Bhí Riobard an Máistir ag dul ó dheas go dtí an Stéig ar cuairt chun a

ghaolta. Lá fuar Mhárta a bhí ann agus bhí sé cosnochta. Ar a shlí chas

sé isteach i dtigh Dhonncha na mBó i dTuairín a’Dhúinín agus thug

bean a’tí péire bróg dó le cur air. Ar a shlí trasna an chnoic stracadh na

huachtair ós na bonnaibh. Chum sé dán ag breith buíochais leis an

bhean fhial, fhlaithiúil.

Lá is mé ag gluaiseacht fé thuairim mo ghaolta,

‘Sea bhraitheas an fuacht ag gabháilt suas tríom go héachtach.

Mara mbeadh na bróga do fuaireas ón bhean stuama le daonnacht

Bhí deireadh lem dhuanta, sé mo thuairim go n-éagfainn.

Nuair d’fháisceas orm suas iad is mear, buacach do léimeas.

Níorbh fhearra liom na buataisí b’uaisle bhí in Éirinn.

Bhí an fuinneamh chomh mór liom ag gluaiseacht tré shléibhte,

Gur stracas na huachtair ós na bonnaibh in éineacht.

III

Níor bhraitheas aon ghruaim ar bhean stuama ‘na thaobh siúd,

Ba bheag léi a luach, taobh le tuarastal déirce.

Sé dúirt sí leis an mbuachaill a bhí ann ar phá lae aici

‘Ar na Gortaibh beir uaim iad mar a fhuafar go néata iad’.

Fuarathas an dán seo ó Dhonnacha Mac Giolla Choda, Tuairin a’ Dhúinín.

Riobard And The Boots

Riobard, the Master and the poet was going on a visit to Staigue. It was a

cold March day and he was barefoot. He called in to Denny Mack’s

house in Tooreenyduneen on his way and the woman of the house

gave him a pair of boots. When he was climbing up the hill the uppers

“gave from the soles” and of course he composed a song about the

Incident.

“One day as I went to see my relations

I felt the great cold going up to my head

But for the boots the good woman gave me in charity,

My verses would end, I’m sure I’d be dead.

When I tied them securely, it was lightly I sped,

They felt better than the best pair of boots in the land.

As I climbed and I jumped, traversing the hills

I pulled off the soles, as I dashed oe’r the crags.

III

The good woman indeed, was not worried about them

They had no great value, but to give them away

She said to the workman who tended her garden

“Take them back to Gortnamackanee

Where they will be repaired”.

Given by Denis McGillicuddy, Tooreenyduneen.