| Mo Shinsear | My Ancestors |
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| Mo Shinsear | My Ancestors |
| Chuir mo shinsear an súil ribe Agus rinne siad an fiach. Leag siad an cliabhán éanachaí San áit a raibh an bearradh fial. D’aimsigh siad an leaba dhearg Sa luachair mhaoth bhog thais, Is mharaigh an míol istigh inti Le buille den mhaide droighin. Leag siad na constaicí Is chart siad an chré. D’fhág scéim ina ndiaidh Nach rachaidh in éag. Lá saoire níorbh áil leo Ach ag biorrú is ag tógáil leo Claidheachaí arda eagair, Le foirmlí chomh sean leis an gceo. A oidí mo mhúinte, Is le ceo cumha A chuimhním anois oraibh, A d’íoc bhur ndeachúna Ar bhóithre crua deacra, Ag déanamh míorúiltí beaga Le bhur lámha ildánacha, Nuair a bhuaileadh an ragús oibre sibh, Ag glanadh na talún ón mháthair ghoir Chuir sibh an báire ar thalamh is ar muir. Níorbh aon ribín réidh sin Is an saol mar a bhí Lán cruatain is olc. |
My ancestors set the snare And went hunting. They laid the bird-trap In the most advantageous place. They found the animal’s lair In the damp soft moist rushes And killed the animal there With a blow of the blackthorn stick. They knocked down the obstacles And dug the earth. They left a plan behind them That will not die. They did not wish to take a holiday But pointing and building away High arranged stonewalls With formulas as old as the hills. O teachers who have taught me, I remember you now with great longing Who paid your tithes on roads full of hardship and difficulty Performing little miracles With your hands skilled in various arts When a working-fit came, Clearing the earth from its blemishes, You got the better of land and sea. It was not easy to do this Because life then was full of hardship and evil. (NB - ‘animal’ refers to hare or rabbit) |
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Seán Ó Curraoin |
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| Ealaíontóir/Artist: Peannaire/Calligrapher: Aistritheoir/Translator: Ainmníodh ag/Nominator: |
Edward Summerton Louise Donaldson The Author The Author |
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