Ainnir Dheas na gCiabhfholt Donn

Is é dúirt Colm Cille linn go hIfreann nach dtéid fial,
Lucht an tsaibhris go gceileann siad a bpáirt mhór ar Dhia,
Nach mór é an tubaiste don duine a ndearna riamh
Oiread a chruinniú is a choinneadh* as Parthas iad. [*abair 'choinneochadh']

Thréig mé lucht an Bhéarla agus búclaí bróg,
Thréig mise an méid sin mar gheall ort, a stór,
Mar i ndúil 's go mbeinn is mo chéadsearc, maidin chiúin cheo,
Sinn ag éisteacht le géimneach ár sealbhán deas bó.

D’imigh mé mar d’imeodh* mo shnua agus mo ghné,
D’imigh mé mar d’imeodh* fáinne geal an lae,
D’imigh mé mar d’imeodh* an sneachta ón ghréin,
Nó mar bheinn ar oileán is thiocfadh an tuile orm is bhafaí mé.
[*abair 'd’imeochadh']

Go mbreaca mo dhá mhalaí agus go liatha mo cheann,
Chomh geal leis an eala atá ar Shliabh Uí Fhloinn,
Go dté mo bhean i dtalamh is ina dhiaidh sin a clann,
Beidh cuimhne agam ort, ' ainnir dheas na gciabhfholt donn.

Translation by Risteard Mac Gabhann, published in Claisceadal cois Baile Colmcille Press, 2022 :

Beautiful Girl of the Brown-haired Tresses

Colmcille [Dove of the church] said that the generous hearted will never end in Hell
While the wealthy [often] suppress their relationship with God
Isn't it a great tragedy for anyone to have
Gathered so much as would keep him out of Paradise

I deserted the English [or English-speaking] set and shoe buckles
I deserted all that for the sake of my darling,
In the hope that I and my first love on a quiet misty morning
Could stand listening to the lowing of our lovely herd of cattle

I went like the draining of my looks and complexion
I went like the fading of the bright day
I went the way the snow retreats from the sun
Or as if I were on an island overcome by a flood and I was drowned.

Until my brow speckles with age and my head turns grey,
As white as the swan on O'Flynn's Mountain
Until my wife goes to her grave and afterwards her family,
I will remember you, beautiful girl of the brown-haired tresses.


"búclaí", shoe buckles, were fashionable from the 17th century to the middle of the 18th century; that gives a clue to the probable age of this song. Sliabh ui Fhloinn isC in County Roscommon, so perhaps this song originated there. I've come across the first verse, about St Colm Cille, in another song or poem - published in Alexander Carmichael's "Carmina Gadelica" compilation circa 1900.

Risteard Mac Gabhann's interpretation of this song is that the narrator is settled in his marriage, but has enduring memories of an earlier love.