Davey O' Bruton (Daibhi O' Bruadair c.1626- 1698)

He spent most of his adult life in Limerick supported by patrons such as the Fitzgeralds but by 1674 at the age of 48 he was reduced to laboring in the fields.

Irish is harder for me than Scots Gaelic (the are about as close as Portuguese and Spanish) since I had little contact with native Irish Gaelic speakers as a boy but I enjoy the "big songs" nonetheless and I can always understand the gist of something Irish and I enjoy reading, translating and singing songs of the Irish Gael.

This is one of my favorite Gaelic poems.

1) "THE HIGH POETS ARE GONE FROM US "(D' Aithle Na bhfileadh)

by Daibhi O' Bruadair (Davey O' Bruton) from the Irish Gaelic

For the familiy of Cuchonnacht O Dalaigh

D' aithle na bhfileadh n-uasal

truaghsan timeal an tsaoghail

clann na n-ollamh go n-eagna

folamh gan freagra faobhair.

THE NOBLE HIGH -POETS ARE GONE FROM US

I MOURN FOR THE WORLD'S LOSS,

THE CHILDREN OF THOSE BARDS

SO WISE ARE HUSHED

YOU'LL NOT HEAR THEIR WITTY REPLIES!

Truagh a leabhair ag liath

tiach nach teabhair bhaoise

ar ceal nior choir a bhfoilcheas

toircheas bhfear n-oil na gaoise

BORN BY THE DRINKERS OF WISDOM'S SPRING

I PITY THEIR BOOKS A-GRAYING.

(NOT BOORISH PACKS OF STUPIDITY)

LOST, UNFAIRLY TO OBSCURITY.

D' aithle na bhfileadh dar ionmhas eisge is iul

Is mairg de chonnairc an chinneamhain d' erigh dhuinn

a leabhar ag titim i leimhe 's leithe i gcuil

's macaibh na droinge gan siolla da seadaibh run.

AFTER THE HIGH POETS

FOR WHOM ART AND KNOWLEDGE WERE RICHES,

IT IS WITH REGRET I LIVE TO SEE

THIS FATE BEFALL US

THEIR MOLDERING BOOKS IN CORNERS

THEIR LIFE'S WORK A BLUR

AND THE SONS OF THEIR RACE

WITHOUT A SYLLABLE OF THEIR SECRET TREASURE.

(translated R. MUNRO if that doesn't bring a tear to your "een" then are you are no Highlander as Auld Pop would say)

#2 THERE IS A lOVELY Highland Song called Mi'n So 'Nam Onar (Here I am in my loneliness)

I learned it from Lismore recordings of DAVID SOLLEY.

This song, written by me was set to the same melody (fonn).

It's all about knee-mail or the power of prayer, the last weapon of the poor or powerless.

WHEN I AM LOW AND SHADOW-HEARTED a song by RICHARD MUNRO (Ruiseart M'anrothaiche)

1)When I am low

and shadow-hearted,

When I am sad,

all joys departed

I turn to thee,

God of my fathers

and kneel and offer my quiet prayer !

2)Some misfortunes bring success,

Some things gained prove bottomless

Be Swift to hear, but slow to answer

Whatever befalls you ,

THIS TOO SHALL PASS!

3) When the world seems cruel and callous

So false and cold and full of malice

Remember this, remember it always:

Whatever befalls you, this too shall pass!