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- Teideal (Title): Beidh Aonach Amárach i gContae an Chláir.
- Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 840124.
- 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 and English.
- Catagóir (Category): song.
- Ainm an té a thug (Name of Informant): Joe Heaney.
- Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): unavailable.
- Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): 07/02/1984.
- Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): University of Washington, United States of America.
- Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): evening class.
- Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): unavailable.
- Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.
Beidh aonach amárach i gContae an Chláir
Beidh aonach amárach i gContae an Chláir
Beidh aonach amárach i gContae an Chláir
Cén mhaith dom é? Ní bheith mé ann.
‘A Mháithrín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A Mháithrín an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A Mháithrín an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A stóirín-ó, ná h-éiligh é1.’
Tá mé i ngrá le gréasaí bróg
Tá mé i ngrá le gréasaí bróg
Tá mé i ngrá le gréasaí bróg
Mara bhfaighidh mé é ní bheidh mé beo.
‘A Mháithrín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A Mháithrín an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A Mháithrín an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A stóirín-ó, ná h-éiligh é.’
‘Níl tú deich ná haon-déag fós!’
‘Níl tú deich ná haon-déag fós!’
‘Níl tú deich ná haon-déag fós!’
‘Nuair a bhéas mé trí-déag beidh mé mór.’
‘A Mháithrín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A Mháithrín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A Mháithrín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A stóirín-ó, ná h-éiligh é.’
B’fhearr liom féin mo ghréasaí bróg
B’fhearr liom féin mo ghréasaí bróg
B’fhearr liom féin mo ghréasaí bróg
Ná oifigeach airm faoina lásaí óir2.
‘A Mháithrín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A Mháithrín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A Mháithrín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?’
‘A stóirín-ó, ná h-éiligh é.’
Translation
There’s a fair tomorrow in County Clare
There’s a fair tomorrow in County Clare
There’s a fair tomorrow in County Clare
What good it’s to me, I won’t be there!
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
My dearest dear, I do not dare!
I’m in love with a shoemaker
I’m in love with a shoemaker
I’m in love with a shoemaker
If I don’t get him, I won’t live!
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
My dearest dear, I do not dare!
You’re not ten or eleven yet!
You’re not ten or eleven yet!
You’re not ten or eleven yet!
When I am thirteen, I’ll be big
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
My dearest dear, I do not dare!
I prefer my shoemaker
I prefer my shoemaker
I prefer my shoemaker
To an army captain with lace and frills!
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
Oh, Mother, will you let me go to the fair?
My dearest dear, I do not dare!
Notes
1. The literal translation of ná h-éiligh é would be ‘do not demand it’.
2. The literal translation of faoina lásaí óir would be ‘under his gold laces’.
This song, familiar to schoolchildren and Irish language-learners around the country, would likely have been dismissed as a ‘school song’ by the people in Joe’s community.
Even so, it represents a venerable type of song which Seán Ó Tuama termed the débat grá or ‘love debate’. The subject matter of the song which, as here, takes the form of an argument between a girl and her mother about matters of the heart, has its roots in the troubadour and trouvère traditions of 12th-century France.
The translation here is the one Joe himself developed for his students, a fairly literal rendering that has the added benefit of being singable. He was fond of using this song as a sing-along in his classes, and he often placed it, as he does here, at the end of the evening. Compare the rendition here with the full-speed-ahead version on another recording, when he performs it in a medley with An bhFaca Tú mo Shéamaisín?.