Úrchnoc Chéin Mhic Cáinte ~ The Lush Hill of Cian Mac Cáinte
Ag ceiliúradh foghlama na Gaeilge trí sheanamhráin ~ Celebrating learning Irish through old songs
Curtha in eagar ag Risteard Mac Gabhann
Is as Cian Mac Cáinte, athair Lugh Lámhfhada, duine de mhórphearsan na miotas Gaelach agus Ceilteach, a ainmníodh an cnoc seo. Inniu is faoin ainm leamh Béarla Killen Hill is fearr eolas air agus tá sé suite cúpla míle ar an taobh thiar thuaidh de Dhún Dealgan. Is gné an-neamhshuntasach den tírdhreach anois é de bhrí go ndearnadh cairéal den chnoc sa 19ú Céad agus ar an dóigh seo cailleadh cuid mhór den mhullach agus scriosadh na séadchomharthaí a bhí le feiceáil air. Nuair a chum Peadar Ó Doirnín (1684-1769) an t-amhrán, bhí Cnoc Chéin Mhic Cáinte fós slán agus ina ionad lán d’iontas agus de dhiamhracht agus ina spreagadh an-chumhachtach ag filí Oirialla. Is fearr aithne ar Pheadar Ó Doirnín mar fhile amhrán grá, agus is sampla iontach dá chumadóireacht an t-amhrán seo lena shaibhreas maisiúchán agus maorgacht friotail. Is fear eile as Oirialla, Peadar Ó Dubhda, a chum an ceol, a chluintear coiteanta leis inniu, Bhain sé duais Oireachtais leis i 1907.
Cian Mac Cáinte, the father of the major figure of Irish and Celtic mythology Lugh Lámhfhada, is the mythic figure after whom this hill was named. Today it is known more prosaically as Killen Hill and is located a few miles northwest of Dundalk. It is a rather inauspicious feature of the landscape nowadays, largely due to its being used as a quarry in the 19th Century, which greatly reduced its height and destroyed the archaeological remains on its summit. When Peadar Ó Doirnín (1684-1769) composed the song, the hill of Cian Mac Cáinte was still intact and was a place of wonder and mystery and a
powerful stimulus to the imagination of the poets of southeast Ulster. Peadar Ó Doirnín is known best as a composer of love songs and this, with its rich scheme of ornamentation and elevated, sophisticated language, is an excellent example of the genre. The music now associated with it is attributed to Dundalk man Peadar Ó Dubhda (1881-1971), who won a prize with it at the 1907 Oireachtas.
A shuaircbhean séimh na gcuachfholt péarlach,
Gentle joyous lady of the lustrous curling tresses,
Gluais liom féin ar ball beag,
Come away with me a while,
Tráth is buailte cléir is tuataí i néalta,
When the clergy and the lay folk lie in deep slumber,
Ina suan faoi éadaí bána,
Asleep under white coverlets,
Ó thuaidh go mbéam* i bhfad uathu araon, [*go mbeimid]
To the north where we will be far away from them all,
Teacht nuachruth gréine amárach,
With the new rising sun tomorrow,
Gan ghuais linn féin in uaigneas aerach,
Secure by ourselves in delightful seclusion,
San uaimh sin Chéin Mhic Cáinte.
In that haven of Cian Mac Cáinte.
A phlúr na maighdean is úire gné,
Flower of maids of freshest complexion,
Thug clú le scéimh ón Ádhamhchlann*, [*clann Ádhaimh]
Famed for beauty in the human race,
A chúl na bpéarlaí, a rún na héigse,
Lass with the lustrous hair, inspiration of poets,
A dhúblas féile is fáilte,
Who doubles generosity and welcome,
A ghnúis mar ghréin* i dtús gach lae ghil, [*grian]
Countenance bright as the sun at the dawning of every day,
A mhúchas léan le gáire,
Who extinguishes anguish with laughter,
Is é mo chumha gan mé is tú, a shiúr, linn féin,
It’s my sorrow, my love, we’re not together,
Sa dún sin Chéin Mhic Cáinte.
In that haven of Cian Mac Cáinte.
A rún mo chléibh, nach mar siúd ab fhearr duit,
Love of my heart, wouldn’t it be best for you,
Tús do shaoil a chaitheamh liom,
To spend the start of life with me,
'S gan a bheith i gclúid faoi léan ag búr gan chéill,
And not be in a corner distressed by a senseless boor,
I gceann tuirne is péire cardaí,
Working at a spinning wheel and a pair of carding combs,
Gheobhair* ceol na dtéad le lúth na méar, [*gheobhaidh tú]
You will have stringed music played by agile fingers,
Do do dhúscadh* is véarsaí grá, [*dhúiseacht]
To waken you and verses of love,
'S níl dún faoin ghréin chomh súgach aerach,
And there’s no haven under the sun as lively and joyous,
Le húrchnoc Chéin Mhic Cáinte.
As the lush hill of Cian Mac Cáinte.
Tá an t-amhrán seo le cluinstin ag Cór Thaobh a’ Leithid ar an albam
Siansaí DMGB 002
