AN GAODHAL.
135
In the very center of Spain there are high emolu¬
ments and power of the Fianna (the Fianna have
high emoluments, etc), 10
Straight tree of the race of O'Donnell would get a
welcome there if he were on a journey,
The king and the queen and every high noble from
that back,
Dominick would be by their sides, and in a parlor
along with them would be entertained.
It is Dominick is the brave man who is the most
hospitable and the most handsome in the country,
Was not Deirdre [much mistaken who gave great
desire and liking too Naisi ;
If Queen Helen were now alive, who brought dire
destruction on the chiefs of Troy,
With the O'Donnell she would be, and without a
partner would Paris, son of Priam, be left.
NOTES.
1 The word Glashy, which occurs very often in
the names of townlands in Ireland under the forms
of Glashy, Glasha, Glaise, Glais means a stream,
or a valley through which a stream flows. There
is a townland of this name in Gweedore, and ano¬
ther near Glenties, some one of which is the Glashy
referred to in the song.
2. Fuileachtach properly means bloody; but by
a secondary application, it means spirited.
3. The primary signification of ceim is a step, a
pace ; hence its secondary meanings, degree, rank,
honour, renown, dignity.
4. We spread hospitality all round with the
fruits of the chase.
5. From this it would appear that this song was
composed about the time of the Spanish armada,
(5188).
6. I should be safe by being with Dominick Roe
7. Cruachan, now the village of Rathcroghan
in Roscommon, south-west of Elphin, where stood
the ancient palace of the kings of Connaught. It
is not clear how Ullan of Cruachan can be called
a Limerick man. He may have been born in Li¬
merick, and fostered at Cruachan.
8. This metaphor — comparing a warrior to a tree
or pillar — is common in Irish. In the Toruigh¬
eacht Dhiarmuda agus Ghrainne, in a description
of a goaling or hurling match between Cairbre Lif¬
feachair and the son of Lughaidh, it is said that
'the men of Cearna and the stout pillars of Teamhair
(that is, the strong warriors whe were the support
of Tara) arose on the side of Cairbre."
9. Crioch Fodhla, a name for Ireland, from
Crioch, a country, and Fodhla, a Tuatha de Dan¬
ann queen. “The fifth name was Crioch Fodhla,
from a queen of the Tuatha de Dananns, who was
called Fodhla.” —
Keating's Forus Feasa air Eirinn, edited by
Dr. Joyce, page 7.
10. Alluding to the number of Irish exiles who
joined the Spanish army, and attained posts of ho¬
nour therein.
O'Curry’s Lectures is now scarce and
worth ten dollars ; Hardiman's Mins¬
trels is worth fourteen dollars ; it will
be given in the Gael also, and both
will be finished in two years. No Irish
man should be without O'Curry.
P. A. DOUGHER'S INQUIRY OF
O'Donovan Rossa.
Dhiarmuid Ui Dhuinniobháin Rossa, bh-fuil
tú beo fós air an t-saoghal
Nó bh-feiceann tú 'n rath atá air Éire,
cho dona 's bhí sí ariamh;
Bh-fuil tú caoch, bobhar is balbh, nó bh-fuil
dóchus maith agad go deo,
Nó bh-fuil do chroidhe briste smuaineadh
air d' oileán bocht báite faoi cheo?
"'Sa chara, le congnamh na ngrása, tá
mise beo fós air an t-saoghal,
Ní'l mé bodhar ná balbh, is tá mo radh¬
arc cho maith is bhí sé 'riamh;
Tá dóchus a g-comhnuidhe in mo Thighear¬
na le m'oileán a shaora go fóill,
'S ní bhéidh mo chroidhe briste scathamh
smuaine ná ag sileadh na ndeor.
O thárla gur chuir tú 'n cheist díom tá
freagra maith agam le tabhairt,
Tá anró air Éirinn le bliadhantaibh ó
thainic Seághan Bull air a tóir;
Níor fhág sé i lorg sa g-cruinne nár n¬
deárna sé diabháil don t-sórt,
'S ní bhéidh an t-ádh air an oileán choidhch'
go n-díbreochar é 'mach as a bport
Ní'l cobhair bheith ag argúin no clamhsán
no caint leis an Sasanach fuar,
Tá i chorp agus anam gan chuinsíos, is
chaill sé an creideamh fadó;
Le cúig-cheud bliadhain na dhroch chomhar¬
san is ní cóir bheith amhla níos mó,
'San léigheas 's feárr do na bodaighe 'n
púdar a chur faoi na srón.
Tá na tighearnaighe sásta mar támuid
's deir siad m-b'fheárr leigin daobh
Go bh-fuair siad a d-talamh a's áras
faoi Chrumuil na bliadhanta fadó;
Acht bídhid siad mar atá le na bharamh¬
uil ní thepfimid orlach go deo,
Nó go m-béidh sásadh arís ag clann Ghrái¬
ne fa Luimnigh 's Achraim a bhróin."
Sa Dhiarmuid anois tá mé sásta gus
cinte go bh-fuil tú air an t-soaghal
Troid leis a námhaid a g-comhnuidhe cho
dána 'gus bhí tú ariamh;
Dá m beith clann Éireann alig air d'intin
leis a g-congnamh tá 'gainn le fágh'l,
'Sgeárr go mbeith 'n t-oileán faoi shaoir¬
se 's buaidh le Sean Éirinn go brách.
