Co. Mhaigh Eo

Amhrán é seo faoi fhear a thugann faoi shaol san arm ach athraíonn sé a intinn agus déanann sé iarracht éalú ach ní éiríonn leis. Cuirtear béim faoi leith ar thábhacht na háite san amhrán seo agus insíonn an reacaire faoin gcumha atá air i ndiaidh a mhuintire agus a áit dhúchais Condae Mhaigh Eo. Tugtar ‘Caiptín Bruadar’ ar an amhrán freisin agus leagtar ar Mhícheál Ó Bruadair a bhí ina chaiptín loinge ar long foghlaithe é.

This is a song about a man who enlists in the army, attempts to abscond but is captured. The song lyrics are mainly about the importance of place as the raconteur describes how much he misses his family and his homeplace, County Mayo in the West of Ireland. The song is also known as ‘Caiptín Bruadar’ and it is said that Mícheál Ó  Bruadair, a captain of a pirate ship, composed the song.

Co. Mhaigh Eo

Ar an loing seo Phaidí Loinsigh ’sea bhímse ag déanamh bróin

Ag osnaíl ins an oíche ’s ag síorghol sa ló

Anois ó dalladh m’intinn is mé i bhfad ó mo mhuintir

Dar m’fhocal, is maith a chaoinimse Contae Mhaigh Eo.

Liostáil mé le sáirsint ’dhul sráid an bhaile mhóir

Mar cheap mé gur bhreá an rud dhom é nuair a bhí mé bocht óg

Ó, thug sé gloine is cárt dhom agus claimhe le mé a ghardáil

Agus dúirt sé go mb’fhearr dhom é ná bheith in Éirinn go fóill.

Is marach bás mo mháthar nach mbeinnse maith go leor

Bheadh buidéal ins gach láimh liom, is mé i gcomhluadar ban óg

Murach síoról na gcártaí, is an dlí a bheith róláidir

Ní i Santa Cruz a fágfaí mo chnámha faoin bhfód.

’S tá Cnoc na Ceathrún Caoile siamsúil go leor

Tá coiligh is cearca fraoigh ann is iad go síoraí ag seinm cheoil

Tá sméara dubha ar chraobha is úllaí boga buí ann

Is géimneach bó is lao ag tíocht do fhéile Muire Mór.

Tá punt is fiche amuigh orm i gContae Mhaigh Eo

Ní rachaidh mé dhá éileamh choíche ná go deo

Ar fhaitíos go mbéarfaí thiar orm is go dtógfaí i ngeall ar fhiacha mé

’S go bhfáiscfí boltaí iarainn d’iallachaí mo bhróg.

Go dtaga Cnoc na Cruaiche ar cuairt don Abhainn Mhór

Go dtaga an toimín luachair ag buachailleacht na mbó

Go n-osclaítear na coraí atá ar mhullach Bheanna Beola

Ní scarfaidh mo chúl go deo leat, a Chontae Mhaigh Eo.

A chomrádaí na dílse, tá mé cloíte go mór

Is dhá bhféadfainn is dhuitse a d’inseoinn dhá thrian de mo bhrón

Ach ós tusa is túisce a chífeas a maireann de mo mhuintir

Ó, tabhair mo bheannacht siar leat go Contae Mhuigheo.

Co. Mhaigh Eo

On Paidí Loinsigh’s ship, I am weary

Sobbing at night and crying in daylight

Now my mind has been dazzled so far from home

My word, I am grieving for County Mayo.

I enlisted with a sergeant as I went through the town

Believing it’s fortune for a poor youth

Oh, he gave me a glass and a quart and a sword to guard me

Saying I was better off now not to be in Ireland.

But for the death of my mother I would be well off

A bottle in each hand, in the company of fine young ladies

If it were not for drinking quarts, and our strict laws

I would not leave my bones under earth in Santa Cruz.

The hill of Ceathrú Chaoil is fun enough

Where the red grouse make their song

There are blackberries on bushes and soft yellow apples

The lowing of cows and calves at the Feast of the Assumption.

There’s a pound and twenty on my head in Mayo

I will not seek it now or ever

Fearing my capture and arrest over debts

And that bolts of iron be attached to my feet.

Until Cnoc na Cruaiche visits Abhainn Mhór

Until the clump of rushes comes herding the cows

Until the release of the weirs on Beanna Beola

I will not forsake you, dear County Mayo.

Loyal comrade, I am deeply subdued

If I were able, I’d share with you two thirds of my load

As you will be the first to see what’s left of my kin

Bring my blessings with you to County Mayo.

Translation: Dairena Ní Chinnéide