1026

Peadar Ó Doirnín (c. 1700-69) A popular form of love song in Irish is the invitation the poet gives to his lover to come and enjoy the beauties of nature and solitude with him. This song by Peadar Ó Doirnín is one of the best examples we have. Some versions also include the earthy rejection of the last verse, which is in contrast to the romantic terms of the invitation.) The hill or fort of Cian Mac Cáinte, hero of the tale 'The Death of the Sons of Tuireann', lies about two miles north-west of Dundalk, Co. Louth. Peadar Ó Doirnín was a hedge school master in South Armagh. The poem is sung to another tune, and it is credited to a different composer, we hear. http://www.standingstones.com/harppoem5.html A phlúr na maighdean is úire gné ... Chosen maiden, face full of coolness Fuair clú le scéimh ón Ádhamhchlainn ... Adam's descendents praise your beauty A chúil na bpéarla, a rún na héigse ... Your tresses, my pearl, heart of poetry A dhúblaíos féile is fáilte ... And your forever generous heart A ghnúis mar ghréin le tús gach lae ghil ... Your face like the sun at a luminous dawn A mhúchas léan le gáire ... That drowns all sadness with laughter 'Sé an trua gan mé is tú, a shiúir, linn féin ... What a pity, my love, that we're not together Sa dún sin Chéin Mhic Cáinte In the fort of Cian Mac Cáinte Táim brúite i bpéin gan suan gan néall ... The pain depresses me and I can't sleep De do chumha, a ghéag is áille ... Because of your beauty, the beauty of your limbs Is gur tó mo rogha i gCúigibh Éireann ... And you are my chosen of all of the provinces of Ireland Cúis nach séanam áthas de ... Which I cannot deny Dá siúlfá, a réalta gan smúid, liom féin ... Oh star without blemish, if you'd come with me Ba shúgach saor ár sláinte ... How happy we'd be, how vigorous Gheobhair plúr is méad is cnuasach craobh ... I'd bring you flour, mead and berries Sa dún sin Chéin Mhic Cáinte ... To the fort of Cian Mac Cáinte A shuairc-bhean tséimh na gcuachfholt péarlach ... Pleasant woman of the resplendent tresses Gluais liom fhéin ar ball beag ... Come at once to live with me Nuair a bheas uaisle is cléir is tuataí i néal ... When the nobles, the clergy and the peasants Ina suan faoi éadai bána ... Are all asleep in their beds Ó thuaidh go mbeam i bhfad uatha araon ... We'll be far to the north of all of them Teacht nuachruth gréine amárach ... When the first rays of the sun break the morning Gan ghuais le chéile in uaigneas aerach ... And happily isolated, we'll have no worries San dún sin Chéin Mhic Cáinte ... In the fort of Cian Mac Cáinte Other verses Cluinfir uaill na ngadhar ar luas i ndéidh Bhriain luaimnigh bearnaigh mhásaigh is fuaim guth béilbhinn cuach is smaolach go suairc ar ghéaga in altaibh; i bhfuarlinn tséimh chífir slua-bhuíon éisc ag ruagadh a chéile ar snámh ann, 's an cuan go léir dhuit uait igcéin ó nua-chnoc Chéin mhic Cáinte. You'll hear the dogs bark as they follow the strong running hare, and the sweet-voiced singing of cuckoo and thrush merrily on branches in the glens; in a smooth cold lake you'd see a host of fish as they chase each other in swimming and the sea in front of you, far away from the fresh hill of Cian Mac Cáinte. (An Cailín) (The girl answers) Beir uaim do phléid cé gur luaigh tú céad ní — Nós a bhfuil spéis ag a lán ann — Is an duais is fearr nó uallaí séad Níor chuala mé thú ag trácht air; Tuatha saora, buaibh is caoraigh, Is cruacha péarlaí i bpálais Mar luach ní ghéabhainn uait is gan gléas In am suain le ndéantar páiste. Away with your whining, though you mention a hundred things— a habit many people have— but the prize that is better than heaps of treasure I did not hear you talk about; I wouldn't accept noble lands, cattle, and sheep, or piles of pearls in palaces from you if you had no instrument to make a child at bedtime. Úrchnoc Chéin Mhic Cáinte - The Lover's Invitation I [Geantraí 2007] www.tg4.ie subs en

celtic, celt, irish, ireland, ceol, gaelic, gael, gaeilge, folk, eire, new, age, traditional, world,