the tender old air "Uileacán Dubh O," or "Oh, the heavy lamentation."
One, rendered familiar in Dr. Samuel Ferguson's version, beginning,
"A plenteous place is Ireland for hospitable cheer," is said to have
been written by an Irish student in one of the colleges of France
probably early in the seventeenth century, when most of the promising
Irish youths went abroad for their education. The version here given in
Dr. Sigerson's fine rendering was written by Donnchad Ruadh MacNamara
about 1730. It has also been rendered into English by Mangan. For the
original, see _Poems by Donnchadh Ruadh MacNamara_, edited by Tomás
O'Flanngháile (1897). Dr. George Sigerson's poem will be found in his
_Bards of the Gael and Gall_ (T. Fisher Unwin, 1897), p. 245.
* * * * *
"Love's Despair" (_ibid._, p. 339). This touching poem was written by a
young farmer of Cork who, near the time of his marriage, had gone into
the city to buy the wedding-dress for his betrothed. On his way back he
heard that she had been married to another man. In despair he flung his
presents into the fire. His reason gave way, and he roamed the country
henceforth, ever singing the cruelty of Mary and his own misfortunes.
His story was well known in Co. Waterford, where he lived a great part
of his life. Original in _Gaelic Journal_, vol. iii., 1887, p. 22.
The literal translation of the second stanza runs as follows:--
"No one knows my case, or how I may find life,
But only the woman who has made me ill;
My cure is not on sea or shore, nor in herb or skill of hand,
My cure is only in the Flower of Youth.
I know not hen from cuckoo, I know not heat from cold,
At no time do I know my friends;
I know not night from day,--but my heart would know its love,
Should she come in time to save me."
* * * * *
"The Cruiskeen Lawn." Dr. Sigerson's version (_ibid._, p. 258), here
reproduced, shows that this popular air, better known in connection
with O'Keeffe's rollicking drinking song, was also used as a Jacobite
political poem. The chorus and name of the air, _i.e._ "The little full
jug," show that its true intent is bacchanalian. We find this chorus,
like many others, attached to songs of different significance. Petrie,
in his collection of _Ancient Irish Music_, p. 37, attaches it to a
verse of a lullaby:--
"My love is upon the river,
And he rocking from wave to wave;
A tree without foliage over his head--
And what does my Love want a-straying there?"
(see also _Gaelic Journal_, viii., 1898, p. 224).
* * * * *
"Eamonn an Chnuic" or "Ned of the Hill" is founded on the history of
a famous outlaw named Edmund O'Ryan, born in Shanbohy, Co. Tipperary,
late in the seventeenth century. His father possessed considerable
property in his native county, but his wild career led to his outlawry.
The piercing note of the words and of the air of the same name is
typical of much of the poetry of the period. "Ned of the Hill"
lies buried near Fáill an Chluig in the barony of Kilnemanagh, Co.
Tipperary. Some versions give several other verses, of a different
character. It is a love-song as given by Hardiman, "A chúil áluinn
deas," i. p. 268, and by Mangan in his _Poets and Poetry of Munster_,
p. 264. The literal translation here printed is from Mr. P. H.
Pearse's contributions in the _Irish Review_, Dublin (November 1911),
p. 437. Mr. Pearse says, "'Eamonn an Chnuic' is commonly looked upon
as a love-song, but I feel sure that to its shaper and to those who
first heard it, the figure of the outlaw, driven by rain-storm and
bullet-storm and beating against the closed door, mystically symbolised
the lonely cause of Ireland."
* * * * *
"O Druimin donn dileas," an early Jacobite song, sometimes supposed
to apply to Prince James Charles Edward, but more probably to Ireland
itself under the symbolic name of the "Beloved white-backed dun cow."
Original in Hardiman, ii. p. 145. See also in Petrie's _Ancient Music
of Ireland_, p. 116, a translation by O'Curry.
* * * * *
"Do you remember that night?" Original in Petrie's _Ancient Music of
Ireland_, p. 142. He says it was written down for him by O'Curry. The
account given by him of its origin does not seem to suit the words.
* * * * *
"The Exile's Song." Original in _Gaelic Journal_, vol. vi., No. 7,
1895, p. 108. Composed by an emigrant named M'Ambrois (Mac Cambridge),
and taken down from James M'Auley of Glengariff and James M'Naughten of
Cushendall.
* * * * *
"The Fisherman's Keen." From Crofton Croker's _The Keen in the South
of Ireland_ (Percy Society, 1844), p. 77. It was communicated to Mr.
Croker by Mr. Maurice O'Connell. A literal translation, taken down
from the lips of Mrs. Harrington, a professional "keener" of Co. Cork,
is given in the same author's _Researches in the South of Ireland_.
Unfortunately the original Irish is not preserved by him, nor is the
name of the lady given who, he tells us, wrote the poetical rendering.
* * * * *
"The Boatman's Hymn." Taken from Sir Samuel Ferguson's _Lays of the
Western Gael_, 1888, pp. 162-3. Original in Hardiman, ii. p. 383.
"Keen on Art O'Leary" by his wife. Original published in Mrs. Morgan
J. O'Connell's _The Last Colonel of the Irish Brigade_ (Kegan Paul,
1892), vol. ii., Appendix A., and reprinted with some corrections in
the _Gaelic Journal_ (vol. vii., Old Series, No. 74, May 1896), p. 18.
Some corrections and additions are made in the following number (June
1896). Crofton Croker, in his _Keens of the South of Ireland_, tells
us that he endeavoured to recover this dirge but without success. It
is a true example of the spontaneous "keen," with its short broken
lines, containing in quick, natural succession, appeals, reminiscences,
laments; moving backwards and forwards as the irregular promptings
of grief and affection dictate without form or premeditation. It
is, however, lifted into the sphere of fine poetry by its exceeding
simplicity, and by the passion of grief expressed in its lines.
The circumstances in which the poem had its origin are particularly
tragic. Art O'Leary had been an officer in the Hungarian service, but
he returned to Ireland, where he had a considerable property in Co.
Cork, and where his handsome person and distinguished manners made
him very popular. He married, against the wish of her parents, Eileen
of the Raven Locks, as she was called from her dark hair, a daughter
of Daniel O'Connell of Derrynane, grandfather of "the Liberator." The
popularity of Art O'Leary excited the jealousy of a neighbour, a Mr.
Morris, whose horse had been beaten in a race by O'Leary's beautiful
mare. Taking advantage of the Penal Laws, which did not permit a
Catholic to possess a horse valued at more than £5, he demanded the
mare from Capt. O'Leary for this sum. O'Leary refused, saying that
he "would surrender his mare only with his life." A local magistrate
immediately proclaimed him an outlaw; soldiers were sent to lie in wait
for him as he was returning home at night, and he was shot through the
heart near Carrig-a-nimmy, in May 1773. His wife was informed of her
husband's death by the return of the mare without its rider. It was
many years before his body was even allowed to be buried in consecrated
ground. Morris was tried for the murder, but acquitted; he was soon
after shot in his house by Arthur's brother. Art O'Leary's grave is to
be seen in the nave of Kilcrea Abbey, Co. Cork; the inscription states
that he was only twenty-six years of age when he died.
* * * * *
"Prologue to 'The Midnight Court'" (_Cuirt an Mheadhon Oidhche_), by
Bryan Merryman. The long satire of which we give the Prologue has been
published by Mr. Richard Foley (Riscard O Foghludha) (Hodges, Figgis &
Co.).
* * * * *
"Hymn to the Virgin Mary." Original in _The Poems of Egan O'Rahilly_
(1st ed., Irish Texts Society, vol. iii., 1900), p. 290. The author,
Conchubhar or Conor O'Riordan was a native of Co. Cork, where he
taught the classics and other subjects to the youths of his district.
He wrote, about the same time as Gray, a "Meditation in a Country
Churchyard," to which this very beautiful address to the Virgin forms
the Epilogue or "Binding" (_ceangal_ as it is called in Irish). The
whole poem is included in the appendix to Rev. P. S. Dinneen's edition
of O'Rahilly's poems.
* * * * *
"Christmas Hymn." Original in Dr. Douglas Hyde's _Religious Songs of
Connacht_ (T. Fisher Unwin, 1906), vol. ii. pp. 224-6; from an old
North of Ireland manuscript.
* * * * *
"O Mary of Graces." _Ibid._, p. 161. Taken down by Miss Agnes
O'Farrelly from a lad in the Aran Islands, Co. Galway.
* * * * *
"The Cattle-shed." Original in _Timthirid Chroidhe neamhtha Iosa_ or
_The Messenger_ (published by Gill & Son, Dublin), p. 90. The following
nine poems and fragments are from the same publication, vol. i., Parts
1-4.
* * * * *
"The White Paternoster." _Ibid._, p. 58. The two versions of this
favourite charm here given, of which the second is translated from
the original in a Kerry journal, _An Lochran_ (October 1900), should
be compared with the copies printed by Dr. D. Hyde in his _Religious
Songs_, vol. i. pp. 362-70.
"A Night Prayer." This fragment and the eleven succeeding prayers
were taken down in Irish among the Decies of Co. Waterford by Rev. M.
Sheenan, D.Ph., and have been published by him in his _Cnó Cóilleadh
Craobhaighe_ (Gill & Son, Dublin, 1907).
* * * * *
"The Man who Stands Stiff." From Dr. D. Hyde's _Religious Songs of
Connacht_, vol. i. p. 101, taken down from the mouth of Martin Rua
O'Gillarna (in English, Red Martin Forde) of Lisaniska, Co. Galway.
He spoke no English. This poem is a sample of much of the popular
religious poetry dealing with the approach of death and the danger of
continuing in evil courses.
* * * * *
"Charm for a Sprain." This and the succeeding charms are taken from
Lady Wilde's _Legends, Charms, and Cures of Ireland_ (Chatto & Windus).
It is unfortunate that Lady Wilde does not give either her originals or
her authorities.
* * * * *
"Before the sun rose at yesterdawn." Original in Walsh's _Irish Popular
Songs_, 2nd ed. (Gill & Son, Dublin), p. 146. Edward Walsh, who
translated into English verse a great number of Irish popular songs,
lived between the years 1805-50.
* * * * *
"The Blackthorn." One of those favourite old songs of which there are
many versions, and verses in one that are not in another. Like many
another Irish song, it seems to be a colloquy between a maid and her
lover, and it is often difficult to tell if it is the lad or the girl
who is speaking. My version is the one printed in Miss Borthwick's
_Ceól Sidhe_, ii. p. 18 (an excellent collection of old Irish songs),
with two verses added from the version in Dr. D. Hyde's _Love-Songs of
Connacht_ (T. Fisher Unwin, 1893), p. 30. The poem is sad and troubled.
Dr. Hyde says, "There was an old woman in it, long ago, who used to
sing it to me, and she never came to the verse--
'Although the rowen-berry tree is high, &c.,'
that she used not to shed tears from her eye." We can well believe it.
Hardiman (i. p. 234) has published a different version, and Miss Brooke
another in her _Reliques_ (1816), p. 306.
* * * * *
"Pastheen Finn," or "Fair little Child." Original in Hardiman's _Irish
Minstrelsy_, i. p. 217. Dr. Hyde gives a quite different version in
his _Love-Songs_, p. 65. We find the _curfa_ or chorus attached to
different songs. Sir Samuel Ferguson's version will be found in his
_Lays of the Western Gael_ (Sealy, Bryers, Dublin, 1888), p. 152.
Hardiman considers that it is an address to the son of James II, under
a secret name.
* * * * *
"She." Original in Miss Brooke's _Reliques of Irish Poetry_, p. 232.
* * * * *
"Hopeless Love." Given as an example of an old Irish metre called
_Dibide baise fri toin_, but this poem was not actually written in this
metre.
* * * * *
"Would God I were." Original in Hardiman, i. p. 344. Mrs. Hinkson's
setting of the Irish words will be found in her _Irish Love-Songs_ (T.
Fisher Unwin, Cameo Series, 1892).
* * * * *
"Branch of the sweet and early rose." William Drennan, M.D. (_b._
1754), died in Belfast in 1820.
* * * * *
"'Tis a Pity." Original in _Cláirseach na n-Gaedhil_, Part ii., 1902
(Gaelic League Publications). _Ceól-sídhe_ (p. 92) gives a different
version. There are several other verses.
* * * * *
"The Yellow Bittern" (_An bunán buidhe_). Original in _Cláirseach na
n-Gaedhil_, Part v., and _Ceól-sídhe_, p. 12. This translation appeared
in the _Irish Review_, Dublin, November 1911.
* * * * *
"Have you been at Carrack?" Original in Mangan's _Poets and Poetry of
Munster_ (J. Duffy), p. 344. Walsh thinks it is a song from the South
of Ireland.
* * * * *
"Cashel of Munster." There are various versions of this popular song,
set to its air "Clár bog déil." One used by Walsh was, he tells us,
given to him by a lady of Co. Clare. Ferguson's version is taken from
Hardiman, i. p. 238.
* * * * *
"The Snowy-breasted Pearl." Original in Petrie's _Ancient Music of
Ireland_, p. 11. Petrie was born in Dublin in 1789 and died in 1866.
* * * * *
"The Dark Maid of the Valley" (_Bean dubh an Gleanna_). There are two
versions and airs of this name. The original of Mr. P. J. McCall's poem
is to be found in Miss Brooke's _Reliques_, p. 319. His own rendering
was published in his _Irish Nóinins_ (Sealy, Bryers & Walker, 1894), p.
59.
* * * * *
"The Coolun." Original in Hardiman, i. p. 250. Two other versions
will be found in Dr. Hyde's _Love-Songs of Connacht_ (1893), pp.
71-3. One of these beginning, "A honey mist on a day of frost, in a
dark oak wood" is very tender and sweet. Its air is among the most
beautiful that Ireland has produced. The "Coolun" was a lock of hair
which, having been forbidden by statute, it became a mark of national
sentiment to adopt. It was usually worn by youths, but in these poems
the address is to a woman.
* * * * *
"Ceann dubh dileas," or the "Beloved Dark Head." Original in Hardiman,
i. p. 262. Dr. Hyde gives an additional verse in his _Love-Songs_.
Burns claimed the air for Scotland, and Corri published it under the
name of "Oran Gaoil," but it is undoubtedly Irish.
* * * * *
"Ringleted Youth of my Love." From Dr. Hyde's _Love-Songs of Connacht_
(T. Fisher Unwin, 1893), p. 40.
* * * * *
"I shall not die for you." Original, _ibid._. p. 138.
* * * * *
"Donall Oge." This pathetic song and the one following it, "The
Grief of a Girl's Heart," seem to be portions of one long song, to
the original nucleus of which quatrains have been added from time to
time. Six stanzas were published by Dr. Hyde in his _Love-Songs_ (pp.
4-6) under the title, "If I were to go West"; it would seem that his
"Breed Astore" (p. 76) may also be a portion of the same poem. Mr.
P. H. Pearse, who published several other stanzas under the title
of "Donall Oge," or "Young Donall," in the _Irish Review_ of August
1911, tells us that he wrote it down from the words of Denis Dorgan of
Carrignavar, Co. Cork. The Irish will be found printed in his and Mr.
Tadhg O'Donoghue's _An t-Aithriseóir_ (Gaelic League, 1902), p. 7. In
all these versions there are some stanzas alike and some different to
the others. We have printed nearly the whole of them here under the
two titles of "Donall Oge" and "The Grief of a Girl's Heart." Both are
full of the most heartrending expression of loss and loneliness. Lady
Gregory, in her _Poets and Dreamers_, published a literal translation
of the latter poem.
* * * * *
"Death the Comrade." Original in Dr. Hyde's _Religious Songs_, ii. pp.
288-90.
* * * * *
"Muirneen of the Fair Hair." Original in Dr. Hyde's _Love-Songs_,
pp. 10-12. _Cf._ another Munster version on p. 16, and one given by
Hardiman, i. p. 354.
* * * * *
"The Red Man's Wife." A popular theme on which there are many
variations. We give two, the originals of both being taken from Dr.
Hyde's _Love-Songs_, pp. 92 and 94. The first is a Galway version,
the second from Co. Meath. The latter was first printed in the
_Oban Times_. Yet another version is given in Dr. Hyde's edition of
_Raftery's Poems_, p. 210.
* * * * *
"My Grief on the Sea." Original in Dr. Hyde's _Love-Songs_. It was
taken down by him from an old woman named Biddy Cusruaidh or Crummy,
living in the midst of a bog in Co. Roscommon.
* * * * *
"Oró Mhór, a Mhóirín." Original in Petrie's _Ancient Music of Ireland_,
p. 120. It was obtained by him from Teigue MacMahon, a peasant of Co.
Clare. Mr. P. J. McCall's poem was printed in his _Pulse of the Bards_
(Gill & Son, 1904), p. 50. * * * * *
"The Little Yellow Road." Original taken down by Prof. John MacNeill in
Co. Mayo in July 1894, and printed by him in the _Gaelic Journal_ for
that year (vol. v., No. 6), p. 91. There are several versions of _An
Bóithrín buidhe_; see for another, Petrie's _Ancient Music_, p. 24. Mr.
Campbell's translation, kindly contributed to this collection, has not
been published before.
* * * * *
"Reproach to the Pipe" (_Másladh an Phíopa_). The original, taken down
in Galway, will be found in the _Gaelic Journal_ (vol. vi., No. 5), p.
73.
* * * * *
"Modereen Rue." Mrs. Tynan-Hinkson's poem is not a direct translation,
but a spirited free version of the favourite Gaelic song of this name;
it was published in _The Wind in the Trees_ (Grant Richards, 1898), p.
98.
* * * * *
"The Stars Stand Up" (_Táid na realta 'n-a seasadh ar an aer_).
Original in _Ceól-sídhe_, Part iv., p. 50, among other places. I have
altered the last four lines.
* * * * *
"The Love Smart." Original in Dr. Hyde's _Love-Songs_, p. 22.
* * * * *
"Well for Thee." Original, _ibid._, p. 130.
* * * * *
"I am Raftery the Poet." From Dr. Hyde's edition of _Raftery's Poems_
(H. M. Gill & Son, Dublin, 1903), p. 40.
* * * * *
"Dust hath closed Helen's eye." Original, _ibid._, p. 330. Mr. W. B.
Yeats has slightly worked over Lady Gregory's rendering. Mary Hynes,
who "died of fever before the famine," has left a tradition of beauty
behind her in her own country. "She was the finest thing that was ever
shaped," said an old fiddler who remembered her well. Baoile laoi
(Ballylee) is a little village of some half-dozen houses in the barony
of Kiltartan. Lady Gregory's beautiful rendering was published in an
article by Mr. W. B. Yeats in _The Dome_, New Series, vol. iv. p. 161.
"The Shining Posy" or "Mary Stanton," _ibid._, p. 320. We must remember
that poor Raftery, who praises so warmly the beauty of women, saw them
only with the eyes of his imagination, for he was blind. His verses
seem to have been impromptu compositions. The classical allusions are
very characteristic of the wandering bards, who liked to show off their
acquaintance with the heroes of bygone ages.
* * * * *
"Love is a Mortal Disease" (_Is claoidhte an galar an grádh_). Original
in _Smoílín na Rann_, a collection of Connaught songs made by Mr.
Fionan McCollum, "Finghin na Leamhna" (Gaelic League, 1908).
* * * * *
"I am watching my young calves sucking." This and the two following
poems, "The Narrow Road" and "Forsaken," are translated from Dr.
Douglas Hyde's little collection of original Irish songs called _Ubhla
de'n Chraoibh_, or _Apples of the Bough_ (Gill & Son, Dublin).
* * * * *
"I Follow a Star." Translated by Seosamh mac Cathmhaoil (James
Campbell) from his own Irish poem, and published by him in _The Gilly
of Christ_ (Maunsell & Co., Dublin).
* * * * *
"Nurse's Song." Published by Mr. Alfred M. Williams in his _The Poets
and Poetry of Ireland_ (Houghton, Mifflin and Co., Boston and New
York). The song is traditional, and its author is unknown.
* * * * *
"A Sleep Song." Original in _Gaelic Journal_, May 1911, p. 141. The
song was partly taken down from Mr. McAuley Lynch in West Cork, and
partly recollected from childhood by Mr. P. H. Pearse, the translator.
* * * * *
"The Cradle of Gold." From Mr. Alfred P. Graves' _Irish Poems_, ii. p.
117 (Maunsel & Co.). Original in Petrie's _Ancient Music of Ireland_,
p. 146. "Rural Song." Original in Petrie's _Ancient Music of Ireland_,
p. 43. Joyce's _Irish Music_ gives some extra stanzas.
* * * * *
"Ploughing Song." Original, _ibid._, p. 30.
* * * * *
"A Spinning-wheel Ditty." _Ibid._, p. 85.
THE END
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
at Paul's Work, Edinburgh
[Illustration: Decoration]
Transcriber's notes:
Inconsistent use of accents across text, titles and poems in the
original has been retained.