Lyr Add: Little Priest (Irish) (An Sagairtin)

Subject: RE: An Sagairtin
From: Felipa
Date: 05 Jul 16 - 07:02 AM

interestingly there is a Mudcat thread about a French language song from Brittany about a woman who is finds her former lover is now a priest L'aimante à la grand' messe

Subject: RE: An Sagairtin
From: Felipa
Date: 03 Jul 16 - 06:32 PM

on youtube Róisín Elsafty singing An Sagairtín<.a>

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Little Priest (Irish) (An Sagairtin)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 04:23 AM

Roisín Dubh is another one that is already posted on Mudcat.

An Puca has started a thread to continue listing songs about priests!

Subject: RE: priests in Irish songs
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 05:53 PM

Some mudcat threads:
Amhrán an tSagairt
Fill, a rúin
Fill, a rúin - in film

even
Monsignor Horan - one of the modern songs about the airport at Knock!

I don't see any Mudcat postings yet of Thug mé rúide or An Casaideach Bán

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Little Priest (Irish) (An Sagairtin)
From: GUEST,An Púca
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 04:58 PM

Philippa drew attention to this thread again in two threads re. She Moved thru the Fair.

An alternative and probably older name for the song is An Cumann Cearr. I haven't found any threads on that by the site's search engine so it might not have been mentioned before.

I've noticed threads on "abortion songs" so this one might be the first "non-abortion" song as that is the underlying meaning of verses such as the penultimate one quoted by Philippa from Joe Éinniú above. She has fallen over a wall (accidentally, she wishes us to know) but has not bent the gorse/furze/whins nor the grass (fear (sic) recte féar) but the accidental nature of the fall has not prevented her being gossiped about.

I wonder if anyone would be interested in starting a thread (I plead ignorance) attempting to list the Irish songs to do with priests. I'd give an Caisideach Bán as one to add to this one here to start it off. An Sagart Ó Dónaill/Fill, fill a rúin ó as another one and I'm sure more will come to mind.

The Caisideach Bán in that company brings me to think of another potentially interesting/thorny thread - has there ever been one about "amhráin mhóra" or which songs are traditionally/really "big songs" in the Irish tradition and which are merely songs? I reckon there's plenty of scope for "debate" in that. Calling all mudcats amongst mudpigeons!

Subject: Lyr Add: AN SAGAIRTÍN (from Seosamh Ó hÉannaí)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 13 May 03 - 06:46 AM

Seosamh Ó hÉannaí ( Joe Éinniú, Joe Heany) recorded a version of An Sagairtín on "Ó Mo Dhúchas - sraith 2", Gael-Linn:

AN SAGAIRTÍN

Tá an óiche dorcha is tá sí fuar
Is tá sí a' goilliúnt ar mo chroí go mór
Ní thiocfad a' bhaile, ní dhéanfaidh mé cuairt
Nó go bhfeice' mé mo stóirín atá ina luí cois cuan.

Nach deas an sagairtín é, stór mo chroí,
Tá an pobal beannaithe a ngabhann sé thríd,
Tá séala ó Mhuire aige is branda ó Chríost,
Is tá sé ag iarraidh ar na coláiste.

Maise, éist, a Bhrídeogín, is ná goil deoir,
Ní dhuitse a rugadh mé ná d'aon bhean beo,
Baistfidh mé do leanbh le cúnamh Dé,
Is dhá mbeadh breith ar m'aiféala a'm ba leat mé fhéin.

Is fuair mé leagan thar barr an chlaí
Mara bhfuil dóchar ann nár thaighe sé i m'aghaidh.
Níor lúb mé an t-aiteann 's níor leag mé an fear,
Ach 'na dhiaidh sin cuireadh me ó bhéal go béal.

Is chuaigh mé aréir chuig an doras úd thall
Lig mé fead ar mo mhíle grá
Séard duirt a maimín nach raibh sí ann
Ach go raibh sí i dtaisce i gcónra chláir.

note: the Seosamh Ó hÉannaí album includes all song lyrics in the 'sleeve notes'; the album of Róisín Elsafty & Treasa Ní Cheannabáin does not.

Subject: Lyr Add: AN SAGAIRTÍN (from Róisín Elsafty)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 13 May 03 - 06:45 AM

If you are looking for that other song, Gardaí an Rí, you are now better off looking up the (new) Mudcat thread rather than the other websites listed above.

Note – Often the diminutive '-ín', as in 'Sagairtín', 'Little Priest' or 'maithín', 'little mother' are terms of familiarity and endearment. It does not necessarily mean that the person is small physically!

Róisín Elsafty sings An Sagairtín on the CD she and her mother Treasa Ní Cheannabáin made (with a contribution also from little sister Naisrín Elsafty) "Irlande: L'art du Sean-Nós" (www.budamusique.com)

It is very similar to the versions from Áine Meenaghan and Máirtín Tom
Sheáinín Mac Donnchadha ("Bláth na hÓige", CIC) as posted above.

Róisín uses a more logical verse order, but it's still a bit odd to me that first
the woman tells how she fancies the priest (or student priest) and he tells
her that he isn't available because of his vocation, but then the rest of
the song has the man lamenting that he can't have the beautiful woman and
that she's gone away.

The verses in brackets are additional to the verses Róisín sings on the CD.

AN SAGAIRTÍN- Oíche Dhorcha version from Róisín Elsafty

Tá an óiche dorcha is tá sí fuar
Is tá sí a' goilliúnt ar mo chroí go mór
Mo stór a d'imigh uaim 's nach bhfuil le fáil
Is a bhéas a' goilliúnt orm nó go bhfaigh' mé bás.

Nach deas an sagairtín é stór mo chroí,
Nach beannaithe an pobal ina siúlann sé thríd,
Tá branda ó Mhuire aige is séala ó Chríost,
Is tá sé a triail [a' triall?] chun na coláiste.

Éist, a chailín deas, is ná caoin deoir,
Mar ní dhuitse a rugadh mé ná do aon bhean beo,
Ach baisteadh mé do leanbh dhuit le cúnamh Dé,
Is dhá mbeadh breith ar m'féala a'm ba leat mé fhéin.

[Ní dhearfainn tada leat ar a chúl a' chlaí,
Ní bhéinn i mo charaidh ag a té a bheadh i d'aghaidh,
Ach comhairle do leas sea gheobhfainnse uaidh,
'S mo chúig céad slán leat i ngach áit dá dtéir.

Tá fear is fiche acu in aon gheang amháin,
Sé an fear is deise acu ná mo mhíle grá,
Cúilín catach is baibín bán,
Sé an rós sa ngáirdín é dhá bhféadfaí é fháil.]

Chuaigh mé aréir chuig an doras úd thall
Is ghlaoigh mé i gcogar ar mo mhíle grá
'Sé dúirt a hathair liom nach raibh sí ann
Mar go raibh sí imithe go Meiriceá.

['S é 'n trua gan mise 'gus mo mhuirnín bán
Ar bhord na loinge a' tíocht anall.
Gaoth aduaidh 's an taoille a' trá.
'S deamhan a mbeadh '( fhio)s ag éinne go raibh muid ann.

Mo dhimiú dheachracht le lucht na mbréag,
Nacha ndunann siad féasta suas a mbéal,
Níor lúb mé 'n taiteann níor leaga mé ' féar,
Ach fós fhéin cuireadh me ó bhéal go béal.]

Ó níl mé tinn agus níl mé slán,
'S éard a dúirt mo mhuintirgo bhfaighinn-se bás,
A Dhia is a Chríost, nach mór an feall,
Bheith i ngrá le cailín 's gan í ann le fáil.

Subject: RE: Gardaí an Rí
From: Felipa
Date: 26 Apr 03 - 03:46 AM

It may be useful to know that the line "Níl mé tinn agus níl mé slán" (or "Níl mise tinn ...") also appears in
GARDAÍ AN RÍ (go to the "G" page at the eirefirst web site)
similar context of longing for a lover, in this case because the words belong to someone who has enlisted in the King's Guards
also at http://www.angelfire.com/ri/domhan/clarg01.html
at eirefirst, "Gardaí" is incorrectly spelled "Gárdai" and "Gárdaí"; at angelfire "cloíe" in the last verse should read "claoite". I suspect the source is Ó Baoill, "Ceolta Gael" (vol2?) published by Mercier Press of Cork

Subject: Lyr Add: AN SAGAIRTÍN / THE DEAR PRIEST
From: Felipa
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 06:38 PM

oh dear me, I put in a lot of é-s which should have been ó-s -
Brón and ph&#sfas in the last verse (first message of thread)

Here is the version from the link I posted in my last message:

AN SAGAIRTÍN

Is nach deas an sagairtín é, a stór mo chroí,
Nach beannaithe an pobal a dtéann sé thríd,
Tá branda ó Mhuire aige 'gus séala ó Chríost,
Is tá sé ag triall ar na coláistí.

Tá an oíche seo dorcha 'us tá sí fuar,
'Gus tá sí 'goilliúint ar mo chroí go mór/crua
Mo stór a d'imigh uaim is nach bhfuil le fáil,
'S a bheas ag goilliúint orm nó go bhfaighidh mé bás.

Tháinig mé aréir ag an doras úd thall
Agus ghlaoigh mé i gcogar ar mo mhíle grá
'S éard a dúirt a hathair liom nach raibh sí ann
Mar go raibh sí imithe leis an mbuachaill bán.

[Tháinig mé aréir ag an doras úd thall
Lig mé fead uirthi 'gus glórtha ard
Is éard a dúirt a hathair liom nach raibh sí ann
Go raibh sí imithe go Meiriceá.]

Is é an trua gan mise 's mo mhuirnín bán
Ar bhord na loinge 'gabháil anonn le fán
An taoille tuile agus an taoille trá
Is gan fhios ag ár muintir an raibh muid ann.

Dá mbeadh mo mháithrín ar nós bean tí,
Ó chóireodh sí leaba dhom i gceann a' tí
Bheadh cead a'm imeacht is a theacht aríst,
'S a dhul ar cuairt ag stór mo chroí.

Ó níl mé tinn agus níl mé slán,
'S éard a dúirt mo mhuintir liom go bhfaighinn-se bás,
A Dhia is a Chríost, nach mór an feall,
A mbheith i ngrá le mnaoi is gan í a'm le fáil.

Ó éist, a chailín deas, is ná síl/caoin deoir,
Mar ní dhuitse a rugadh mé na d'aon bhean beo,
Ach baistfidh mé do leanbh duit le cúnamh Dé,
Is dhá mbeadh breith ar m'aiféala a'm ba leat mé fhéin.

THE DEAR PRIEST

And isn't he the nice priest, the treasure of my heart?
And aren't the people blessed where he goes?
He has the brands of Mary and the seal of Christ,
And he is journeying to the colleges.

This night is dark and it is cold,
And it/she is greatly vexing my heart.
My treasure went from me and she cannot be found,
And she will be torturing me 'til my death.

I came last night to yonder door
And I called in in a whisper to my precious love
Her father told me she was not there,
That she had gone with another man.

[alternative verse - ... /I whistled to her.../.../ She had gone to America]

It's a pity that my fair love and I
Are not sailing on a ship away
Over flood tide and ebb tide
Without our people knowing.

If my little mother was like a woman of the house
She would make my bed for me
I would have permission to come and go
and to visit my heart's treasure.

Oh I am not sick and I am not well,
My people told me that I would get my death,
Oh God and Christ wasn't it a great deceit!
To be in love with a woman and not being able to have her?

Oh listen pretty maiden and do not cry
Because I was not given to you or any woman yet alive!
But I will baptize your child for you with the help of God,
And if I could undo my shame I would be yours


Source: Áine Meenaghan and Máirtín Tom Sheáinín Mac Donncha
the alternative verse in brackets is from a different webpage - http://www.inf.aber.ac.uk/pastpapers/welsh/exam98/semester2/gc22120.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Little Priest (Irish)
From: MMario
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 03:47 PM

must be those transcriptions I do - I actually remember'd having seen some of the words!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Little Priest (Irish)
From: Felipa
Date: 04 Mar 03 - 03:45 PM

verse 3: stéirín should be stóirín

see also an Sagairtín for another version

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Little Priest (Irish)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 24 May 02 - 02:35 AM

If you aint got those ABCs, girl,
If you aint got those ABCs,
Well you better go back and transcribe the music
If you want the Mudcatters to please
Mudcat Café is a Garden of Eden,
With lyrics on every tree
But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot,
If you aint got those ABCs

profuse apologies to Woody Guthrie

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Little Priest (Irish)
From: MMario
Date: 22 May 02 - 09:29 PM

If you have dots I'm willing to transcribe from a scan. (just an FYI)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Little Priest (Irish)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 May 02 - 08:56 PM

Are you able to provide tunes for any of these songs you're posting? It's hard enough tracking down music for those already here!

Subject: Lyr Add: AN SAGAIRTÍN / THE LITTLE PRIEST
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 22 May 02 - 01:44 PM

AN SAGAIRTÍN

Is deas an sagairtín é grá mo chroí,
Is nach aoibhinn dhon phobailín a dtéann sé tríd
Tá séala ó Mhuire air agus branda é Chríost
'gus níl pabhsae i ngáirdín mar grá mo chroí

Tá an oíche seo dorcha agus tá sí fuar,
'Gus tá sí a' goilliúnt ar mo chroí go crua;
Ní ghabhaidh mé abhaile is ní ghabhadh ar cuairt
Né go gcaithfidh mé an oíche amárach le mo ghrá chois cuain.

Agus shíl mé a stéirín go dtug tú grá dom
Né gur baineadh an leagadh asam i mbéal na bearnan;
Níor dhúirt tú 'Dia linn' né 'Goirim slán thú'
Ach chrom tú do cheann agus rinne tú gáire

Is trua gan mise is mo mhúirnin bán
I mBaile an Chathasaigh taobh thiar den cheann;
bheadh gaoth én bhfarraige a[ga]inn agus taoile trá
's dheamhan a bheadh fhios ag an mbaile go mbeadh muid ann.

Agus mallacht shíoraí do lucht na mbréag
Nach ndúnfadh siadsan feasta a mbéal!
Níor bhris muid an t-aiteann 'gus níor lúb muid an féar
'Gus nac' fada a ruaigeadh muid é bhéal go béal.

Ach brén ar an bhfarraige mar sí tá lán,
Is í tá dul idir mé 's mo mhúinín bán;
Ach siúlfaidh mé gleannta agus cnocáin go deo
'gus dheamhan fear a phésfas mé go bhfaighidh mé bás.

THE LITTLE PRIEST (translation)

My boy, little priest, love of my heart,
Happy his people among whom he moves,
bearing Mary's seal and Christ's brand on his brow,
And there's no rose in the garden like unto my love.

The night is dark and cold
And weighs heavily on my heart;
I will not go home or go on a visit
Until I spend one night with my love.

I thought, O my treasure, that you loved me
Until that encounter at the open gap;
You never said God help us or bless us
But hung your head and hid behind mocking laughter.

Pity that I and my own darling
Cannot be in Ballycasey behind the Head;
We'd have the wind from the sea and the ebbing tide
And be safe there from prying eyes.

My eternal curse on those lying folk!
May their mouths be shut for evermore!
We broke not the furze nor bent the grass,
Yet far and wide, from mouth to mouth, we were reviled.

O my sad sorrow on the great sea
For she separates me from my beloved;
Now I'll tramp the valleys and climb the hills
And no man I'll marry to the day I die.

From a recording of Máire Áine Nic Dhonnchadha on Céirníní 'Cladagh' / Cladagh Records. Máire Áine learned this song from her mother.

Translation by Seán MacMathghamhna.

This song shares lines and verses with other songs such as Dónal Óg and Tiocfaidh an Samhradh, but the story is unique.
An intriguing song with a mixture of innocence and scandal!