play soundclip for Mo Ghile Mear

Mo Ghile Mear

Seán Clárach MacDomhnaill

Sé mo laoch mo Ghile Mear ‘Sé mo Chaesar, Ghile Mear, Suan ná séan ní bhfuaireas féin Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo Ghile Mear. Bímse buan ar buaidhirt gach ló, Ag caoi go cruaidh ’s ag tuar na ndeór Mar scaoileadh uaim an buachaill beó ’s ná ríomhtar tuairisc uaidh, mo bhrón Ní labhrann cuach go suairc ar nóin Is níl guth gadhair i gcoillte cnó, Ná maidin shamhraidh i gcleanntaibh ceoigh Ó d’imthigh sé uaim an buachaill beó. Marcach uasal uaibhreach óg, Gas gan gruaim is suairce snódh, Glac is luaimneach, luath I ngleo Ag teascadh an tslua ’s ag tuargain treon. Seinntear stair ar chlairsigh cheoil ’s líontair táinte cárt ar bord Le hinntinn ard gan chaim, gan cheó chun saoghal is sláinte d’ fhagháil dom leómhan. Ghile Mear ‘sa seal faoi chumha, ‘S Éire go léir faoi chlócaibh dubha; Suan ná séan ní bhfuaireas féin Ó cuaigh i gcéin mo Ghile Mear. Seal da rabhas im’ mhaighdean shéimh, ’s anois im’ bhaintreach chaite thréith, Mo chéile ag treabhadh na dtonn go tréan De bharr na gcnoc is I n-imigcéin.

English Translation (thanks to Marina Antolioni)

Chorus
He is my hero, my dashing darling
He is my Caesar, dashing darling.
I've had no rest from forebodings
Since he went far away my darling.

Every day I am constantly sad
Weeping bitterly and shedding tears
Because our lively lad has left us
And no news from him is heard alas.

The cuckoo sings not pleasantly at noon
And the sound of hounds is not heard in nut-filled woods,
Nor summer morning in misty glen
Since he went away from me, my lively boy.

Noble, proud young horseman
Warrior unsaddened, of most pleasant countenace
A swift-moving hand, quick in a fight,
Slaying the enemy and smiting the strong.

Let a strain be played on musical harps
And let many quarts be filled
With high spirit without fault or mist
For life and health to toast my lion.

Dashing darling for a while under sorrow
And all Ireland under black cloaks
Rest or pleasure I did not get
Since he went far away my dashing darling.

For a while I was a gentle maiden
And now a spent worn-out widow
My spouse ploughing the waves strongly
Over the hills and far away.