Úna Bhán
Fair Úna

 

Is a Úna Bhán nach gránna an luí sin ort
[sa oona wan, nakh grawna unn lee shin ort]
Fair Úna, ugly do you lie there

I do leaba chaol chláir imeasc na ndáinte corp
[ih do lyabba khweel khlar, imask nuh nantcha corp]
In your bed of planks among a host of corpses

Mar dtige tú le fóir orm a ghrá a bhí ariamh gan locht
[mar digya too leh fo-er orem a ghraw a vee ree-av gunn lokht]
If you don’t come and succour me, oh love that was ever without fault

Ní thiocfaidh mé chun t-áras go brách ach an oíche anocht.
[nee hukee mey unn tawras guh brawkh akh unn ee-hya anokht.]
I’ll not come to your place again, save tonight

 

Is a Úna Bhán ba rós i ngairdín thú
[sa oona wan, ba ros ih ngarjeen hoo]
Oh Fair Úna, you were a rose in the garden

Ba cláirseach a’cheoil romham sa mbóthar thú
[ba clar-shakh akhyoll rowam sa mohar hoo]
You were a harp playing music before me in the road

Ba chéiliúr is ba cheolmhar ag dul an bhealaigh seo romham thú
[ba kheylyoor is ba khyolwar egg dul unn veyla sho rowam hoo]
Melodious and musical you were going on the road before me

Seo mo chreach mhaidhne bhrónach nár pósadh le do ghrá geal thú.
[sho mo khrakh wana vronakh nar posa leh do ghraw gyall hoo.]
It is my utter ruin that you were not married to me.

 

Tá an sneachta seo ar a’ lár is é dearg le fuil
[taw unn shnakhta sho ar a lawr iss ey dyereg le fwil]
The snow is on the ground and it is red with blood

Ach samhail mo ghrá ní fhaca mé in áit ar bith
[akh sawil mo ghraw nee aka mey in awtch ar bih]
But the likeness of my love I never saw anyplace at all

Féachaíse a mhná cé b’fhearr ná an t-óchón sin
[feykheesha a mraw key var naw unn tokhon shin]
Is it a better choice to hear the women keening

Aon ghlaoch amháin a’ ghabháil Áth na Donóige.
[ane ghleykh ahwin a ghowl aw nuh donog]
Or to let out just one call toward the Ford of Donogue?

 

Dá mbeadh píopa fada cailce agam is tobac a bheith ann
[daw mey peepa fada kalkya agumm iss tobak a veh aun]
If I had a long clay pipe at me and tobacco being in it

Tharrangóinn amach é is chaithfinn de mo sháith
[harrengone amakh ey iss khafin jey mo haw]
I’d draw it out and smoke my fill

Is maith a d’insioinnse dhíbhse cé gcónaíonn Úna Bhán
[iss my a dinshinsa ghivsa key goneen oona wan]
It’s good to hear from you where Fair Úna lived

I gCill Bhríde is gCrích Mha Chill ‘mo chreach is mo chrá.
[ih gill vreeja iss greekh wa khill mo khrakh iss mo khraw]
In Cill Bhríde and Crich Mha Chill is my ruin and my sorrow.

 

‘S mo scrúdadh thú Úna Mhic Diarmada óig
[smo skruda hoo, oona vic deermada oge]
You try me severely, Young Úna Mac Dermott

An chéad scoth do na mná buartha agus Brianach óg
[unn kheyd sco doe nuh mraw buarha aguss brinakh oge]
All the best to the sorrowful women and young Brianach

Do bhéal mar a bhfuil siúcra mar an leamhnacht ‘s an fion ar bord
[doe veyl mar a wil shyookra mar unn lahnakht sunn finn ar bord]
Your mouth is as sugar, as the new milk and the wine on the table

Do chois lúfar a shiúlfadh go fíor i mbróig.
[doe khish loofar a hyoolfa guh feer ih mro-ig]
Your agile feet walking well in shoes.
 

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