Here is another version of Donal og you may not have heard.It was thought to me by a well respected collector of irish songs and ballads,Frank Harte.This is a Frank O'Conner translation.This is the version i sing.

DONAL OG

Oh my donal og, when you sail o'er the water
Take me with you to be your partner
Tis at fair or at market you would be well looked after
And you can sleep with the Greek kings daughter

My donal og,you'll not find me lazy
Not like some high born expensive lady
I'll do your milking and i'll nurse your baby
And if you were set on, i would back you bravely

I saw you first of a Sunday evening
T'was at the easter as i was grieving
And it was of Christs passion that i was reading
But my eyes,they were on you and my fond heart bleeding

And you said you would meet me,but you were lieing
Behind the sheep fold as day was dying
I whistled first,then i started hailing
But all i could hear was the young lambs wailing

And you said you would give me,but if you talk lightly
Fish skin gloves that would fit me tightly
And bird skin shoes when i would go out walking
And a silken dress that would set ireland talking

Oh my mother she said we should not be meeting
That i shoild pass you by and not give you a greeting
T'was a good time suerly she chose for cheating
With the stable bare and the horse retreating

Oh black as the slow is the heart inside me
Black as the cole is the grief that drives me
Black as a boot print on shining hallways
And t'was you that blackened it forever and always

For you took whats before me and whats behind me
You took east and west when you would not mind me
The sun moon and stars from my sky you've taken
And god likewise,for i am much mistaken

my Donal og, when you sailed o'er the water


The verse (Tis a good time surely she chose for cheating)is'nt assuming that the mother was having an affair with donal,the daughter is simply saying it's usless telling her to ignore the man when she's already in love with him(with the stable bare and the horse retreating)

Caoimhe(Dublin)