Mná na hÉireann (Women of Ireland)

Gealic

Tá bean in Éirinn a phronnfadh séad damh
is mo sháith le n-ól
Is tá bean in Éirinn is ba binne léithe
mo rafla ceoil no seinm théid;
tá bean in Éirinn is níorbh fhearr léi beo
mise ag léimnigh no leagtha i gcré
is mo tharr faoi fhód.

Tá bean in Éirinn a bheadh ag éad liom
mur bhfaighinn ach póg
O bhean ar aonach, nach ait an scéala,
is mo dhaimh féin leo tá bean ab fhearr liom
no cath is céad dhíobh nach bhfagham go deo
Is tá cailín spéiriúil ag fear gan Bhearla,
dubhghránna cróin

Tá bean a dearfadh da siúlainn léithe
go bhfaighinn an t-ór
Is tá bean 'na léine is fearr a méin
no na tainte bó le bean a bhuairfeadh
Baile an Mhaoir agus clar Thir Eoghann,
Is ní fhaicim leigheas ar mo ghalar féin
ach scaird a dh'ól.

Translation:

There's a woman in Erin who'd give me shelter and my fill of ale. There's a woman in Ireland who'd prefer my strains to strings beingplayed. There's a woman in Eirinn and nothing would please her more than to see me burning or in a grave lying cold.

There's a woman in Eirinn who'd be mad with envy if I was kissed by another on fair-day, they have strange ways, but I love them all. There are women I'll always adore, battalions of women and more, and there's this sensuous beauty and she shackled to an ugly boar.

There's a woman who promised if I'd wander with her I'd find some gold. A woman in night dress with a loveliness worth more than the woman who vexed Ballymoyer and the plain of Tyrone. And the only cure for my pain I'm sure is the ale-house down the road...

Sung by Alan Stivell
Music by Seán Ó Riada
Words by Peádar Ó Doirnín (1704-1769)

Dieu le Roy,
de Brantigny