AN GAODHAL.
Dear Sir. — I send this song to THE GAEL by request of many of
your readers. It is the composition of one Peter Jordan, of Cool-na-
binne, near Nephin, while he was a refugee from English law in Ach¬
ill for the part he took with the French in 1798. I had to make some
slight alterations in a few words as they were poor* Irish But I got
it from my aunt, who is long at rest, who knew the author in life, and
who told me it was the correct version.
I met some of Tom Daly’s family myself, and, no doubt, your
readers in the old land will recall his cheerful welcome to his hospita¬
ble home — the road-side hotel in historic old Cool-na-binne
MARTIN P. WARD, 20, 6th St. San Francisco, Cal.
[* There is no doubt that some of these old songs suffer consider¬
ble change in their transit through the various channels which they
traverse in the course of ages. Mr. P. J. Gallagher, Cortland, Ill., sent
THE GAEL six verses of the above song some thirteen years ago, which
were published in No. 6 of Vol. 3 However, as Brother Ward hails
from the author's neighborhood, and being well versed in Gaelic lore,
we take it for granted that his is the right version, — Ed. G.]
CÚL NA BINNE.
Col na Binn.
Fonn — Bail' Uí Lidhe,
Sé mo bhrón is mo dheacair gan mé i Mamagártha
'Gus in mo láimh-se dúbhach a's peann,
'Sé n-iarrfainn go athchuinge ar righ na ngrása
Intleacht Hómair bheith in mo cheann,
Go sgríobhfainn síos i ndubh is a mbán é
Deise gach áite atá ins an ngleann —
Acht ar a bhreághachda ní fheudaim tráchta,
Ceud faraor geur tá m' intleacht fann.
'Sé dubhairt fear as Acuil liom, "Ná bí gan chéill,
Ag gol 's ag eugcaoin ndiaigh Chúil-na-binin',
Bhéarfad bean agus dhá cheud bó dhuit,
'Gus acra móinfhéir i n-aghaidh gach cinn;
Bád agus eangaighe 's beidheam i n-aoinfeachd,
'Gus bhéarfam eudáil isteach de 'n toinn;
'Gus nach saoilim féin gur fearr an méid sin,
Ná ag gol 's ag eugcaoin ndiaigh Chúil-na-binn'."
Dá dtabharthá bean 'gus dhá cheud bó dham
'Gus acra móinfhéir i n- agaidh gach cinn,
A bhfuil de bháid 's de eangaigh as seo go Bófinn,
'Gus saibhreas Sheoirse ar fad gan roinn,
Do b'fhearr liom acra de 'n bhogach bháidhte
Atá eidir an Mhaímín 'gus Inse-an-draighin,
Cead rinc le cailínibh la saoire a's Dómhnaigh,
A g-ceanntar na mbóithreadh úd Chúil-na-binn'.
