314
AN GAODHAL.
To the Editor of the Gael,
Dear Sir. — Some ten years ago, while residing in the City of Otta¬
wa, Canada, I received a letter from Oil City, Pa., giving an ac¬
count of the death of an esteemed namesake who was deeply con¬
versant with the spoken Gaelic of my native land. Upon receipt
of which communication I penned the following extempore effus¬
ion to the Air of “Youghal Harbor", and transmitted it to Mr.
Michael Egan of said Oil City also an adept in the idiom of the
Gael. Some who have at heart the interest of our Gaelic tongue
have desired its publication, but this result must depend upon
your editorial “fiat."
Yours, &c.,
W. Russell.
Mac Uí Aodhgáin Ó Uachtar Tuamhan.
Andé 's mé 'm aonar ag mactnamh tréithe
Na teangan Ghaodhailge is startha cruadha,
Do sgínn dom éiliomh-sa sgríbhín béarla,
'S bo lán a taobha de sgeultaibh nuadha :
Bo geárr an téarma sul air fad do léigheas i
Gur shil na braona go fras le m' ghruadh —
'S is dámh do 'n éigse do sgríbh an stréadhaire —
Sé Mac Uí Aodhgáin ó Uachtar-Tuamhan.
Bo mhor mo phléisiúr-sa, seal a n-Éirinn,
A g-Cill-Chaoi aorach an ghainimh-chuain —
Ag báire 's aonach bo ghnáith mé déaghnach,
'S ameasg na m-béithe do bhidhinn air cuaird;
Ach cé 'r bhínn liom caomh-ghuith na b-píob ’s na d-téad
úd
Ag chuallacht meur-ghlic do chloisinn uair;
'Nois b' fheárr liom éisteacht le dántaibh Gaodhailge
Ó Mhac Uí Aodhgáin ó Uachtar-Tuamhan.
Sé shaoilim tréimhse nach cóir na déithe
Thugann stór an tsaoghail-seo do'n fhuirionn-duairc,
Agus filídhe leigheanta, is milis dreachta,
Gan ór, gan séudaibh mar seal bo dual :
Ach tá áras naomhtha, 's gan deire séin air,
A bh-flathas Dé ghil ag sliocht an Uain,
'Sgo rabham araon ann, ag cantain Gaodhailge,
A Mhic Uí Aodhgáin ó Uachtar-Tuamhan.
Má thugann réilthionn mo gheinte ré dhom,
'Sgo n-déanfad téirniomh ódheas arís,
Go bh-fághad tú féin is do ghile-chéile
'N bhur sláinte shaoghalta, go saibhir sío'ach;
Ach go teacht an lae-sin, 'sgo buan 'na dheigh-sin;
Ó chathair sgéirde an réigiúin fhuair —
Bidheadh slán is céad leat, ó chroidhe gan chlaon-chleas,
A Mhic Uí Aodhgáin ó Uachtar-Tuamhan.
NOTE. Uachtar-Tuamhan signifies the upper portion
of the county Clare from Tuath-Mhúmhain or Thom¬
ond, North-Munster. Tuamhan is pronounced as
word of one syllable.
Oil City, Pa., Jan. 4th, 1884.
Tamhan
