The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #47886   Message #715954
Posted By: GUEST,Philippa
23-May-02 - 05:49 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Lairin O Lurtha
Subject: Lairin O Lurtha
This song, from Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin's CD "A Stór is a Stóirín" part 2 of children's songs in Irish, reminded me of 'S ambo éara with its similar pattern. Pádraigín refers to both as "summer carols". The sounds and the sense of the ditty Láirín Ó Lúrtha also put me in mind of Lúibín Ó Lúth

Láirín Ó Lúrtha

Láirín Ó Lúrtha 'gus Ó Lúrtha Lártha,
Shiúilís a' baile seo tamail roimh lá inniu.
Láirín Ó Lúrtha 's Ó Lártha.

Láirín Ó Lúrtha 'gus Ó Lúrtha Lártha,
Má bhí an drucht ann is iontach nár bádh thú
Láirín Ó Lúrtha 's Ó Lártha.

Láirín Ó Lúrtha 'gus Ó Lúrtha Lártha,
Bhí sé ró-iseal is mise r-ard dó.
Láirín Ó Lúrtha 's Ó Lártha.

...Gabh-se cois abhainn is faigh crainnin bláth dhom ...

...Cé acu crann cuilinn nó caorthainn ab fhearr leat? ...

Translation

Láirín Ó Lúrtha 'gus Ó Lúrtha Lártha,
I walked the town for a while before dawn
Láirín Ó Lúrtha 's Ó Lártha.

...If the dew was on the ground it's a wonder you weren't drowned...

...He was too small and I too tall for him...

...You go to the river and get me a floral branch...

...Which would you prefer the holly or the rowan?...

Pádraigín says the correct response to the riddle is the holly tree, which is 9 times more noble than the rowan!