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Philippa Origins: Donal Og (Young Donald) (86* d) RE: Lyr Add: Dónall Óg ^^ 05 Nov 99


The Séamas Ennis translation is close enough to the literal meaning, at least for those verses for which I have the Irish, but only two of the 4 verses on the websites (links above) are in his version. The other two verses are ones I've heard Donegal singers do (to a different air than the one used in Conamara)

A Dhónaill Óig, má théir thar fharraige
Beir mé féin leat 's ná deán dom dearmad
Beidh agat féirín lá aonaigh 'gus margaidh
Agus níon Rí Gréige mar chéile leapa 'gat

is equivalent to Ennis verse 1

Gheall tú dom-sa ní nach dearn tú
Fáinne óir a chur ar 'ach méar domh
Seisreach óir fána hanlaí airgid
Agus muileann siúchra ar 'ach sruth in Éirinn

You promised me things you didn't do, to put gold rings on each of my fingers... and sugar mills on each stream in Ireland

B'fhurast dom aithne nach tú bhí i ndán dom
Chuir tú amach mé oíche na báistí
Bhain truisle dom-sa ag giall na bearnadh
Char dhúirt tú Dia liom 's char chraith tú lámh liom.

I easily realised you weren't intended for me; you sent me out on a stormy night, ...you didn't welcome me or shake my hand

Bhain tú soir 'gus bhain tú siar dom
Bhain tú romham is bhain tú mo dhiaidh dom
Bhain tú 'n ghealach is bhain tú an ghrian dom
'S is ró-mhór m'eagla gur bhain tú Dia dom.

is equivalent to the final verse in the Ennis/O'Donnell rendering

Ennis' verse 2 is verse 7 as sung by Máire Áine Ní Dhonnchadha on "Deora Aille" (Claddagh Records):

A Ghile na Finne 's a Ghile na Ruaichte
A Ghile an 's tú d'fhága mé buartha
Nuair a chloisim trácht ar na mná dá luadh leat
Titeann an bun díom agus barr na gruaige.

Ennis verse 4 ~ Ní Dhonnchadha verse 2:

Gheall tú dhomhsa agus rinne tú breag liom
Go mbeifea romhamsa ag cró na gcaorach;
Lig mé fead agus dhá bhlai dhéag ort.
'S ní raibh romham ach na huain agus iad a' méilí

Ennis verse 7 ~ Ní Dhonnchadha verse 3

Siúd é an Domhnach a dtug mé grá dhuit
A' Domhnach díreach roimh Dhomhnach Cásca
Is tú ar do ghlúine a' léamh na Páise
Sea bhí mo dhá shúil a' síor-thabhairt grá dhuit.

"You were on your knees reading the passion, and my two eyes were constantly giving love to you"; it does make more sense that Dónal was reading and she was looking at him!

Ann Sands sings the verse about milking the cows and nursing the baby. The translation is credited to Frank O'Connor.

Probably originals for all the translated verses can be found in Seosamh Ó , "Dónall Óg", published in Dublin (Baile Atha Cliath) by an Clóchomhar in 1960. He even includes Fear a' Bhàta because of one verse common to versions of both songs!

^^


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