Historical Irish Corpus
1600 - 1926

Amhrán Ultach.

Title
Amhrán Ultach.
Author(s)
Féach bailitheoir,
Compiler/Editor
Mac Néill, Eoin
Collector
Magfhionnlaoigh, Conall
Composition Date
1896
Publisher
Connradh na Gaedhilge

Search Texts

Poetry/Prose
1600 1926

AMHRÁN ULTACH



Is truagh nach bhfuil mé 's an plannta leinbh
Taobh thiar d'inis chúil Árann,
I mbeul na beinne, le taobh na tuinne,
Sinn a' dréim le loingeas ar sáile;


L. 93


Ar méid ar gcumainn, 's gan aon ruainne
thorainn
Acht geugán duilleabhair d'ár sábháil,
Gurab é déaradh gach duine gur lagach ar
n-imtheacht
Mar d'euluigh Diarmuid is Gráinne.



Bhí an plannta geanamhail 'san áit i bhfuil

'S is buan thug mise spéis di;
Grádh go dtug mé do bhláth na gile,
Go bráth nach dtig liom a réidhteach.
Is é fáth mo thuirse nach bhfaghaim cead fuirigh
'San áit i gcluinfinn a sgeula
'S go mb' fhearr liom tamall de'n lá 'na
coinne
'Ná ar fhás de chruithneacht i n-Éirinn.



'S a Mháire, a bhruinneal! Bhí lá is ní chuirfeá
Mo cháin o Dhoire go hÉirne;
Is í stáid bheidheadh orainn, bróga árda is
buiclidhe,
Ní áirmhim culaidh mhaith eudaigh.
Sháruigh sin orm, agus gráin gach duine liom,
Mná na cruinne go dtréigfinn;
Is truagh nach bhfuil mé 'san teampull cuirthe,
'S mo cháirde a' filleadh, 's iad buadhartha.



Bhi a píob 's a brollach ar lí na heala,
Nár smaoin riamh mailís a dheunamh,
A dá chích gheala bhí ina brollach
Mar bheidheadh siúd sneachta na haon-oidh'e.
Tháinig an chaoin-bhean go colbha mo leabtha,
Chuaidh sí a' dearcadh in mo léinidh;
Char bh' aoibhinn m'aigneadh acht í bheith i ngar
domh,
Dá mbínn 'na haice mar chéile.



Atá geug na finne ar thaobh an tsonais
'San taobh i bhfuil sí de Gháigin.
Tá méid mar dhuine innti, sgéimh is sonas,
'na dhéidh sin, miotail is áilne.
Tá deud is deise aici, méin is maise,
'S gurab í chuir maise ar na mná' uilig;
Nár bh' fhearr do'n fhilidh a bheith a' fuireach
Le n-a sgéimh a bhronnadh ar Máire?



NOTES
Conall MagFhionnlaoigh do chuir síos an t-amhrán.
ag dréim, advancing, lit. climbing; root of dréimire,
ladder.
lagach? The assurance, if strictly observed, would
require the sound of é in the accented syllable. Perhaps
we might read laochda, courageous.
Sháruigh sin orm, that outdid me, I was disappointed
in that.
Buadhartha, pronounced bwaerha.
lí = dath, colour.
Tháinig an chaoin-bhean, a dream is described here.
Ar thaobh an tsonais, this appears to be corrupted, as
both taobh and sonas occur soon after. If correct, as
must mean “on the prosperous side” (i.e., on the Mountain,
Gáigean).
Méid mar dhuine = mórdháil, or mór-dhaonnacht.
Miotail, mettle, spirit.
Chuir maise ar na mnáibh also seems to be corrupted.
The meaning should be “excelled all women,” or “made
all women envious.” Maise occurs in the previous line.
Possibly the words mean that “she has set the standard
of beauty for all women.” Then, “would it not be better
for the poet to tarry, to bestow their beauty on Mary?”
i.e., to recount all the beauties of womankind, and ascribe
them all to Mary, (?). Perhaps some Donegal reader can
supply a better version.



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