Gradam Ceoil TG4 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iarla_Ó_ Lionáird
This beatiful love song came from Peig Donoghue from Baile Mhúirne, and had been almost forgotton in Muskerry until it's revival by Seán Ó Riada in the sixties, when he recorded the tune on Ó Riada's Farewell. Another version of the song arranged for Iarla Ó Lionáird by Peadar Ó Riada later achieved national acclaim.
Aisling gheal do shlad trím néal mé
Is go rabhas-sa tréithlag seal im luí
Is go rabhas i ngleann cois abhann im aonar,
Is go rabhas ag aeraíocht le grá mo chroí.
Go raibh na camthaí Gall agus Gaelach
Is claimhte géara ag uaisle an tsaol,
Ag breith barr áidh is á rá le chéile
Go raibh clann an fhaoit anois le fáil gan mhoill.
Ba ghearr a shamhail dom gur dhearcas Mary,
'Gus gruaig a cinn léi go féar a' fás,
A folt a tíocht mar na réaltainn
Ag titim léise go barr a troighe,
Ag siúl na drúchta de barr an fhéir glais
'S is lúafar éadtrom mar do shiúladh sí,
A dá chíoch chruinne ar a hucht go néata,
A grua mar chaortha, is ba gheal í a píb.
Do bheannaíos-sa do mo chuid i ngaelainn
Is modhail 's maorga do fhreagair sí:
"A plúr na bhfear, mo shlad ná deinse
Mar is maighdean mé nár tháinig d'aois
Dhá dtéadh sa ghreann dúinn clann a dhéanamh,
Is go mbéifeá séantach ins an ghníomh,
Gur gearr ón mbás mé, is go bhfágainn Éire
Im ghóist im aonar bheinn romhat id shlí."
Do leagas mo láimh uirthi go béasach
Ó bhun a stays go dtí barr a troighe,
In aghaidh gach staire go ndeinfinn léi dhi
Go bpógfainn a béilín tlath arís;
Nuair a fuaras-sa dhom gur ghéill sí
Mo chroí do léim mar an éan ar chraoibh;
Trí lár mo smaoinimh ach gur dhúisigh néal mé
Is de chumha ina diaidh siúd, ní mhairfead mí.
The song was noted from Peig Ní Dhonnchadha (Peg O'Donoghue) by A. Martin Freeman in 1914. It was (first?) published in The Journal of the Folk-Song Society, vol VI (issue 24) 1921, 224-226. Freeman printed 5 verses (those above, plus another in penultimate place)
================================
Here is the translation into English (first three verses above) provided with Aislingí Ceoil. It was made by Liam Mac Con Iomaire, and seems to fit the tune quite elegantly.
A Vision Bright
A vision bright beguiled in sleep me
As I lay feebly bereft of cheer;
In a river valley I wandered gaily
In conversation with my true love dear.
The host of foreigners and host of Gaeldom
In battle baring their sword and spear;
And the word went out in loud lamentation
That the day of saints was now drawing near.
Then soon I gazed on a fair young maiden
With shining hair falling to the ground;
Her flowing tresses like stars cascading,
Falling in waves to her ankles down;
Sweeping the dew off the meadow early
And tripping gaily with footsteps light;
Her two round breasts on her bosom neatly,
Her cheeks were berries and her throat was white.
And when I greeted my love in Gaelic,
In manner gracious she did reply;
"O, flower of men, please do not take me,
I am underage and a maid forby.
If our lovemaking conceived a baby
And if your blame then you should deny,
I would leave Erin and death would face me
And my ghost would plague you all through your life".
Here is the last verse from Brian
I laid my hand on her so ever gently
From the top of her stays to the tips of her toes
In spite of every rumour I would do it with her?
Until I kissed her tender lips again
When I gained what she yielded to me
My heart leapt like a bird on a branch
In the middle of my vision, alas I awoke in sorrow
On account of my tears, I shall not live a month.
Freeman rendered the verse somewhat the same
Then I stroked her fair white neck with my hand,
And into my arms I took my heart's love;
And for every story that I told my dearest
I gave her soft, small mouth another kiss.
And when I found that she consented,
Oh, my heart leapt like a bird on a branch
But in the middle of my fancy, a flash awoke me;
And through regret for her I shall not live a month!
(iar-baill de Afro-Celts) I could read the sky
170749
Loading...
14 videos
Iarla is the master!
krassiwe 1 year ago 5
Breathtaking!
SufitMusic 11 months ago 2