'S go m-bíonn sé 'na ċat is 'na mada 'san oídċe, A cómarsanaiz dílise tugaíó dam congnam, Aċt seólfad-sa síos é go bun ċnuic an dúnao, Fágfaió mé ann sin é go g-cai¿tear ráiże an ¿eimpe, Cuirfió mé sgonsa le h-Iomaire an líonáin, 'S ní léigfió mé aniar é ¿ar Mhám an tuirc móir, Hí léigfiỏ me zoram air talaṁ ná air tuinn é, b See ante, p. 120, The hill of Down or Doon, on which stood the castle of that name, mentioned pp. 113, 283. di. e. Cnoc Meada siuil.—For this wellknown hill, see p. 147. * i. e. Slab báġna na d-tuaż, a mountain in the county and barony of Roscommon. The name is incorrectly translated "white mountain" in the Statistical Survey of that county, p. 19. 'S Iomaire an líonáin.-See this place de scribed, p. 51. 8 Ballynahinch, for which see p. 92. h John Joyce, better known by the name of Shane na Baine. He was one of the gigantic race inhabiting the Ross mountains; and was remarkable for his stature, strength, and good-humour. He has been frequently mentioned by modern tourists as a fair specimen of a rural Irishman. 'S éad Mairias O'Dubáin an fioránaċ lúżṁari, Da b-fázad sé greim píobáin, no corráin na guailne air, Raċfainn-si a m-bannaid dá g-cuirfióe żar cuan é, 'S nac searad an clearaió a n-aon ċeard de'n coige, Tá muinizin maiż agam-sa as ¿níoṁ Phádruig Seóizig, Cineál na n-gaisgideać is na ridiríde cróganta Ŏheir sé 'já lascad lé bata is lé dórnaid Ca b-fuiffeáo-sa capall com maiż leis an b-Púca, 'O'Dubhain, Anglice Duane, an old Milesian family of Iar-Connaught, anciently attached to the O'Flaherties, and still highly respectable. Of this family was Counsellor Mat. Duane of Lincoln's Inn, London, distinguished in the last century for his learning and antiquarian knowledge. See an interesting letter from him in the Irish Magazine, Dublin, 1809, p. 425. The district of Thomond or Clare. This alludes to the British extraction of the Joyces, for which see ante, p. 45; and Additional Note Q, p. 246. Chuaid Lackey or Malachy O'Malley, a wit and "Rhymer" who lived near the mountains of Partry, and of whom many facetious stories are still related. The ludicrous employment of Púca-driver here assigned him by his friend, Mac Sweeny, gave occasion to several good-humoured sallies between these rival wits, which are still remembered by their admirers. m Rinvile, the residence of Henry Blake, Esq. This place, with Aughris, the seat of Geoffrey Coneys, Esq., and the other localities mentioned in the succeeding stanzas, are well known in this district. Chuaiò an Púca zo Gailliṁ air maidin dia haoíne, A comaprana dilse sa buachailide óga, But the most popular of Mac Sweeny's compositions is an ironical description of a "Conamara Wedding," wherein he recapitulates, in a strain of considerable humour, the preparations made for the feast, and enumerates the guests to be invited on the occasion. It has been said of the description of an entertainment at Templehouse in Sligo, in the last century, that it might be considered "as the ne plus ultra of all the subjects, that the wit of man has ever devised, to excite and continue the loudest peals of laughter."-Walker's Memoirs of the Irish Bards, vol. i. p. 331, Dub. Ed. 1818. To apply this to the following effusion might be thought presumptuous; but we may safely affirm that no one who understands the Irish language can hear the "Conamara Wedding" recited or sung by a native, without acknowledging the comic. powers of the author". Had Mac Sweeny received the advantages of our well-known countryman, O'Keeffe, he would, probably, have displayed equal wit and humour. n In the first four stanzas, a rich assortment of dresses is ordered for the bride; and, for the feast, an abundant supply of wine and whiskey, beer in boatloads, tea and spices of all kinds, including "nutmegs and saltpetre:" with all the necessary apparatus of "knives and forks" (which, it appears, were not at that time in general use in Conamara), pipes, tobacco, cards, backgammon boxes, and "bands of Bainis music." The eatables are next provided, beginning in the fifth stanza, with a profusion of fish, from the herring to the "tortoise;" in the sixth stanza, wild fowl in great variety; and in the seventh, all kinds of meat, from the ox to the badger; with a humorous hint that it would be prudent to have these latter viands either boiled or roasted. In the three following stanzas the guests are enumerated. These con 66 bainis Phegi ní h-Eaġra°. 1.. A labrais Fheicín3, gluais go tapaid, Tabair leat a baile ádbar rascail Bróga 's patens, cnotaid gallda, Gloues is bobs is gaċ aon níd deas Dár jógann d'aon bean 'san rigeaċt. Chum a gleusta, Te hadaig fear a ċórúġad. II. Eirge air maidin 's gleus do capall, 'S imtig leat go h-eusza, Sior go Gaillim map b-fuil na ceannaigre, sist of the great Milesian families of Connaught, with some 66 Strongbonians" and "Cromwellians," “giỏ nás cóir”; and they end with the neighbouring gentry, and others of Iar-Connaught, who are summed up with some keen touches of wit. To complete the irony, the father of the bride is introduced, and the furniture of his cabin displayed, viz., a pot, a spinning-wheel, and a kneading-trough for dough; although bread was a luxury which the family never tasted. The spirit of this curious poem would be entirely lost by translation. See Tytler's Principles," chap. xiii. "The wedding of Peggy O'Hara," but more generally called the "Conamara wedding." The number of English words, borrowed for want of corresponding terms in Irish, shews the increase of the Eng Fíon lish language in Iar-Connaught. These alien addi- a little lame tailor of Cloghaun (Clifden), a bad 4 Rascal. A slang name formerly given in the west of Ireland to an outside great-coat. This is one of the borrowed words. |