Slán le hÉireann (1860s)
Composed by a member of the De Paor family
Collected in Coill Íseal, Ceapach Chuinn, Co. Phort Láirge, in 1936 and preserved through the National Folklore Collection, UCD. If there was originally a tune for the poem to be sung to, this does not appear to have survived.
This emigrant song was composed by a member of the de Paor family upon their eviction and removal to Canada by their landlord. It is clear from the words that the composer is grieved to be leaving Ireland while also praising the life he expects across in Canada (possibly to convince his wife to come with him).
Doyle, Henry. 1868. “Ireland and America.” Cusack, Mary Francis. An Illustrated History of Ireland from the Earliest Period. Longmans, Green & Co: London.
Aréir im luí dhom go tréith, lag, sínte
Ag déanamh smaoineadh ar néaltaibh suain
Do phreab mé féin suas is chorraigh m'intinn
Nuair chualas á insint go raibh an long sa chuan.
Last night lying feebly, weak, stretched
Thinking while having a small rest
I leapt myself up and stirred my mind
When I heard it said that the ship was in the harbour.
Do dhein mé smaoineamh gurbh fhada an tslí é
Ar uisce doimhin is an áit ró-fhuar
'Sé dúirt an cladhaire bhí im’ thabhairt óm' mhuintir
“Déin tine d'adhmad is ní baol duit fuacht”
I did think that the way would be long
Upon deep water and the place too cold
The villain taking me from my people did say
“Make a fire of wood and the cold will be no danger to you”
Sé dúirt an spéirbhean gurbh olc an léann é
Nó b’fhearr mar spré é ná an 'Mountain Lot'
Nuair a chualas an méid sin is beag nár d'éagas
Cé gur beag mar éifeacht é glórtha ban.
The beautiful woman did say that it was bad counsel
But better it as a dowry than the ‘Mountain Lot’
When I heard that I almost died
Although small is the force of a woman’s voice
Imeoidh mé féineach is ní bheadh ag plé leat
Pé áit in Éirinn do gheobhaidh mé sos
Tairse féineach ó d'mhuintir Gaelach
‘Sé rá gach éinne gurb é ár leas
I will depart myself and I would not discuss with you
Whatsoever place in Ireland I will pause
Come yourself from your Gaelic people
Anyone would say that it is to our benefit
Gheobhaidh tú an t-ór ann agus togha na córach
Tairse liomsa agus raghadsa leat
Beidh ár gclann tógtha is stáit go deo acu
Is is fearr dhóibh siúd ná an ‘Mountain Lot.’
You will get the gold there and the choice of provisions
Come with me and I will go with you
Our children will be raised and forever have status
It is better for them than the ‘Mountain Lot’
Slán le hÉirinn is fágfad féin í
Is ní chasfaidh mé ar an sliabh níos mó
Slán lem' ghaoltaibh dob fhearr a bhí ag éinne
Cé gur dúbhach an scéal liom bheith ag scarúint leo
Farewell to Ireland as I myself leave her
I will not be met on the hillside any more
Farewell to my relations, the best that anyone had
Although sorrowful is my news to be separating from them
Slán lem' comharsain do bhíodh i gcabhair liom
Istigh i dtigh an tabhairne ag ól lem' thaoibh
Bíodh bhúr nguí gan faoiseamh le Rí na Glóir’
Go seolfar mise gan bhrón i dtíos
Farewell to my neighbours who always helped me
In the pub drinking by my side
Say your prayers without relief to the King of Glory
That I will be sent across without sorrow
Seo ghuí do bheirim óm chroí le fáilte
Ná bainfidh fán dúinn ar feadh na slí
Ná bainfidh fán dúinn ná bascadh sláinte
Ná 'lake' san áthrach ann a raghaimís síos
Here is a prayer that I give from my heart with joy
That we won’t be sent astray during the journey
That we won’t be sent astray nor severely injured
Nor a ‘lake’ in the boat that puts us under
Beidh ár gclann fé áthas i nGárd Canada
Is mé is an t-ál úd fé bhun an chrainn
Beidh tua inár láimh dheis ag bualadh rás air
Is ón uair sin, slán libh go bráth arís
Our descendants will be happy in the Garden of Canada
And me and that brood under the tree
An axe will be in our right hand cutting a channel
And from that time, farewell forever again
Adapted from: “The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0644, Page 161-162” by Dúchas © National Folklore Collection, UCD is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
