishing for supplemental income and food. Surrounded there by a strong oral tradition, it seems to Mairin that she has been singing all of her life. When she was growing up, Radio Éireann and the “Céilí House” program in particular were very popular, all in Irish, as was a drama program. Her earliest radio recollection is of an announcement of the death of the American President Kennedy.
Céad slán don oíche aréir, 's é mo léan gan í anocht ina tús Leis an mbuachaillín spéiriúil a bhréagadh mé seal ar a ghlúin Chuir tú orm an t-éileamh, a mhíle grá bán, ach ní leatsa mo rún Mar céad faraor géar, tá na sléibhte 'dhul idir mé 's tú.
'S tá an gairdín seo in' fhásach, a ghrá geal, 's tá mise liom féin 'S tá gach pabhsae a' fás ann níos breáchta ná a bhfaca tú riamh Níor cluineadh ceol cláirsí 'dhul 'niar an tsráid seo ná ceol binn na n-éan Ó d'éalaigh mo ghrá uaim, an chraobh álainn, go Caisleán Uí Néill.
'S i gCaisleán Uí Néill 'tá an té úd 'bhain díomsa mo chlú Is a shamhail níl le fáil a'm ach an réalt eolais thar an mbaile údan thall Ba mhilse liom blas a phóigín ná an rós ar a dtagann an bláth Is le cumha i ndiaidh mo stóirín ní beo mé ach tamaillín gearr.
'S cén fáth, a mhíle grá bán, i dtús an tsamhraidh nach dtiocfása ar cuairt Anuas ins na gleanntáin nó ar oileán ina nglaonn an chuach Ba, caoirigh ná gamhna ní shantóinn féin leat iad mar spré Ach mo láimh faoi do cheannsa 's cead comhrá go huair a dó dhéag.
A hundred farewells to last night, and my sorrow it's not starting anew With the handsome young fellow who beguiled me awhile on his knee You placed your claim on me, O my fair love, but I'm not meant for you For, a hundred sharp sorrows, the mountains lie between you and me.
This garden is growing wild, my bright love, and I am alone And every flower is growing, fairer than you ever saw No harp-song was heard along this road, nor the sweet songs of birds Since he left me, my love, that fair scion, for Caisleán Uí Néill.
In Caisleán Uí Néill is the one who has spoiled my fame And I can only compare him to the North Star above yonder town The taste of his kisses was sweeter than roses in bloom And with sorrow for my darling, I'll have only a short while to live.
And why, O my fair love, in early summer don't you come to me Down into the glens or an island where the cuckoo sings Cows, sheep or goats I'd not ask as a dowry for you Just my hand in yours and the freedom to be talking till twelve.
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