“An Gréasaí Bróg” or “Beidh aonach amárach” (There’s a fair tomorrow) is an irish nursery rhyme from Co. Clare(1) (Ireland) about a fair.
(1) Clare is a county in the province of Munster on the west coast of Ireland, very much anchored to the traditions, in which Gaelic is spoken by more than 50% of the population.
In the county there is a big horse fair a few kilometers from Ennis at Spancilhill (also mentioned in another traditional song “Spancil hill “), but we can not know if the fair to which it refers this nursery rhyme is just that.
“Beidh aonach amárach” (in italiano “E’ giorno di mercato domani “) ma anche “An Gréasaí Bróg” (in italiano il calzolaio) è una filastrocca per bambini in gaelico irlandese dalla contea di Clare (Irlanda).
Leggi in italiano
“An Gréasaí Bróg/Beidh aonach amárach” is a composition in very simple and repetitive verses with a well-marked rhythm, structured as a call and response between mother and daughter: the daughter begs the mother to let her go to the fair, the mother replies that she could go when she will turn 13, and now she has nine, and it is still early to make choices in life. The daughter objects that many girls have married young and that she is in love with the shoemaker.
The Cartoon Saloon animation (for Anam an Amhráin) develops the text further and begins by showing a little girl with her teddy bear running after her father, because she wants to go to the fair too. Her mother manages to bring her home, but she runs away in the night and in crossing the woods she loses a shoe. The story of the images becomes more and more fairytale, suddenly a round full moon breaks through the clouds and the little girl follows her full of hope. Then she dreams of reaching the little man in the moon who is none other than the handsome shoemaker. Meanwhile, the mother following the footsteps of the child (and the moonbeam) finds her asleep inside the hollow trunk of a tree.
Irish Gaelic
Cúrfa.
Is a mháithrín an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé(x3)
Is a mhuirnín óg ná healaí é
I
Beidh aonach amárach in gContae an Chláir(x3)
Cén mhaith domh é ní bheidh mé ann
II
Tá ‘níon bheag agam is tá sí óg(x3)
Is tá sí i ngrá leis an ghreasaí bróg
III
Níl tú ach deich nó aon deag fós(x3)
Nuair a bheas tú trí deag beidh tú mór
IV
B’fhearr liom féin mo ghreasaí bróg(x3)
N fir na n’arm faoina lascú óir
V
‘S iomaí bean a phós go h-óg(x3)
Is a mhair go socair lena greasaí bróg
I
[Iníon]: Beidh aonach amáireach. Cé maith dom é?
Ní bheidh mé ann!
Cúrfa.
[Iníon]:’S a mháithirín, a’ ligfidh tú don aonaigh mé?
[Máthair]: A mhúirnín ó, ná h-éilig é!
II
[Máthair]: Níl tú a deich ná a h-aondéag fós,
Nuair a bheidh tú trídéag beidh tú mór!
III
[Iníon]: B’fhearr liom féin mo ghréasaí bróg,
Ná oifigeach airm le lásaí óir!
English translation
Chorus
Oh mammy, won’t you let me go to the fair
Oh dearest love, don’t plead with me
I
There’s a fair tomorrow in County Clare
Why should I care, I won’t be there
II
I’ve a little daughter and she’s very young
And she’s in love with a cobbling man
III
You’re not ten or eleven years old
When you reach thirteen you’ll be more mature
IV
I’d rather have my cobbling man
Than an army officer with his gold bands
V
There is many a maid who married young
And lived in peace with her cobbling man
SOURCE
http://www.irishpage.com/songs/aonach.htm
http://www.irlandaonline.com/cosa-vedere/sud/contea-di-clare/
http://clareireland.net/it/index.html
http://www.discoverireland.com/it/ireland-places-to-go/areas-and-cities/ireland-west/
