from "Amhráin Mhuighe Seóla: Traditional Folk Songs of Galway and Mayo," pp. 126 - 127.

THE THORNY CLIFF (translation, AN SGEILPÍN DRAIGHNEACH)

Verse 1:
One morning as I roved out by the outskirts of the woods
I was stricken by an arrow and no cure could be found for me
I beheld a sportive maiden beneath a thorny cliff
My heart within leaped high for joy and no cure could be found for me

Verse 2:
'Tis a pity that I cannot be a song-thrush
Through the laneway would I deftly steal
And my song would I sing for you till the bright dawn of day
If I came across a wise old woman who owned a cow or sheep
I should drive it to the fair with her and have amusement thereby

the third verse in the preceding post does not appear in this translation

Verse 4 from previous post/
Verse 3 in Amhráin Mhuighe Seóla:
The women-topers are keening -- Jesus, Son, give them no help
When the purse is empty and my heart within is grieved
My hope is yet to find her, alas, I never shall
'Tis like a dart from a wedge of iron
Is not love a wasting illness

Editor Eileen Costello attributes the English translations of her collected Gaelic songs to Rev. Dean Malachy Eaton of Maynooth; the Dean had many translation assistants who refused to be identified for the song collection.

© Cló Iar-Chonnachta 1990; reprint from 1923, Talbot Press