Annotation:Spealadóir (An)

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SPEALADÓIR, AN ("The Mower" or "The Reaper"). AKA and see "Cuckoo's Nest (14) (The)," "Forty Pounds of Feathers in a Hornet's Nest" (Pa.), "Come Ashore," "Jolly Tar," "Come Ashore Jolly Tar with Your Trousers On," "Jacky Tar." Irish, Air. The title comes from the poem by 18th century Munster poet Eoghan Rua Ó Súilleabháin (1748-1784) set (and still sung) to the tune of "The Cuckoo's Nest." Eoghan was a great talent, though something of a womanizer and earned the nickname Eoghan a' Bhéill Bhinn (Eoghan of the Sweet Mouth). The first stanza goes:

Is spealadóir beag sásta mé anall as a' Ghréig
Bíonn mo speal crochta liom agus bíodh uirthi 'n féar
Nuair a leagaim ar a' talamh é tógann mná na bfhearaibh í
I ndúil go mbeinn sa bhaile in am bhaint an fhéir

I prepared a little spealadóir forth from 'Greece
I have my scythe hanging and whether her 'grass
When I set on a 'land of bfhearaibh woman takes it
I am confident that I would be home in time remove the grass.

Additional notes

Recorded sources : - Gael-Linn CEFCD32, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy - "Ceol Aduaidh" (1983). Mad River Records MRCD1016, Bua - "An Spealadóir" (2008). Whirlie Records, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh - "The Highland Sessions vol. 3" (2012). Seán Ó Sé, Seán Ó Riada & Ceoltóirí Chualann – “An Poc Ar Buile Agus Amhráin Eile” (2011).

See also listing at :
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]
Hear the song sung in Irish byÉamon Ó Bróithe (Góilín Singers Club, 1996) at ITMA [2]

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