The Boys of Barr na Sráide
This is undoubtedly Sigerson's most popular composition and it captures beautifully the essence of Cahersiveen nestled as it is between mountains and sea. It also struck an immediate chord with people who grew up on Ireland's western seaboard in the first half of the twentieth century. In a note to me shortly before his death Seán Ó Síocháin rightly claimed to have popularised it on radio: "It was my good fortune in the early fifties to get to know and admire Sigerson through our role in the very popular Radio Éireann programme, 'The Ballad Makers' Saturday Night'. I take pardonable pride in the fact that it was my good fortune to have been selected to sing, 'The Boys of Barr na Sráide', which was requested again and again and which was acknowledged as being the most popular song of the series".
O
the town it climbs the mountain and looks upon the sea
And sleeping time or waking time 'tis there I long to be
To walk again that kindly street, the place I grew a man
With the boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wran.
With
cudgels stout we roamed about to hunt for the dreoilín.
We searched for birds in every furze from Letter to Dooneen.
We sang for joy beneath the sky; life held no print or plan
And we boys in Barr na Sráide went hunting for the wran.
And
when the hills were bleeding and the rifles were aflame
To the rebel homes of Kerry those Saxon strangers came
But the men who dared the Auxies and who fought the Black and Tans
Were the boys in Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wran.
So
here's a toast to them tonight, those lads who laughed with me
By the groves of Carhan River or the slopes of Beenatee
John Dawley and Batt Andy and the Sheehans Con and Dan
And the boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wran.
But
now they toil on foreign soil where they have gone their way
Deep in the heart of London town or over in Broadway
And I am left to sing their deeds and to praise them while I can
Those boys of Barr na Sráide who hunted for the wran
And
when the wheel of life runs down and when peace comes over me
O lay me down in that old town between the hills and sea
I'll take my sleep in those green fields the place my life began
Where the boys of Barr na Sráide went hunting for the wran.
Ar
Sheilg an Dreoilín
An
Irish translation of 'The Boys of Barr na Sráide' by Garry McMahon
Ó
táimse i bhfad ó Éirinn is óm' bhaile i gCiarraí
Ach is ró-bhuan é mo chuimhne ar an áit de ló
is d'oích',
An botháinín 'nar saolaíodh mé i gCathair chaoin
Saidhbhín
Buachaillí ó Bharr na Sráide ar sheilg an Dreoilín.
An
t-aiteann bhuí, gach tor is claí, chuardaíomar iad
go cruinn
Faoi scamaill dhubha gan brón ná cumha ar lorg an éinín.
Bhí gliondar inár gcroíthe do scairteamar gan sriain
Buachaillí ó Bharr na Sráide ar sheilg an Dreoilín.
Cé
throid in aghaidh na Sasanaigh is ghnóthaigh clú is cáil
In aimsir na nDubhchrónach nuair a ghlaodh ar Fhianna Fáil?
B'iad na buachaillí a sheas an fód is chuir ruaig ar Sheán
Buí
Buachaillí ó Bharr na Sráide ar sheilg an Dreoilín.
Is ólaimís a sláinte, na laochra a bhí lem'
thaobh,
A raibh spórt is greann ar bhruach na habhann ins na coillte i measc
na gcraobh,
Batt Aindí is An Dálach, sinn ar chliathán Bhinn a'
Tí
Buachaillí ó Bharr na Sráide ar sheilg an Dreoilín.
Is
táid anois thar sáile i bhfad, i bhfad i gcéin,
I Londain nó i Meiriceá agus mé anseo liom fhéin
Ach canfhadsa a moltaí go ceolmhar is go binn
Buachaillí ó Bharr na Sráide ar sheilg an Dreoilín.
Nuair
a ghlaofaidh Dia na nGlór orm chun mo chodladh deireadh buan,
Ar imeall gheal na farraige sea gheobhaidh mé mo shuan,
Is luífimíd go sítheach ann 'sna gorta glasa mín',
Buachaillí ó Bharr na Sráide ar sheilg an Dreoilín.
