AINDRAIS Mac CRAITH MISINTERPRETED AS AUTHOR OF "CAILÍN DEAS CRÚITE NA MBÓ"


This is what was written in Worthies Of Thomond by Robert Herbert, published 1944-1946:

His best known poem is his "Cailin deas cruidhte na mbo," or the "Pretty maid milking the cows," and on the strength of this alone, Mangan calls him the most melodious Gaelic poet of his day.


Robert Herbert obtained this extract from
the biographical sketch of Aindrais MacCraith in Poets and Poetry of Munster, by John O'Daly, 1851,
Short biography of Andrew Magrath pp 17-21
Song pp 82-83.

Page 20
Andrew Magrath was, perhaps, the most melodious Gaelic poet of his day; and we believe that few who peruse his song to the air of "Cailín Deas crúidhte na m-Bó," "Pretty Girl Milking the Cows," given in this volume, will dispute the correctness of our opinion.


Page 82
The song referred to on page 20 is
"An Blath-Bhrinnioll," (The Flower Of All Maidens) to the air "Cailín Deas crúidhte na m-Bó," (Pretty Girl Milking the Cows).


The O'Daly biography of Andrew Magrath was referring to the tune "Cailín Deas crúidhte na m-Bó", and not the song.

What was written in Worthies Of Thomond by Robert Herbert was a misinterpretation of the O'Daly biograhy.

So Aindrais Mac Craith was not the author of Cailín Deas crúidhte na m-Bó.


This still leaves the question of who is the author(s) of the versions of Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó mentioned in this thread?

A definitive list of poems by Aindrais Mac Craith would be useful to confirm or deny this conclusion.



"Slán le Maigh"

The song "Slán le Maigh" was composed by Aindrais Mac Craith
The song was composed in 1738 when MacCraith was compelled to leave the parish of Croom by the Parish Priest whom, along with others, took offense to the wording in a poem he wrote about the plight of a young woman which was in contrary to the advice the Priest had given to this woman.
It was suggested by the Priest that he should leave the area, mend his ways and settle down. He did leave the parish but later returned when a new Priest replaced the former.


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