Play recording: Brídín Bhéasaigh
view / hide recording details [+/-]
- Teideal (Title): Brídín Bhéasaigh.
- Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 850110.
- 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.
Phósfainn Brídín Bhéasaigh gan stoca, bróg ná léine
A stór mo chroí, dhá bhféadfainn é throiscinn(?) leat trí ráithe
Gan bia, gan deoch, gan aon rud, ar oileán in Loch Éirne
D’fhonn mé ‘gus tú a bheith in éindí go réitfímid ár gcás.
A ghruaidh ar dhath na gcaora, ‘s a chuaichín bharr an tsléibhe,
Do gheallúint ná déan bréaga liom, ach éirigh leis an lá,
‘S in ainneoin dlí na cléire, ó, phósfainn thú mar fhéirín
‘S a Dhia, nár dheas an scéal sin duine ag éalú lena ghrá.
Translation
I would marry Bridget Vesey without stocking, shoe, or shirt; my darling, if I could I would fast three seasons with you without food, drink, or anything on an island in Lough Erne, just for the sake of our being together to settle things between us.
Oh, cheek the colour of sloes! Little cuckoo of the hilltop! Your promise not to tell me lies, but get up early, and despite the law of the clergy I would marry you as a fairing (i.e. a keepsake), and oh, God! Isn’t that a wonderful story – a man eloping with his love?
Notes
Joe tells Jim Cowdery that he hasn’t sung this in forty years, and that he can recall only one verse – in the event, he manages two – of this song by the poet Raftery. See Douglas Hyde, Abhráin agus Dánta an Reachtabhraigh (Dublin, 1933), 101-108.
See also this version of the song by Tom Pháidín Tom.