La fonte principale per trovare testo, traduzioni e melodie di questa antica canzone dal titolo “Caisleán Uí Néill” (=O’Neil Castle), è la signora Eileen (Ellen) Costello (1870 – 1962) nata Drury, che nel 1919 pubblicò “Amhráin Muighe Seola: Traditional folk-songs from Galway and Mayo” una raccolta di canti tradizionali della Gaeltacht, principalmente per fini didattici a supporto dell’insegnamento del gaelico nelle scuole.
EILEEN COSTELLO
Insegnante, membro attivo della Liga Gaelica, senatrice della Repubblica d’Irlanda “Mrs Costello was born Edith Drury in 1870 in St Pancras workhouse in London, where her Limerick father worked as an attendant. Her mother was Welsh. She became a teacher, and was in the 1890s prominent in a number of the then many Irish cultural organisations in London. A highly active member of the Gaelic League from its London foundation in 1896, she learned Irish there. Her song collecting in the Irish language began in London (she first collected ‘Neillí Bhán’ on a train coming from Woolwich), but her collecting work really began in Ireland, in Tuam, where she came to live having in 1903 married a Dr Thomas Bodkin from the town. He was a medical doctor, historian, and fellow Gaelic Leaguer. Among her chief singers from 1904 was a Maggie Hession of Belclare, members of whose family are still involved in traditional music. Mrs Costello was active in the War of Independence and became a senator in the Irish Free State. (tratto da qui)
Nell’archivio digitale de “Amhráin Muighe Seola” sono riportate ben tre notazioni melodiche abbastanza simili come pure una serie di versioni testuali di “Caisleán Uí Néill”; ancora una versione testuale con traduzione in inglese si trova in “Poets and Poetry of Munster” di John O’Daly, 1860.
IL FALSO INNAMORATO?
La protagonista è una giovane ragazza che è stata abbandonata dal suo (falso) innamorato il quale si dirige a Nord verso il Castello degli “Ui Neil”; sono gli O’Neill i discendenti dello storico re di Tara Niall Noigiallach che morì verso il 405: questi in qualità di Conti mantennero il potere nell’Ulster fino agli inizi del Seicento quando dopo nove anni di guerra (1594-1603) vennero sconfitti dagli Inglesi (evento che portò al “Flight of the Earls” ovvero il “Volo dei Conti” i quali lasciarono l’Irlanda per poter continuare la loro battaglia al servizio delle monarchie straniere nemiche dell’Inghilterra.
ASCOLTA (mp3 ) -voce e chitarra barocca- Irish Traditional Music Ensemble & Early Music Ensemble of the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in Flow My Tears 2006, (il titolo del cd è una citazione da John Dowland) (vedi)
ASCOLTA Máire Nic Dhonnchadha in Seoltaí Séidte. Setting Sail 2004 (“Ceolta Éireann 1957-1961. Forty-Three Historic Recordings.) vedi
ASCOLTA Na Casaidigh (The Cassidys) in Fead An Iolair 1984 con Caitríona Ní Chasaide voce e arpa (la traccia del brano ritorna nell’album The Cassidys-Na Casaidigh 2010 sebbene non più presente nella line up del gruppo)
ASCOLTA Máirín Uí Chéide live
Céad slán don oíche aréir,
Is é mo léan gan í anocht ina tús,
Leis an mbuachaillín spéiriúil
A bhréagadh mé seal ar a ghlúin,
(Cé gur) chuir tú orm d’éileamh (1)
A mhí(le) grá bán, ní leatsa mo rún,
Ach céad faraor géar
Tá na sléibhte (ag) dul idir mé is tú (1bis).
II
(‘S) tá an gairdín seo ina fhásach,
A mhíle grá bán(2), is tá mise liom féin (2bis),
(‘S) tá na pósaetha ag fás ann
Is breátha dá bhfaca tú riamh(3),
Ní chluinfeá ceol cláirsí
ag dul an tsráid seo
Ná ceol (3 bis) binn na n-éan,
Ó d’éalaigh mo ghrá uaim,
Cúl (3 ter) álainn go Caisleán Uí Néill.
NOTE
1) oppure scritto “Chuir tú orm an t-éileamh” oppure “Mar do chuir tu orm t’éaradh”,
1 bis) oppure il finale della quartina diventa
“D’aithriseoinn scéal duit, a mhile grá, dá ndéantá air rún
Ach Flaithis Mhic Dé ná fhaighe an té chuirfeadh idir mé is tú”
2) oppure scritto “a ghrá geal”
2bis) nó an miste leat é?
3) Nil toradh ar bith ag fás ann,
bláth na n-airni ná duilliúr na gcraobh
3 bis) oppure ceiliúr
3 ter) oppure an craoibh
4) III C
Is i gCaisleán Uí Neill tá an péarla bhain dhíomsa mo shnua
is gurb é binneas a bhéil a chuirfeadh éanlaith na coille chun suain
‘s é an tsamhail thug mé féin dá mhéin mhaith is do leagan a shúl
mar fhíoruisce an tsléibhe is é ag téaltó maidin lae ciúin
IV C
Níl cnócan dá aeraí, a mhíle grá, nach n-aithneoinn do shiúl
‘S níl maighdean dá chéillí, is é mo léan, nach dtéann uirthi an chluain
Tá mo mhuintir dom thréigean ‘s níl éinne tíocht chugam ar cuairt
agus mo ghrá dom shéanadh le céil fir eile is nach trua.
4bis) oppure scritto “Go dtug mé fhéin spéis dó go mór i ngan fhios do’n slua ”
5) oppure “ní mó ná go gcodaluim fein trá”
6) oppure il finale della quartina è invece
“Bliain ‘san oiche aréir, sea réab na capaill an fál
Agus chuaidh siad de léim, sé mo léan géar, amach ins a’ snamh”.
Variazioni nelle strofe
| III A (4) Is i gCaisleán Uí Néill Atá an péarla a bhain díomsa mo ghrá Cé go dtug mé féin spéis dó Is é mo léan géar i ngan fhios don tslua (4 bis), Ag teallach tigh Mhóir Is ea chónaíonn is a chodlaíonn mo ghrá, Agus a shamhail níl le fáil agam Ach an réalt eolais atá ar an mbaile úd (taobh) thall. IV A Ba mhilse liom do phóigín Ná an rós a thagann faoi bhláth, ’S le cumha (mór) i ndiaidh mo stóirín Ní mó ná go gcodlaím go sámh (5), Is é an tsamhail a bhéarfainn Dá mhéin is de leagan a shúl, Fíoruisce an tsléibhe Is é ag éalú ar maidin sa drúcht. (6) V Bliain is an oíche aréir Sea réab na capaill an fál, Is naoi n-oíche ina dhiaidh sin Sea d’éalaigh mo ghrá uaim sa snámh, Níl tuile dá mhéid Nach gcaitheann sé an fhad eile ag trá, Is níl ann ach lucht bréaga Agus b’fhéidir go bhfillfeadh mo ghrá. VI Agus d’aithneoinn mo stóirín Is é ag gabháil trí shiopaí Bhaile Átha Cliath, Agus d’aithneoinn aríst é Is é gabháil tríd an mbaile úd taobh thiar. Dá mba liomsa Tír Eoghain, Cé gur mór í le tairiscint mar spré, Ach nárbh fhearr liom bheith pósta Le mo stóirín i gCaisleán Uí Néill. |
III B ‘S i gCaisleán Uí Néill ‘tá an té úd ‘bhain díomsa mo chlú Is a shamhail níl le fáil a’m ach an réalt eolais thar an mbaile údan thall Ba mhilse liom blas a phóigín ná an rós ar a dtagann an bláth Is le cumha i ndiaidh mo stóirín ní beo mé ach tamaillín gearr. IV B ‘S cén fáth, a mhíle grá bán, i dtús an tsamhraidh nach dtiocfása ar cuairt Anuas ins na gleanntáin nó ar oileán ina nglaonn an chuach Ba, caoirigh ná gamhna ní shantóinn féin leat iad mar spré Ach mo láimh faoi do cheannsa ‘s cead comhrá go huair a dó dhéag. |
Ed ecco il testo trascritto in “Poets and Poetry of Munster”
I M
A chumainn dhil a’s annsacht a d-tús an t-samhraidh dá d-tiocfádh liom féin
Amach faoi na gleannta nó mar a d-tígheadh an ghrian fae
Badh, caoire, ná gamhna ní íontóchuinn leatsa mar spréidh
Acht mo lámh bheith faoid’ chóm geal ‘s cead cómhrádh bheith eadrainn a raon!
II M
Atá mo gháirdín-sí an fhásach a dhian-ghrádh an misde leat é
Atá torthuighe ró ánd ann agus fásach go barraoi na g-craobh
Ní chluinim ceól cláirsíghe gabhail an t-sráid seo ná ceól binn na n-éan
O d’éalaigh mo ghrádh uaim, cúl fáingioch go Caisleán Uí Néill.
III M
Nár fhágbhadh mé an saoighealso, go léigfe mé dhíom an mí-ágh; –
Go m-beidh badh ‘gam ‘s caoire, ‘s mo mhaonach idir mo dhá lámha;
Trosgadh na h-aoine, an lá saoire ní chuirfinn a bh-fáth;
‘S níor bh-fada liomsa oidhche, sínte led’ bhrollach geal bán!
IV M
Céad slán do’n oidhche raoir, is é mo léan nach í nocht atá ann;
‘S do’n m-buachaillín spéireamhuil, do bhréagfadh mé seal ar a ghlúin,
Do ‘neósfainn féin sgéal duit, dá mb’fhéidir go g-coimeádfádh orm rún!
Go bh-fuil mo ghrádh bán am thréigion, a Dhia ghléigil ‘sa mhic Muire nach dúbhach!
IV M
Tá’n tuirse ‘san brón so, ró mhór timchioll mo chroidhe!
Tá lán mo dhá bhróigín, do dheóracha glasa liom síos;
Faoi ghrádh buachaill óig, do bhréodh ‘s do bhuain díom mo chiall,
‘S ní mhairfeadh mé beó, má phósan sé an bhean dubh ó’n t-sliabh!
V M
Tá siad dá rádh go bh-fuil grádh na bh-fear orm féin,
‘S dr n-dóith má tá, mo chrádh! ní misde liom é;
Go d-tugas naoi lá. Naoi d-tráth, naoi seachtmhuine déag,
Ag cúl tíghe mo ghrádh, buaint áirnídhe fá dhuilleabhar na g-craobh!
VI M
Do gheall tusa damhsa, go m-bréagfádh mo leanbh ar do ghlúin;
Do gheall tú na dhéig sin, go m-beidh’ aon-tígheas idir mé ‘gus tú,
Mo gheallamhuin ‘naghadh an lae dhuit, gur léigeasa leatsa mo rún!
Agus faraoir dúbhach géar! Tá’n saoghal ag gabhail ‘dir me ‘gus tú!
| TRADUZIONE di John O’Daly I Oh Darling and true love in early summer if you come with me ‘mong dim glenns of dew, love or where the bright sun shineth free; calves, kine, sheep and whitest for your fortune I’d take not that day. But my two arms ‘round your white waist and sweet lonely converse with you for aye! II My garden’s neglected; dear love! Does that not cause you pain? Fruits bloom uninspected, and verdure grows high without gain. I list not the clearest soft harp, or the birds’ sweet low wail since from me fled my dearest curled cuilfionn to Caisleann O’Néill! III Yet I’ll leave not life’s battle till down fall my mis’ry and pain; till I’ve sheep and cattle and my darling returned once again; the spare meals of Lent-time I’ll quit not on grand days of feast, sweet, swift were the spent-time I’d spend with my head on his breast. IV Farewell to last even! I would it were back now to me, with the fair youth of Heaven who caressed me awhile on his knee! I’ll say what bereft me of joy – but let no one know, my own white Love has left me, O Mary! O Heaven! What a woe! V Sickness and sorrow are much, much around my poor heart; the wan tears each morrow to my eyes ever – and ever start; though love, and love only of him, who has left grief’s black shade, Ah! I cannot live lonely if he wed with the dark mountain maid V The people say ever that brave, handsome men love me dear, but never – o never could I love while he is not here, I’d wander, far rather, nine days, nine nights, nine weeks and ten, and sloe-berrie gather Near his house ‘neath sleet, snow, and rain! VI You promised me purely you’d love me till came death’s decline: you promised me, surely, that your home should always be mine. But woe to that even when I gave my heart unto thee, Faraor! O bitter grieving! The world goes between thee and me! |
Traduzione di Cattia Salto * I O caro amore mio all’inizio dell’estate se vieni con me tra le forre ombrose di rugiada, amore o sotto alla luce del sole splendente; mucche, pecore o vitelli per il tuo bene non governerei quel giorno ma starei con le braccia strette alla tua bianca vita a conversare con te per un po’ II Il mio giardino è trascurato, caro amore, come ciò non ti causa dolore? La frutta matura senza essere colta e l’erba cresce alta senza essere falciata. Nessun suono d’arpa si ode né i dolci canti degli uccelli da quando egli mi ha lasciato, il mio caro bel ragazzo dai riccioli biondi, per il castello O’Neil III Eppure non mi darò per vinta per quanto possa cadere in basso nella tristezza e nel dolore; finché ho ovini e bovini, il mio amore ritornerà ancora una volta; il modesto desinare del tempo di Quaresima non cesserò nei grandi giorni di festa, amore, rapido trascorrerebbe il tempo da passare con la mia testa sul suo petto. IV Addio per l’ultima volta! Vorrei che quel tempo ritornasse, con quel bel giovane angelo che per un po’ mi baciava tenendomi sulle ginocchia. Dirò quello che mi priva della gioia – ma che nessuno sappia, il mio bell’amore mi ha lasciato, O Maria! O cielo! Che guaio! V Malattia e dolore avvolgono il mio povero cuore; e lacrime ogni domani dai miei occhi esangui sempre – e sempre riprenderanno; eppure amo, e solo lui amo, colui che ha lasciato l’ombra nera del dispiacere. Ah! Non posso vivere da sola se si è sposato con la fanciulla della Montagna Nera. V La gente dice sempre che bravi uomini e belli mi amano ma mai – o mai potrei io amare, mentre lui non è qui, piuttosto vagherei, lontano , nove giorni, nove notti, novanta settimane , per raccogliere le bacche del prugnolo vicino alla sua casa sotto nevischio, neve e pioggia! VI Mi hai promesso semplicemente che mi avresti amato fino alla morte: mi hai promesso, sicuramente, che la tua casa sarebbe stata sempre la mia. Ma sia maledetta quella sera in cui ti diedi il mio cuore Che dolore! O amaro lutto! Così va il mondo! |
NOTE
* traduzione dall’inglese, una traduzione che non mi convince ancora ma per il momento la considero come una traccia da perfezionare.
FONTI
http://songsinirish.com/caislean-ui-neill-lyrics/
http://songsinirish.com/caislean-ui-neill-lyrics2/
https://archive.org/stream/poetspoetryofmun00sigerich#page/82/mode/2up/search/Caisle%C3%A1n+U%C3%AD+N%C3%A9ill
http://tunearch.org/wiki/O’Neill’s_Castle
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=159991
http://www.itma.ie/digitallibrary/score/AMS
http://www.culture24.org.uk/places+to+go/northern+ireland/art16597
http://folkmusicsocietyofireland.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/ct26.pdf
