The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #2351   Message #946815
Posted By: GUEST,Philippa
06-May-03 - 06:07 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Seacht Suailci na Maighdine Muire
Subject: Lyr Add: Seacht Suailci na Maighdine Muire
The version sung by Aoife Ní Fhearraigh is slightly different from the lyrics collected/published by Liam Ó Conchubhair (posted above). I don't have her recording, but I have garnered the following from the webpages of Áine Cooke and Séamus Norton
There is no mention of a refrain.
translation below by S Norton and B Dalton
The dictionary translation of 'suáilce' is virtue, joy or blessing. I have seen the song title translated as The Seven Consolations of Mary, which seems appropriate in the context.

SEACHT SUÁILCÍ NA MAIGHDINE MUIRE

An chéad suáilce ' fuair an Mhaighdean Bheannaithe
Ba í sin an tsuáilce mhór
Suáilce a fuair sí óna haonmhac uasal
Go bhfuair sí a haon mhac beo

The first joy the Blessed Virgin received, that was the great joy, a joy she received from her precious (noble) only son, that she got her only son alive [i.e, the gift of his birth & life]

2. An dara suáilce … 2nd joy…, go deachaidh sé a léamh na leabhar.
that he went to the reading of the books

3. an triú suáilce …3rd joy…, gur thug uirthi bláth na n-ord
that s/he brought upon her the propriety (bláth=flower) of the order

4. an ceathrú suáilce … gurbh é fhéin an Slánaitheoir.
that he himself was the Saviour

5. an cúigiú suáilce … go ndearna sé na mairbh beo.
That he made the dead alive

6. An séú suáilce … gur thug sé fíon le hól.
that he gave wine to drink

7. an seachtú suáilce ... go dtabharfadh s+ í suas ar neamh.
that he would bring her up into heaven