Amhrán Na nGearaltach

I

Is mac maith dom’ athair mé

Is gan dearmad dom’ mháthair,

Is is minic a bhí na Gearaltaigh

I ngradam ar na Grága.

Cúrfa

Mo ghrá mo chaoire gealaithe

Mo chruacha ‘gus mo stáca,

Fuirse ‘gus mo bhranar,

Mo chéachta ‘gus mo bhráca.

II

Bhí “seal” is ím is bainne ‘cú,

Fairsinge ‘gus fáilte,

Is ní raibh a bhaol le casadh leo

Ná peata i mbéal a’ mhála.

III

Dob annamh caolach seisreach

Ar mo ghualainn ‘dul ar cheartain,

Mo rámhainín ar cheann bata ‘gam

Is mé ag obair amuigh lá Márta.

IV

Airgead tinteáin fós agam

Níor dhíolas prócadóir na báille,

Ins na cúirteanna gearra ní ghlaotar m’ainm

‘S an deamhas a gheibhim ar cáirde.

V

Mo chasóg a bhíonn stracaithe

‘S gan dearmad mo charabhat,

Beidh gach aon ní maite dhuit

Ach teangmhaigh liom amárach.

VI

Mo dhúidín lán de thobac agam,

Mo bhosca lán de shnaois agam,

Mo dhóthain uisce beatha ‘gam

Is barailli ‘bheith líonta.

Curfá

Grá mo chroí na Gearaltaigh

Croíúil, aerach, anamúil,

Is minic a bhí na Gearaltaigh

I ngradam ar na Grága.

23. Song of The Geraldines

I

I am a good son to my Father

And without doubt to my Mother,

And oft times were the Geraldines

Held in high regard in the Grága.

Refrain

Dear to me my white sheep

My ricks of hay and stacks of oats,

My broken and my fallow land

My ploughshare and my harrow.

II

“Seal” and buttermilk they had

Generosity and welcome,

No slur or shame upon their name

Nor love-child in the corner.

III

Seldom to forge I go

With my plough-brace on my shoulder,

But my spade set on its handle

I do hard graft on the March day.

IV

Hearth money to myself I keep,

I pay no tithe proctor or bailiff,

Before the court I am not called

And devil a bit I get on credit.

V

My jacket it is torn

And so too is my cravat,

All things will be forgiven you

If you meet me in the morn.

VI

My clay pipe filled with “baccy”

My small box with brown snuff,

Enough whiskey for my drinking

And barrels well filled up.

Refrain

My heart’s love the Geraldines,

Cordial, lively, frolicsome,

Oft times were those Geraldines,

Esteemed in the Grága.