If ever there was a great national object, deserving the attention, sympathies and substantial support of Irishmen, it is the preservation of the remains of their history and language. One of the richest historical and literary mines of Christian, and, I may also add, of Pagan Europe, remains still unexplored in Ireland.

Is bímse tnútháil le só na gréine, á ghabhas siar tharam go beag-Árainn

And I envy the ease of the sun, passing back over me to little Aran

Faoin ár gcuan tháinig deoraí bocht, brónach as Éirinn, Ba trom earraí éadrom le drúcht fras, fuar;

To our harbour, a poor, sad exile came from Ireland, The meager goods were heavy with sprinkling, cold dew;

Cé cian, dubh, mo dheoraíocht fillfidh mo theidhin, Go mór-aonach Fodhla, le ceol agus laoi;

Though distant, dark, my exile, my mind will return, To the great assembly of Ireland, with music and poetry;

Is it not painful and unaccountable that Inis Fail alone should still remain without the master-mind of history, to tell her story in a truthful and native spirit, and present her with becoming dignity in her emerald robes and unfading beauty, seated sorrowfully in her sea-girt sanctuary, the freshly fairest, tho’ the most persecuted of the daughters of the ocean.

If ever there was a great national object, deserving the attention, sympathies and substantial support of Irishmen, it is the preservation of the remains of their history and language. One of the richest historical and literary mines of Christian, and, I may also add, of Pagan Europe, remains still unexplored in Ireland.

Transcribed by me J. Rd. From an Ancient Christian Doctrine In the year of our Lord God One Thousand Eight Hundred & Fifteen

D’imídís ag iascach trosc ann agus thugaidís dhá bhiaiste ann, cuid acu.

They would go fishing cod there and they would spend two fishing-seasons there, some of them.

Transcribed by me J. Rd. From an Ancient Christian Doctrine In the year of our Lord God One Thousand Eight Hundred & Fifteen

Bhí dhá fhear ann aon uair amháin, agus smaoinigh siad go rachadh siad ‘un Oileán Úir.

here were two men once, and they thought that they would go to the New World.

Bhí tiarna talún ann fadó, agus bhí buachaill aimsire aige darb ainm Seán Ó Baoill.

There was a landlord long ago, and he had a hired boy servant by the name of Seán Ó Baoill.

Tá cnuic is gleannta Éireann ag dul ó léargas orm agus béidh go deo

The hills and glens of Ireland are fading from my sight and will be forever

Rinne mé smaointiú in mo intinn is lean mé dó go cinnte

I made a decision in my mind and I certainly followed it

Bhí lánúin ina gcónaí i Rann na Feirste fad ó shin agus iad beo bocht…

There was a couple living in Rann na Feirste long ago and they were very poor…

Seán Crosach and Irish forcible transportees to the New World

San am fadó bhí ropaire ina chónaí tríd sléibhte Dhúin na nGall anseo dar ainm Seán Crosach.

Long ago there was a highwayman who lived in the mountains of Donegal here by the name of Seán Crosach.

Bhíodh a lán daoine ón áit seo ag dul go Talamh an Éisc ag iascach fadó.

A lot of people from this place would be going to Newfoundland fishing long ago.

Is olc an talmhaí mé i dtús a’ Mhárta, Níor chaitheas láí ar feadh seacht mblian’

Terrible the farm worker I am at the start of March, I haven’t put in a loy-spade for seven years

Na seandaoine a bhíodh anseo fadó is go Talamh an Éisc a théidís. Ní raibh aon stímear ann ach árthaí seoil.

The old people that were here long ago, it’s to Newfoundland they did go. There weren’t any steamers then but sailing ships.

Ar maidin inné bhí camadam scéil ag gaige gan chéill dá leathadh ‘dir mhnáibh

Yesterday morning there was a romantic story being without sense spreading between the women

Imir an ní úd bhíodh ag eitilt in airde

Play that thing which flies overhead