Leaba Shíoda

Lyrics and Translation: Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill
Music: Tim Dennehy and Garry O'Briain
Guitar: Garry O'Briain
Fiddle and Viola: Patricia Kelly

Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill is one our foremost poets with several collections of poetry to her name. Her Irish language lyrics and themes are personal yet universal and have been translated by herself and others. This beautiful love poem is taken from "Rogha Dánta" / "Selected Poems", 1988 and is written here in its original form. She has also published, "Selected Essays", 2005.

"Tháinig an dán seo chugam agus mé ar an ordóig idir Ghaillimh agus Corca Dhuibhne. Bhíos ag tabhairt faoin mbád farantóireachta trasna na Sionainne. Fuaireas síobanna beaga dhá mhíle suas no trí mhíle síos an bóthar. Sa deireadh fágadh ar thaobh an bhóthair mé ag crosaire go raibh fógra ós a chionn: Labysheedy 1 Mile. Thíos faoi bhí ainm an bhaile I nGaolainn: Leaba Shíoda. Chuir an t-ainm sin ag cuimhneamh is ag smaoineamh mé. Lá gaofar ab ea é agus bhí an ghaoth ag séideadh tríd na crainn. Faoin am ga rabhas tagtha anuas den mbád I gCiarraí Thuaidh, bhí an dán scríte agam". (Nuala)

"I wrote this poem during a hitch-hike trip from Galway to Dingle. I was headed for the ferry across the Shannon but in Co. Clare I got all sorts of short lifts. Eventually I found myself at a crossroads which had a roadsign: Labasheedy 1 Mile. Underneath it gave the name in Irish, which meant The Grave of Síoda but could also mean The Bed of Silk. The mind boggled. I was left there most of a windy afternoon and, by the time I had arrived in Kerry, most of the poem had taken shape in my mind". (Nuala)

Do chóireoinn leaba duit
I Leaba Shíoda
Sa b'fhéar ard
Faoi iomrascáil na gcrann
Is bheadh do chraiceann ann
Mar shíoda ar shíoda
Sa doircheacht
Am lonnaithe na leamhan

Craiceann a shníonn
Go gléineach thar do ghéaga
Mar bhainne á dháil as crúiscíní
Am lóin
Is tréad gabhar ag gabháil thar chnocáin
Do chuid gruaige
Cnocáin ar a b'fhuil faillte arda
Is dhá ghleann atá domhain

Is bheadh do bheola taise
Ar mhilseacht shiúcra
Tráthnóna is sinn ag spaisteoireacht
Cois abhann
Is na gaotha meala
Ag séideadh thar an Sionna
Is na fiúisí ag beannú duit
Ceann ar cheann

Na fiúisí ag ísliú
a gceanna maorga
Ag umhlú síos don áilleacht
Os a gcomhair
Is do phriocfainn péire acu
Mar shiogairlíní
Is do mhaiseoinn do chluasa
Mar bhrídeog

Ó chóireoinn leaba duit
I Leaba Shíoda
Le hamhascarnach an lae
I ndeireadh thall
Is ba mhór an pléisiúr dúinn
Bheith géaga ar ghéaga
Ag iomrascáil
Am lonnaithe na leamhan