CEACHT 2: Ag Foghlaim Gaeilge Trí Sheanamhráin

Updated: Oct 21

Tá Mé i Mo Shuí: I Cannot Sleep

Ceacht 2: Tá Mé i Mo Shuí, leagan Risteard Mac Gabhann

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]