An Cailín Deas Donn
The Pretty Brown-Haired Girl
 

“Ó is cailín ag baint luachra an cailín deas donn!”
[Oh iss kyleen bant lookhra unn kyleen dyass dunn]
“That maid pulling rushes there is a pretty brown maid!”

“Ó, is ea ‘gus í in uaigneas!” a dúirt sí liom.
[Oh isha ‘gus ee in u-ig-nyess a doo-ert she lumm]
“Oh yes, and she’s lonely!” said she to me.

CURFÁ:
Sláinte agat mo chailín deas donn
[slawntcha agutt mo khyleen dyass dunn]
A health to you my pretty brown maid

A’ céad míle fáilte romhat a dúirt sí liom.
[Ah keyd meelya fawltcha rowat a doo-ert she lumm.]
And welcome to you, she said to me.

 

“Cá gceanglód mé mo ghearrán a chailín deas donn?”
[caw gyanglod mey mo ghyerawn a khyleen dyass dunn]
“Can I tie up my gelding, O pretty brown maid?”

“Ní raibh claí riamh gan stocán,” a dúirt sí liom.
[Nee rev klee riav gun stukawn, a doo-ert she lumm.]
“There’s no ditch without stake,” she said to me.

CURFÁ

“An raibh deartháir agatsa, a chailín deas donn?”
[unn rah jerhar atsa, a khyleen dyass dunn]
“Had you ever a brother, O pretty brown maid?”

“Ó bhí deartháir agam,” a dúirt sí liom.
[Oh vee jerhar agumm, a doo-ert she lumm.]
“There was one brother only,” said she to me.

CURFÁ

“Cá ndeachaigh do dheartháir, a chailín deas donn?”
[caw nyakha do ghyerhar, a khyleen dyass dunn]
“Where did he go, O pretty brown maid?”

“Ó chuaigh sé ‘na hoileáin,” a dúirt sí liom.
[oh khua shey na hillawn a doo-ert she lumm.]
“He went off to the islands,” said she to me.

CURFÁ

“An n-aithneofá do dheartháir a chailín deas donn?”
[Ah nanha do ghyerhar, a khyleen dyass dunn]
“Do you think you would know him, O pretty brown maid?”

“Ó d’aithneoinn ach é a fheiceáil,” a dúirt sí liom.
[Oh danon ey a eckawl a doo-ert she lumm.]
“I’d know if I saw him,” said she to me.

CURFÁ

“Cén comhartha bhí ar do dheartháir, a chailín deas donn?”
[keyn corra vee do ghyerhar, a khyleen dyass dunn]
“What marks had your brother, O pretty brown maid?”

“Bhí ball odhar ar a chliathán,” a dúirt sí liom.
[vee ball ogher ar ah khlihawn, a doo-ert she lumm.]
“On his side a brown birthmark,” said she to me.

CURFÁ

“Ó, mise do dheartháir, a chailín deas donn”
[Oh misha do ghyerhar, a khyleen dyass dunn]
“I am your brother, O pretty brown maid”

“Ó tabhair le mo ‘bhaile!” a dúirt sí liom.
[Oh tawerle mo wallya, a doo-ert she lumm.]
“I’m going home!” said she to me.

CURFÁ


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