An Eirinn Ni Neosainn Ce Hi (for Ireland I'd

Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy

Areir 's me 'g tearnnamh ar neoin

Ar a' dtaobh eile 'en teora seo thios

Do thaobhnaigh an speirbhean im chomhair

Dfhaig taomanac, breote, lag tinn

Le haon ghean da mein is da clo

Da breithre 's da beol tanai binn

Do leimeas fe dhein dul 'na treo

Is ar Eireann ni neosainn ce hi.



A gradh ghil bi pairteach liom fhein

Is go hairithe da mbeidir liom scriobh

Beinn ag gaire le ban-chnois na gcraobh

Da bhfaighinn airithe o eine ce hi

Nil a cairde ro-shasta liom fhein

Cun arus a dheanamh na tias

Ach ma tha si d'reir raite mo bheal

Ni nair dom a leamh duit ce hi.



Extra: (inc. translation)



FOR IRELAND I'D NOT TELL HER NAME



Ar éirinn Ní n-Eósainn Cé h-í

Aréir is mé téarnamh um' neoin

Ar an dtaobh thall den teóra 'na mbím,

Do théarnaig an spéir-bhean im' chómhair

D'fhág taomanach breóite lag sinn.

Do ghéilleas dá méin is dá cló,

Dá béal tanaí beó mhilis binn,

Do léimeas fé dhéin dul 'na cómhair,

Is ar éirinn ní n-eósainn cé h-í.



Last night as I strolled abroad

On the far side of my farm

I was approached by a comely maiden

Who left me[? 'sinn' = 'us'] distraught and weak.

I was captivated by her demeanour and shapeliness

By her sensitive and delicate mouth,

I hastened to approach her

But for Ireland I'd not tell her name.



Dá ngéilleadh an spéir-bhean dom' ghlór,

Siad ráidhte mo bheól a bheadh fíor;

Go deimhin duit go ndéanfainn a gnó

Do léirchur i gcóir is i gcrich.

Dó léighfinn go léir stair dom' stór,

'S ba mhéinn liom í thógaint dom chroí,

'S do bhearfainn an chraobh dhi ina dóid,

Is ar éirinn ní n-eósainn cé h-í.



If only this maiden heeded my words,

What I'd tell her would be true.

Indeed I'd devote myself to her

And see to her welfare.

I would regale her with my story

And I longed to take her to my heart

W