TRÁTHNÓNA BEAG ARÉIR Séamas Ó Grianna ("Máire")

Thíos i lár an ghleanna
Tráthnóna beag aréir
'S an drúcht ina dheora geala
Ina luí ar bharr an fhéir
'S ea casadh domsa an ainnir
Ab aille cruth is pearsa
'S í a sheol mo stuaim chun seachráin
Tráthnóna beag réir

Agus a Rí nár lách ár n-ealaín, ' gabháil síos an gleann aréir
Ag éalú fríd an chanach, agus ciúnas ins an spéir
órú rún mo chléibh nár mhilis ár súgradh croí 's nár goirid
'S a Rí na Glóire Gile, tabhair ar ais an oíche aréir

Dá bhfaighinnse arís cead pilleadh
'gus labhairt le stór mo chléibh
Nó dá bhfaighinnse bua ar chinniúint
Cér mhiste liom fán saol
Shiúlfainn leat fríd chanach
's fríd mhéilte ar chiumhas na mara
agus dúiched Dé dá gcaillfinn
Go bpógfainnse do bhéal.

Agus a Rí nár lách ár n-ealaín, ' gabháil síos an gleann aréir
Ag éalú fríd an chanach, agus ciúnas ins an spéir
órú rún mo chléibh nár mhilis ár súgradh croí 's nár goirid
'S a Rí na Glóire Gile, tabhair ar ais an oíche aréir

Translation by Risteard Mac Gabhann *

Down in the middle of the glen
Late yesterday evening
With the dew in bright droplets
Lying on the tips of the grass.
It's there I met the lass,
The loveliest in appearance and in person[ality]
't was she [who] drove my wits to distraction,
Late yesterday morning.

(chorus)
And Lord, wasn't our pleaure sweet, going down the gleans last night
Stealing through the cotton grass with stillness in the air,
Oh, wasn't it sweet my love, our tender play, and wasn't it short?
Oh King of Glory, bring back last night.

If I were permitted to go back
And speak to my heart's desire,
Or if I were to defeat fate,
What would I care about life.
I'd wal with you through the glenside (the cotton grass)
and the dunes on the seas's edge,
And if I were to lose heaven
That I might kiss your lips.

(* I'm not sure whether this is Risteard's own translation or if it is from Seosamh Ó Dochartaigh though usually Risteard does his own translations)


Translation from Celtic Lyrics Corner

Late Yesterday Evening

Down in the middle of the glen
Late yesterday evening
And there were white drops of dew
Lying on top of the grass
I met a maiden who had
The prettiest face and personality
She made my good sense go astray
Late yesterday evening

And God, how pleasant our behavior was
Going down the glen last night
Stealing through the cotton-grass
And there was silence in the sky
Love of my heart, wasn't our
Heart-playing sweet and short?
Oh King of the bright glory
Bring back last night

If I got permission to return
And to speak to the love of my heart
Or if I got the better of destiny
What would I care about life?
I'd walk with you through cotton-grass
And through dunes by the edge of the sea
And God's land I'd lose
If I could kiss your mouth

-------------------------
some recordings on Youtube

Connie Mhary Mhicí Ó Gallchóir

Albert Fry

Clann Mhic Ruairi

also recorded by Clannad, Seosamh Ó Dochartaigh, Pádraig Mac Niocall, Maria McCool and Gearóidín Breathnach (Gearóidín Neidí Frainc)