Lyr Req: Na Fataí Bána

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Na Fataí Bána
From: GUEST,GUEST E. Moore Quinn
Date: 22 Feb 22 - 12:41 PM

Listen to a few verses of Ná Fataí Bána read by Cathal Póirtéir as he narrates at one of the stops along Ireland's National Famine Way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8JVk79ddgc

If anyone has a translation of the complete poem -- all 33 verses -- I would appreciate it.
Thank you in advance.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Na Fataí Bána
From: GUEST,Elizabeth López
Date: 20 Mar 13 - 08:00 AM

Thanks for all this comments which I found very interesting for my MA Ethnomusicology Thesis (IWAMD - University of Limerick) and preparation of my performance repertoir about "Sean nós songs on Famine".
In the other hand I've been searching for the lyric and music of "An Droch Shaoghal"/The bad life - (West Cork) without a result. If any of you know about it PLEASE let me know. I've to learn the song for next 25 April. Thanks a million. All the best!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Na Fataí Bána
From: GUEST,DK
Date: 31 Aug 12 - 04:29 AM

Sorry, I don't have the music, the book - Filiócht na gCallanán - doesn't have any musical notation at all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Na Fataí Bána
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 03:35 PM

Another translation of verse 1 by Thomas Chapman:
A long farewell from the white potatoes
How great the happiness they could afford
How glad they made us when they came before us
With faces smiling from the board.
(no more)

"The Great Famine, Ireland's Agony, 1845-1852," Ciarán Ó Murchadha, 2011, Continuum Books, London, NY.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Na Fataí Bána
From: GUEST,benedict
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 02:46 PM

Is it possible that you have the sheet music for this song?   Thank you

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Na Fataí Bána
From: GUEST,DK
Date: 12 Feb 09 - 01:35 AM

I would have posted this before, had I thought that anyone would want it complete.


1. Mo mhíle slán do na fataí bána,
Ba subhach an áit a bheith in aice leo,
Ba fáilí soineannta iad ag tíocht chun láithreach,
Agus iad ag gáirí linn ar cheann an bhoird.

2. Ba chabhair don bhanaltra iad, don fhear is don gharlach,
Don lag is don láidir, don óg is don chríon,
Ach fáth mo dhocharna is ábhar m'angair,
Gur lobh na preátaí gan sioc ná síon.

3. Céard a cheannós bráithlín don fhear a sinfear
Tobac ná píopaí ná cónra chláir
Ach Ard Rí Fhlaithúnais le cabhair is slí 'gainn
Agus ar ndóigh b'aoibhinn dhúinn dhá bhfaigheadh muid bás.

3. Is é mo dhíobháil dheachrach, is mo ghalra dubhchroioch,
Na fataí ag dúchan ins gach ceárd den domhan,
Na gais crion seargtha ón gcéad lá Lúnas',
Gan bláth ná snua orthu ach mar bheadh faoi Shamhain.

4. Nach é seo an scéal docharnach ag tíocht an Fhómhair,
An t-údar bróin dúinn agus briseadii croí,
An bheatha a chleachtamar i dtús ár n-óige,
Bheith lofa dreoite gan mhaith gan bhrí.

5. Ba iad ár gcaraid iad ó am ár gcliabháin,
Ach is é mo dhiobháil iad imeacht uainn,
Ba mhaith an cliuideacht iad is an t-údar rinnce,
Bhiodh spóirt is siamsa aqainn in aice leo.

6. Ba iad an bhanaltra iad a bhíodh ár mbréagadh,
In aimsir béilí de ló is d'oíche,
Faoi chaoi do leanbhaí ba cheann maith réitigh iad,
Go moch ag éirí dhóibh is ag dul a lui.

7. Mile bliain agus a hocht de chéadta,
Dhá fhichead gan bhréig is a sé ina cheann,
Ó thuirling an Slánaitheoir i gcolainn daonna,
Go dtáinig léanscrios ar fhataí an domhain.

8. Sin é an dáta is ní fáth gan ábhar,
A mbeidh cuimhne is trácht air i gcaitheamh an tsaoil,
Mar níor tháinig uireasa dhá mhéad a cháilíocht,
Is mó ??ntan is easba an bhídh.

9. Tá teach an ospidéil is an poorhouse líonta,
Agus coirp á síneadh ann go domhain i gcré,
Is gan ann de sholamar de ló nó d'oíche,
Ach praiseach bhuí acu dhá cheann an lae.

10. Is iomaí duine bocht de bharr an scéil seo,
Nach bhfuil thar béile aige go ceann den ló,
Gan buaile ar chnoc aige a thabharfadh braon dó,
Na seisreach gléasta le dhul chun fóid.

11. Gan ór gan airgead, gan creidiúint shaolta,
Gan tnúth le tréan againn ach amháin le Dia,
Ach muintir Shasana ag tabhairt páí lae dhúinn,
Dhá bhonn ar éigin gan deoch gan bia.

12. Is iomaí teach a bhfuil ochtar daoine ann,
Is gan fear le saothrú ach aon duine amháin,
Siúd pingin don duine acu, gan caint ar an tSaoire,
Agus lá na díleann níl faic le fáil.

14. Tá daoine uaisle i mbuaic an tsaoil seo,
Tá puins is fíon acu dá n-ól ar chlár,
Tá feoil dá halpadh acu go méirleach craosach,
Gan trua ná daonnacht do fhear an chaill.

15. Ach is baolach dhaofa go mbeidh dhá chaoineadh,
In Ifreann thíos ins na lasracha,
Mar atá Dívés ag fulaingt pianta,
An uair nár roinn sé le Lasarus.

16. Ní fhaca súile is ní chuala cluasa,
Ní bhfuair sibh tuairisc ar a leath ná a thrian,
Is olc an lóistín atá faoin ár dtuairim,
Más i ndán dúinn gluaiseacht go tine na bpian.

17. Clann Adhaimh is Éabha uilig is a bheith ina gcléirigh,
Agus a dhul le chéile dhóibh ar fad ag scriobh,
Piantaí Ifrinn ní chuirfeadh i gcéill dúinn,
Ach Rí na gCréachta go dtuga ár n-anam saor.

18. Nuair a bhí ár Sinsir i nGairdín Phárthais,
Bhí an bheatha ag fás dóibh ar bharr an chrainn,
Gan duais gan easonóir gan allas cnámha,
Ach riar a gcáis acu gach uair is gach am.

19. Gur labhair an tÁibhirseoir i mbéal na péiste,
Agus dúirt le Éabh dá mbaint' an t-úll,
Go mbeadh sí cumhachtach mar an Tríonóid Naofa,
Is nár bhaol an t-éag di ná an galra dubhach.

20. Do bhris sí an aithne úd thar toil an Ard-Rí,
Agus ceapadh bás dúinn, céad faraor géar!
Ach fáth mo dhocharna níorbh é ba chás dúinn,
Ach cailleadh ár státa ar Fhlaitheas Dé.

21. Gur ghlac an Slánaitheoir trua agus daonnacht,
Don chine daonna a bheith ag dul i léig,
Gur fhulaing Sé Bás agus Páis na hAoine,
Ag tabhairt fáil arís dúinn ar Fhlaitheas Dé.

22. Peaca marfa ní maith le déanamh,
Is d'achtaigh Críost dúinn gan cuimilt leo,
Mar tá tnúth agus fearg, saint is craos,
Drúis, díomas, leisc is gleo.

23. Té níos na peacaí seo is nach gcuireann suim iontu,
Gan an aithri a dhéanamh go dtéann sé thar am,
Sin é a thuarastal mar dhualgas saothair,
Bheith in Ifreann thíos ann i measc na ndeamhan.

24. Is iad ár bpeacaí a tharraing gach sciúirse orainn,
Agus a d'fhág faoi chluain sinn ag an Áibhirseoir,
Is iad ár bpeacaí a dhíbríonns uainne,
Na grástaí a fuair muid ón Slánaitheoir.

25. Is iad ár bpeacaí in am na Díleann,
A d'fhág na mílte ins an duibheagán,
Ní raibh san domhain ar fad ach ochtar daoine,
A fuair cluiche saor lena thíochtain slán.

26. Déanaidh bhúr n-aithri agus silidh bhúr ndeora,
Is bíodh muinín inhór agaibh as grásta Dé,
As lár na farraige thus sé Jonas,
Nuair a bhí sé ar lóistín i gcorp an éisc.

27. Thug sé Maoise agus a mhuintir slán leis,
Nuair a lean Fáró iad ins an Muir Rua,
Ní raibh long ná currach ann le dhul chun snámha acu,
Ach cumhacht an Ard-Rí dá dtabhairt chun cuain.

28. Thug Sé an triúr leis as an bhfoirnéis chraosach,
A fadaíodh síos lena ligean ann,
Thug Sé Lot agus a bheirt iníon saor leis,
Nuair a loisceadh síos Cathair Ghomorá.

29. Thóg Sé Lasarus a raibh clocha agus fóid air,
Is é marbh reoite ins an bhfuaralach,
Tog ár n-anamnacha a Rí na Glóire,
Is ná léig thar tórainn sinn le Lúisifear.

30. Má bhíonn tú i bpeaca mar bhí na loibhreacháin,
Tá seacht n-oibreacha le do dhéanamh slán,
Mar tá Baisteadh is Aithrí is Corp an Tiarna,
Ach iad siúd iarraidh gach am is call.

31. Dul faoi Láimh Easpaig, Ord, agus Pósadh,
Agus an Ola a thóraiocht in am ár n-éag,
An té a dhéanfadh sin, 's gan na hAitheanta a leonadh,
Bheadh sé mar lóchrann i bhFlaitheas Dé.

32. Dhein Tú an Phaidir, a Thiarna, is Tú ar Do ghlúine,
Agus cheap Tú dhúinne ár mbia gach lá,
Déan anois linn de réir mar dúrais,
Is ná léig le fuaidreamh sinn ná le fán.

33. Tabhair inniu dúinn ár n-arán laethúil,
Agus tabhair mar an gcéanna dúinn i gcaitheamh ár saoil,
Is nuair fhágfas an t-anam bocht an cholainn daonna,
Tabhair ar féasta sinn go Flaitheas naomh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Na Fataí Bána
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Feb 09 - 07:23 PM

So - has anyone got the whole poem?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req. Na Fataí Bána
From: GUEST,DK
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 02:34 AM

Thanks, Declan.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req. Na Fataí Bána
From: Declan
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 02:08 PM

The last two lines translate litterally as

But High King of Generosity with help and a way for us,
And of course it would be wonderful for us if we died.

Subject: RE: Lyric Req. Na Fataí Bána
From: GUEST,DK
Date: 27 Jun 07 - 08:44 AM

These are the verses that Liam O Maonlai sings, they are 1, 2 & 13 from a total of thirty-three.
The poem came to me courtesy of the British Library (much appreciated) and the translation is from
Paddy Moloney, lacking a line in the last verse.


Na Fataí Bána/White Potatoes


Mo mhíle slán do na fataí bána,
Ba subhach an áit a bheith in aice leo,
Ba fáilí soineannta iad ag tíocht chun láithreach,
Agus iad ag gáirí linn ar cheann an bhoird.

Ba chabhair don bhanaltra iad, don fhear is don gharlach,
Don lag is don láidir, don óg is don chríon,
Ach fáth mo dhocharna is ábhar m'angair,
Gur lobh na preátaí gan sioc ná síon.
 
Céard a cheannós bráithlín don fhear a sinfear
Tobac ná píopaí ná cónra chláir
Ach Ard Rí Fhlaithúnais le cabhair is slí 'gainn
Agus ar ndóigh b'aoibhinn dhúinn dhá bhfaigheadh muid bás.

A thousand farewells to the white potatoes
For as long as we had them, a pleasant hoard
Affable innocent, coming into our company
As they laughed us at the head of the board.

They were help to the nurse, to the man and the child,
To the weak and the strong, to the young and the old
But the cause of my sorrow, my grief, my affliction
Them rotting away, without frost, without cold.

What will buy a shroud for those to be buried?
Tobacco, pipes or a coffin of wood?
And, of course, it would be a release if we could.

Subject: RE: Lyric Req. Na Fataí Bána
From: Brían
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 09:33 AM

Thanks. I am pretty sure fataí is a connemara expression. Don't worry about putting me out. I enjoy puzzles.

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyric Req. Na Fataí Bána
From: GUEST,DK
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 07:10 AM

Just this Brian, but don't put yourself out too much on my behalf.

Peatsaí Ó Callanán (1791-1865) wrote "Na Fataí Bána" ["The White Potatoes"], a thirty-three verse
lament on the state of Ireland in 1846.

Subject: RE: Lyric Req. Na Fataí Bána
From: Brían
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 06:48 AM

I don't have it at my local library. I may have it in a book I haven't found yet. It sounds familiar. Do you have any biography of the composer, Peatsaí Ó Callanán?

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyric Req. Na Fataí Bána
From: Brían
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 06:41 AM

I found a reference to it in being in volume 586 of
The Cambridge history of Irish literature - Volume 1 to 1890 - Edited by Margaret Kelleher and Philip O'Leary
Maybe it can be found at a library.

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyric Req. Na Fataí Bána
From: GUEST,DK
Date: 10 Jun 07 - 01:10 AM

Thanks, Brian. No it's not Na Prataí Dubha, I have three verses only from a Spanish site, O Maonlai
uses No. 13 as his third/last verse, I think there are over twenty verses altogether.


5. Ba iad ár gceáirde iad ó am ár gelaibháin
Ach is é mo dhíobháil iad imeacht uainn
Ba mhaith an chuideacht iad is an t-údar rince
Biodh spóirt is siamsa againn in aice leo.

8. Sin é an dáta is níl fáth gan ábhar
A mbeidh cuimhne is trácht air i gcaitheamh an tsaoil
Mar níor tháinig uireasa dá mhéad a cháiliocht
Is mó na gantann in easpa an bhídh.

13. Céard a cheannós bráithlín don fhear a sinfear
Tobac ná píopaí ná cónra chláir
Ach Ard Rí Fhlaithúnais le cabhair is slí 'gainn
Agus ar ndóigh b'aoibhinn dhúinn dhá bhfaigheadh muid bás.

Subject: RE: Lyric Req. Na Fataí Bána
From: Brían
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 11:39 PM

Something about this song sounds familiar, but I haven't been able to locate it. There is a song called, Na Prataí Dubha, but I don't think it's the one you're looking for. I'll bring this back to the top and maybe it'll rattle someone's cloigeann

Brían

Subject: Lyric Req. Na Fataí Bána
From: GUEST,DK
Date: 09 Jun 07 - 12:23 AM

Does anyone have the Gaelic words for 'Na Fataí Bána' by Peatsaí Ó Callanán? Liam O Maonlai sings it,
or three verses anyway, on 'Long Journey Home.' the first verse starts with something like Mo mhile
slan do na fatai bana, but my Gaelic is nowhere near good enough to transcribe the whole song.