Play recording: Sadhbh Ní Bhruinniligh
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- Teideal (Title): Sadhbh Ní Bhruinniligh.
- Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 853917.
- Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
- Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): none.
- Uimhir Laws (Laws Number): none.
- Uimhir Child (Child Number): none.
- Cnuasach (Collection): Joe Heaney Collection, University of Washington, Seattle.
- Teanga na Croímhíre (Core-Item Language): Irish.
- Catagóir (Category): song.
- Ainm an té a thug (Name of Informant): Joe Heaney.
- Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): Lucy Simpson.
- Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): 04/11/1980.
- Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
- Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): private.
- Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): unavailable.
- Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.
…It’s about a little girl, in fact. In the words of the song, you’d think the girl was a grown-up girl, you know, but she was beautiful – like Peigín Leitir Móir. And everybody was supposed to be looking out for this girl, whoever passed by – she was so beautiful that everybody was looking out for her. Even the fishermen, when they were going to their boats, they used to dip their sails when they were passing her house.
Ní iarrfainn de spré le Sadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
Ach baile Inis Gé is cead éaló ar choiníní
Óró, a Shadhbh, a Shadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
A chuisle is a stóirín, éalaigh is imigh liom!
Máistír báid mhóir mé ag dul ród na Gaillimhe
D’fhliuchfainn naoi bhfód is ní thógfainn aon fharraige
Óró, a Shadhbh, a Shadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
A chuisle is a stóirín, éalaigh is imigh liom!
Máistir báid mhóir go deo ní ghlacfad
Nuair a fhaigheann siad an chóir is dóigh nach bhfanann siad
Óró, a Shadhbh, a Shadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
A chuisle is a stóirín, éalaigh is imigh liom!
Fear maith i mbád mé, togha fear iomartha
Fear sluasaid is láí ar dhá cheann an iomaire
Óró, a Shadhbh, a Shadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
A chuisle is a stóirín, éalaigh is imigh liom!
Máistir báid mhóir go deo ní ghlacfaidh mé
Nuair a fhaigheann siad an chóir is dóigh nach bhfanann siad
Óró, a Shadhbh, a Shadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
A chuisle is a stóirín, éalaigh is imigh liom!
Translation
The only dowry I’d request with Sadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
Would be Goose Island and permission to creep up on rabbits.
Oh, Sadhbh, Sadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
My dear and my treasure, elope and come away with me!
I’m a ship’s master on the Galway roads
I’d dampen nine sods of turf and I wouldn’t take on any sea-water.
Oh, Sadhbh, Sadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
My dear and my treasure, elope and come away with me!
Oh, a ship’s master I’d never accept
When they get what they want they likely won’t stay!
Oh, Sadhbh, Sadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
My dear and my treasure, elope and come away with me!
I’m a good man in a boat, a great oarsman
And a good man with shovel and loy at both ends of the ridge.
Oh, Sadhbh, Sadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
My dear and my treasure, elope and come away with me!
Oh, a ship’s master I’d never accept
When they get what they want they’re off and away!
Oh, Sadhbh, Sadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
My dear and my treasure, elope and come away with me!
Notes
This song appears on two of Joe’s commercial recordings. He usually includes this additional verse:
Níl folach a cabhaile ar Shadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
Ach sean-chóitín donn gan chabhail gan mhuinchille.
Óró, a Shadhbh, a Shadhbh Ní Bhruinneallaigh
A chuisle is a stóirín, éalaigh is imigh liom!
The Irish female personal name ‘Sadhbh’ is traditionally pronounced ‘sau’ in Conamara and should always be pronounced that way when singing this song. The Donegal pronunciation is similar but ends with a gentle ‘-a’ sound. The more generally encountered ‘sive’ is the Munster pronunciation. The modern popularity of this form may be connected to the play by John B. Keane but is probably also a consequence of the unfortunate similarity between the sound of ‘sau’ and the English word for a female pig.