Bríd Thomáis Mhurchú

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  • Teideal (Title): Bríd Thomáis Mhurchú.
  • Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 850119.
  • Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
  • Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): none.
  • Uimhir Laws (Laws Number): none.
  • Uimhir Child (Child Number): none.
  • Cnuasach (Collection): Joe Heaney Collection, University of Washington, Seattle.
  • Teanga na Croímhíre (Core-Item Language): Irish.
  • Catagóir (Category): song.
  • Ainm an té a thug (Name of Informant): Joe Heaney.
  • Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): James Cowdery.
  • Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): between 1979 and 1981.
  • Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, United States of America.
  • Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): private.
  • Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): unavailable.
  • Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.

‘S a Bhrídeach na gcarad, tuig feasta nach súgradh é
Ó thug mo chroí gean duit, ar mhalrait ná diúltaigh mé
Má shíl tú mé a mhealladh le bladar deas ciúin do bhéil
‘S gur thug mise gean duit seachas a bhfacas de mhná óga an tsaoil.

Translation

My dear little Bridget, please understand that I’m not fooling
Since my heart bestowed love on you, please don’t change your mind and refuse me.
You thought you’d seduce me with the sweet soft nothings of your mouth,
So that I fell in love with you above any other young woman I’d ever seen.

Notes

Joe told Jim Cowdery that he learned this song from his father, and that his father was the only person he knew that had the song when he was growing up. While the air is for the most part the usual one associated with this song, Joe’s air differs somewhat from the one made popular by Johnny Joe Phaitsín ‘ac Dhonncha. The last line of Johnny’s air is slightly different, and his performance as a whole has a more marked, four-square rhythm than Joe uses here. See Gael Linn EP recording GL13.

In recent years this song has become a favourite throughout Conamara, and predictably turns up at the annual Oireachtas competition when singers are asked for an amhrán sciopaí (a fast song). For additional verses and some discussion, see Ríonach uí Ógáin (ed.), Faoi Rothaí na Gréine: Amhráin as Conamara a Bhailigh Máirtín Ó Cadhain (Dublin, 1999), 75–77; also an tAthair Tomás Ó Ceallaigh, Ceol na n-Oileán (Dublin, 1931), 38–9 and notes.