Plúirín na mBan Donn Óg

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  • Teideal (Title): Plúirín na mBan Donn Óg.
  • Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 850105.
  • 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): James Cowdery.
  • Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): between 1979 and 1981.
  • Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 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.

An dtiocfá liom go Contae Liatroma
Dúirt plúirín1 na mban donn óg
Thabharfainn bia agus lón gach oíche duit
Deir plúirín na mban donn óg
Míle céad a b’fhearr liom bheith ariamh gan fear
Ná a bheith ag siúl an drúchta is na bhfásach leat
Mar gur thug mo chroí dhuit grá is gean2
Dúirt plúirín na mban donn óg.

Ní thiocfaidh mé leat, is níl aon mhaith dhuit a bheith m’ iarraidh
Dúirt plúirín na mban donn óg
Ní choinneodh do bhriathra beo gan bia mé
Dúirt plúirín na mban donn óg
B’fhearr liom féin bheith ariamh gan fear
Ná a bheith ag siúl an drúchta is na bhfásach leat
Mar thug mo chroí dhuit grá is gean
Dúirt plúirín na mban donn óg.

Translation

‘Would you come with me to County Leitrim?’
Said the flower of young brown-haired women.
‘I would you give you food and a meal every night,’
Says the flower of young brown-haired women.
‘I would a thousand times rather be without a man forever
Than to be walking through the dew and the wilderness with you;
For my heart gave you love and affection,’
Said the flower of young brown-haired women.

‘I won’t come with you, and it’s no good your asking me,’ ‑
Said the flower of young brown-haired women.
‘Your words won’t keep me alive without food,’
Said the flower of young brown-haired women.
‘I’d rather be without a man forever
Than to be walking through the dew and the wilderness with you;
For my heart gave you love and affection,’
Said the flower of young brown-haired women.

Notes

1. This is one of those songs that depend on dialogue – and in the case of this well-known Munster song, the sense of who is speaking has perhaps got muddled in transmission. Printed versions of the text give ‘a phlúirín na mban donn óg’ – ‘oh flower of young brown-haired women’ – in other words, the singer is addressing the young woman, rather than quoting her. This makes sense, as he is seeking to persuade her to come away with him.

2. This line – where the woman is replying to the man’s invitation – should probably be (as Joe indeed has it on another occasion) ‘mar níor thug mo chroí dhuit grá nó gean’ – ‘ for my heart gave neither love nor affection to you.’ – in other words, she never loved him anyway.

For a more complete text, see An tAth. Pádraig Breathnach, Ar gCeol Féinig (Dublin, 1920), p. 60.