DÓNAL ÓG - LIADAN

DÓNAL ÓG - this song has many versions throughout the country. The truly beautiful and poignant words tell the tragic tale of a lost love. Dónal made and broke promises to a former lover, taking east, west, the moon, the heart and even God from her.

It is one of the loveliest and most moving songs I have ever heard.

In 2006 I heard a broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1. In it an old singer from Dublin was being interviewed. I do not remember his name. What I have not forgotten, however, was his belief that a song is never sung by the singer - it is the song itself that sings the singer.

Listening to this great song being sung so wonderfully by Liadan makes me feel that not only does it sing the singer, it also sings the hearers - the magic's unique.

Now scroll down for the text in Irish followed by my own translation in English.

DÓNAL ÓG

A Dhónaill óig, má théir thar farraige,
Tabhair mé fhéin leat 's ná déan do dhearmad.
Beidh agat férín lá aonaigh 's margaidh,
Gus iníon rí Gréige mar chéile leapan agat.

Gheall tú dhomsa ach rinne tú bréag liom,
Go mbeithfeá romham ag cró na gcaorach.
Lig mé fead ort is dhá chéad béiceach,
Ach ní bhfuair mé aon fhreagra ach na huain ag méileach.

Thug mé grá dhuit is mé beag bídeach,
Chuir mé barr air is mé mór millteach.
Niorbh é sin an grá a thug an t-uan don chaora,
Ach grá buan daingean nach féidir a scaoileadh.

Siúd é an Domhnach a dtug mé grá dhuit,
An Domhnach díreach roimh Dhomhnach Cásca.
Is tú ar do ghlúin ag léamh na Páise,
'Sea bhí mo dhá shúil a' síorthabhairt grá dhuit.

Bhain tú thoir agus bhain tú thiar dhíom,
Bhain tú an ghealach gheal is an ghrian dhíom.
Bhain tú an croí a bhí i lár mo chléibhe dhíom,
Agus is rímhór m'fhaitíos gur bhain tú Dia dhíom.

(Amhránaí: Elaine Cormican ón ghrúpa, Liadan)


YOUNG DONAL

O Donal Og, if you cross the ocean,
Take me with you and do not forget.
From fair day and market you'll have a portion
And the Greek king's daughter will share your bed.

You promised it but to me you were lying,
You'd be before me where the sheep were keeping
I whistled and yelled for you, two hundred cryings,
But all I heard were the young lambs bleatings.

I gave you love when I was small and tiny,
I gave you more when I was big and mighty,
Not the love of the lamb for the sheep,
But an enduring love that was yours to keep.

It was a Sunday on the day I fell for you,
It was on the Sunday before Easter Day.
You were on your knees the Passion reading,
And my two eyes clung to you with love for aye.

You took what is before me and what is behind me,
And the bright sun and the moon you have truly taken.
You have taken the heart out of my bosom's cradle,
And God Himself, if I am not mistaken.
*********************
Seo leagan sa Bhéarla le amhránaí eile / here is a version in English by another singer:
   • Packie Byrne & Bonnie Shaljean: Donal Og  
*********************
To buy the CD go to:

www.liadan.ie

There you will find that they have issued two CDs. It is their first, 'Irish Traditional Music and Song' that has this song.

In addition to 'Donall Og' the CD also has two other great traditional songs in Irish:

'Amhran Mhuinse' (   • Amhrán Mhuínse / The Song of Muínis -...  ) and

'An Spailpín Fánach' (   • AN SPAILPÍN FÁNACH - LIADAN  ).

You will not regret having this magnificent album.

For the origin of the name 'Liadan' go to:

www.answers.com/topic/liadain