There is a beautiful Irish song called TA MO CHLEAMHNAS DEANTA or TA MO CHLEAMHNAS A DHEANAMH (My Match Is Made or something like it) which I do not have on paper and can't entirely work out. I usually only do English material, being English, but this one has blown my socks off for some time now. Maireád Ní Mhaonaigh sings it on Altan's album 'Altan', also on the live CD that came with their retrospective compilation. I've bracketed the bits I can't get. I won't attempt the Irish verses, and have left them out below, but I wonder if any Irish speakers familiar with the song can tell me if the Irish and English verses are different, or the same but in different languages?

1. A match was a-making here last night
And it isn't with the girl that I love the best
I'll leave her behind and I'll go along with you
Down by the banks of the ocean

2. Sleeping 'til [meckin time]?? is my delight
A bed of green rushes underneath my side
A bottle of brandy underneath my head
And a charming young maid in my arms

3. O I walked east and I walked west
I walked [by]?? on Dublin streets
An equal to my love I didn't meet
She's the wee lass that's left my heart broken

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 10-Jul-02.