MALAÍ MHÓMHAR
Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Gunna

A Mhalaí Mhómhar, dá siúlfa an ód liom,
Ba deas do lóistín ag teacht na hoích',
Bheadh fliúit is orgán ag seinm ceoil duit
A thógfadh an brón is an tuirse díot;
Buideál beorach ina suí ar bord
Agus scata ógmhná lena thaobh,
'S a mhaighre mhómhar, dá mbeinn ag ól leat,
Bheinn do do phógadh is ba é siúd mo mhian.

Shiúil mé Éire is a roinnt ina dhiaidh sin,
Agus go Binn Éadair ina mbíodh mo ghrá,
Chan fhaca mé aon neach ariamh san méid sin,
A ghabhfainn ar aon ort, a Mhalaí bhán.
Mná na hÉireann is bíodh siad ar aon chnoc,
Uilig an tsaoil agus fir Chríoch Fáil,
Go ndéarfadh an meid sin `s a gcuala an scéala
Go dtug ú an chraobh leat ón uile mhná.

[an bhean]
Cá bhfuil an féirin a gheall tú inné domh,
Mo ghúna craobhach ar dhath an óir,
Mo chaipín gléasta a dhul romham sa ród?
Gheall tú cúirt a chur i lár do dhúthaí domh,
Is chan fhuair mé ansiúd ach mar chabán bó,
Mo chosa scrúdta ar mhaide an lústair,
Ag sníomh an túirne gan aon snáithe bróg.

[Cathal]
Bhí bean uasal seal á lua liom,
Ach thug sí fuath domh, faraor géar;
Phós mé guairne na malaí gruama,
Is rinne sí gual de mo chroí go léir.
Dá bhfuighim a ceann a chur faoi an tumba,
Is deimhin go mbeinn ar mo bháire féin;
Tá mé millte dá mba ghar dom insint,
Is beidh Céit is Neansaí ag gol `mo dhiaidh.

As published in Éinrí Ó Muirgheasa, "Céad de Cheoltaibh Uladh". (first published 1915, new edition edited by Br. Beausang published 1983)

The poet says if Molly travels with him she'll hear music of flute and organ and there will be beer on the table. Molly thinks little of the promises; she says she's in the cottage chafing her feet on the spinning wheel. I notice many lines which are shared with other songs, including the famous "Bhí bean uasal..." of Carrickfergus macaronic versions.

According to Ó Muirgheasa, Cathal Buí (author of several songs including this one and An Bonnán Buí) "was one of the best known of Ulster poets, though one of rather secondary rank." According to Ó Muirgheasa's informant Nancy Tracey of Beann-na-bhfraochan near Greencastle, Tyrone, whom Ó Muirgheasa met in 1909, Cathal had had three or four wives, including Mailigh Mhódhmhar (Malaí Mhómhar, Modest Molly) , Nancy Quigley and Kate __) "It is plain from the last verse that he was acquainted and even familiar with Kate and Nancy while married to Molly. There was another verse wherein he laments his wild life and prays:-

'Mo chroí go leontar, má ghním go deoidh é.
Go dté mo chónra ins an talamh síos,
Ag guí i gcónaí ó Rí na Glóire
Na peacaí móra a thógaint diom.'

It seems to have but little connection with the foregoing part of the song; hence I've omitted it."

Ciarili, is the Cathal Buí song the one that Conal sings? And does he use the tune of Boolavogue?

ANNOUNCEMENT: Cathal Buí Summer School and Festival of the Arts 27 June- 1 July 2002 "an extended weekend of lectures, workshops, music, drama and dance by the beautiful Lough Macnean to commemorate the work and spirit of Cathal Buí MacGiolla Ghunna (c 1680-1750)" will take place in Blacklion, Co Cavan and Belcoo, Co Fermanagh. Poetry in Irish and various dialects of English including "Ulster Scots" , crafts workshops, horticulture exhibition, lectures (journalist John Waters on The Media and Public Interest, Rev Brian Kennaway on The Place of Orangeism in Irish Society, etc) - the programme seems to me to be too diverse, unfocused! Not mentioned, but inevitable at an Éigse in honour of Cathal Buí, there will also be drinking activities. The Lion of Blacklion is not a big cat, but 'Laigheann' (also the Irish for Leinster, I think it is a type of plain). Belcoo is Ulster Scots for a lovely cow.(Nach bhfuil 'béal cumhra' orm!)
contact for the summer school: cathalbui@hotmail.com