Ó ‘ Bhean an Tí

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  • Teideal (Title): Ó Bhean an Tí.
  • Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 850111.
  • 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 1979-1981.
  • 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.

Éirigí suas a thogha na bhfear
Is cuirigí píce ar bharr gach sleá
Leagaigí síos iad lucht an droch-chaoí
Agus cuirigí dlí na Fraince ar bun.
Agus ó, ‘ bhean an tí, cén bhuairt sin ort?

Ó bhean an tí, faoi dhó nó thrí
Beidh an talamh gan chíos ón mbliain seo amach
Agus ó, ‘ bhean an tí, cén bhuairt sin ort?

Tá jug ar an mbord is an cárt le n-ais
Tá airgead is ór ag an Duke of York
Tá na Francaigh is na Spáinnigh i gcuantaí Fionn Trá
Mar measaim na sárfhir thar chomhráití ban
Agus ó, ‘ bhean an tí, cén bhuairt sin ort?

Ó bhean an tí, faoi dhó nó thrí
Beidh an talamh gan chíos ón mbliain seo amach
Agus ó, ‘ bhean an tí, cén bhuairt sin ort?

Translation

Arise up, you best of men,
And fix a point to every spear;
Mow down the evil ones
and institute the law of France,
And oh, woman of the house, what’s ailing you?

Oh, woman of the house, twice or three times,
The land will be rent-free from this year onwards –
And oh, woman of the house, what’s ailing you?

The jug’s on the table and the quart alongside;
The Duke of York has silver and gold;
The French and the Spanish are at Bantry Bay;
And I’ve greater respect for the heroes than for the chatter of women –
And oh, woman of the house, what’s ailing you?

Oh, woman of the house, twice or three times,
The land will be rent-free from this year onwards –
And oh, woman of the house, what’s ailing you?

Notes

This song dates from the period of 1796-98, when leaders of the Society of United Irishmen hoped that help from abroad would enable them to drive the English out. The plan failed; the attempted landing at Bantry Bay in 1796 was prevented by bad weather; and the eventual landing, in 1798, of 1,000 Frenchmen with General Humbert in County Mayo was too late to be of any use, the rebellion having been brutally repressed by the English in the intervening months.

For additional verses and some discussion, see Ríonach uí Ógáin (ed.), Faoi Rothaí na Gréine: Amhráin as Conamara a Bhailigh Máirtín Ó Cadhain (Dublin, 1999), 163-4.