Hi there,

I could really use some help figuring out the hidden meaning behind an Irish Gaelic song I have recently learned. Although I have the Irish/English translation, the song's lyrics don't really make sense as a story, yet they seem to bear more meaning than a nonsense song. I think I probably don't understand the broader meaning of such terms as "Brindled Hag" and "dandy cap". Perhaps someone more familiar with Irish cultural lore, might understand the meaning better. Because I will be performing the song, I would really like to give the audience some context and to understand the song very well myself so that I interpret it well.

I have searched for this song on the web to no avail and I also don't have it in any of my song books - esoteric though they may be. I've posted this to the Irtrad list to see what that crowd can come up with, so if your on both lists you may see this message twice.

According to the liner notes, the song is from County Armagh. Feadernach (a place mentioned in the song) is on the border of Armagh and Louth near Culloville. Sort of a side question is whether anyone has heard this song in other parts of Ireland.

Thanks very much for any help you can give me.

Claire

Here it is....
"Casadh Cam Na Feadarnaí"
Learned from Padraigin Ni Uallachain's cd, A Stor's a Stoirin.

In Irish...

Ag casadh cam na Feadarnaí
Ara dhul isteach sa tsléibh
dhuit Ar thaobh do láimhe deise
dhuit Tá toigh na caillí Riabhaí
Chorus
With a ma ring a doo a day
With a ma ring a doo a daddio

Bhí Bunnaidh Chinn is Bannaidh Chinn
Is neidí beag a tsléibh ann
'Sé velvet boct a d'ársódh duit
Cá mbíonn an chailleach riabhach
Chorus

Oích roimh mhí Shamhna
A' tarraningt mhóin a'Tiarna
Bhí Neansaí Gabha 's na gasûir
Ag creachna Caillí Riabhaí
Chorus

Dá bhfeicfeá Mícheál O Báinichinn
'S é ag imeacht lena chliabhán
A' cruinniû ábhar tine
Lena 'dandy-cap' a ghrianadh
Chorus

In English....
according to the cd liner notes

At the double bend at Fadarnach
As you go into the mountain
On your right hand side
Is the house of the Brindled Hag
Chorus
With a ma ring a doo a day
With a ma ring a doo a daddio

Bunnaidh Chinn and Bannaidh Chinn
And little Ned from the mountain
It's poor velvet who would relate to you
Where the Brindled Hag is
Chorus

The night before November
Drawing the landlord's turf
The Blacksmith's Nancy and the lads
Were at the plundering of the Brindled Hag
Chorus

If you saw Mícheál O Báinichinn
Going off with his creel
Gathering fuel for the fire
To sun his dandy cap
Chorus

HTML line breaks added --JoeClone, 3-Oct-01.