top of page
Search

PODCAST: 'True Colours' author Jim Simpson


Colmcille Press author Jim Simpson took time out from finishing his new novel to host the opening night of this year's Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival, which runs until Sunday October 19.

In this podcast, the Belfast-born adopted-Derryman talks to Garbhán Downey about how he developed a highly-successful second career in the arts after retiring from the Health Service.



Many thanks to Declan McLaughlin (Music), Oisín Farrell (Production) and Derry City & Strabane District Council.

CEACHT 2: Ag Foghlaim Gaeilge Trí Sheanamhráin

Tá Mé i Mo Shuí: I Cannot Sleep



Ceacht 2: Tá Mé i Mo Shuí – I Cannot Sleep


Amhrán beag séimh grá, a bhfuil beagán den chumha ag baint leis agus a

thosaíonn le véarsa álainn atmaisféarach. Tagann téama an ghrá mar ghalar nach

bhfuil aon leigheas air ó thraidisiún na dtrúbadóirí i litríocht mheánaoiseach

na hEorpa – amour courtois / an grá cúirtéiseach – téama atá an-choitianta i

dtraidisiún amhránaíochta na Gaeilge. Seo an chéad sampla den ornáidíocht

a théann le cuid mhór de na hamhráin seo. De réir fhianaise na teanga ann, is

dócha gur cumadh i gCúige Uladh é.


A gentle melancholic love song, which begins with a beautifully atmospheric

verse. The view of love as an incurable illness ultimately derives from the amour

courtois (courtly love) tradition of the troubadours of medieval Europe, which

had a significant influence on the Irish song tradition. This is the first example

of the ornamentation associated with many of these songs. From the evidence

of the language, the song was probably composed in Ulster.


Téacs an amhráin agus an t-aistriúchán/Text of the song and translation


Tá mé i mo shuí ó d’éirigh* an ghealach aréir,

I’m awake since the moon rose last night,

Ag cur tine síos gan scíth is ag fadú go géar,

Restlessly adding to the fire and stoking it wearily

Tá bunadh an tí ina luí is tá mise liom féin,

All the family are asleep and I’m by myself,

Tá an coileach ag glaoch ‘s an saol ina gcodladh ach mé.

The cock is crowing and the world’s asleep but me.

[* Abair / Say ‘d’írigh’]


Seacht mh’anam déag do bhéal, do mhala 's do ghrua,

I love your mouth, your brow and your cheek,

Do shúil ghorm ghlé fár thréig mé aiteas is suairc’,

Your clear blue eye, that caused me to abandon the joyful life,

Le cumha i do dhiaidh, ní léir dom an bealach a shiúl,

I miss you so much, I can’t see the way before me,

'S a chara mo chléibh, tá na sléibhte idir mé agus tú.

My heart’s delight, we are separated by the mountains.


Casadh bean sí orm thíos ag Lios Bhéal an Átha,

I met a fairy woman down at Lisballina,

Is d’fhiafraigh mé di an scaoilfeadh leigheas ar bith grá,

And I asked her if any cure could heal love,

D’fhreagair sí mise i mbriathra soineanta sámha,

She answered me in words both simple and gentle,

Nuair a théann sé fán chroí, cha* scaoiltear as é go bráth.

When it reaches the heart, never will it be freed from it.

[ * = ní]




PODCAST: In the run-up to his hometown litfest Pat McArt reflects on war and peace - and the Derry Journal..


In the second in the series of interviews with authors from northwest Ireland, former Derry Journal editor Pat McArt talks about life at the coalface in the 1980s and 1990s.


Pat McArt will be hosting a Writing Masterclass at Dillon's Hotel as part of the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival on Saturday 18 October 2025 at 3.00pm.



Many thanks to Declan McLaughlin (Music), Oisín Farrell (Production) and Derry City & Strabane District Council.



67910

All Products

bottom of page