Máire Ní Mhaonaigh and Altan have long been favorites of mine with their ability to remain largely in the tradition while still bringing something new to the picture. Here Máire sings a song that has been in her repertoire for many, many years.

Cití na gCumann

Is a Chití na gcumann, ná séan mé
Siúil feasta ‘gus éalaigh liom
I ngleanntáin coilleadh nó sliabh’ amuigh
Nó sealad faoi bhláth na gcrann
Do phósfainn i gan fhios don tsaol thú
‘S don tsagart dá mh’fhéidir liom
‘S muna bhfaighfear sinn cangailt’ in Éirinn
Ó racham araon anon

Is do thángas an baile seo ‘réir
Is bhí se ‘gam déanach go leor
Smé ar intinn an margadh a dhéanamh
‘S nach scarfainn léi féin go deo
Níor tháinig a Daidí chun réitigh
Cár mhiste domh é na dhóibh?
Bheirim slán is beannacht as mo ghaolta
‘S ní chasfaidh mé fhéin go deo

Níor cuireadh romham cuireadh na fáilte
Ó thánas an tsráid seo thíos
On uair a dh’airigh mo ghrá geal
Is go dtugas mo lámh do mhnaoi
Is doigh leo go bhfuil mise pósta
Is dár ndoigh, más doigh, ní fíor
Dar a leabhar seo ‘tá thíos i mo phóca
‘S ag mealladh ban óg a bhíos

English Translation

Lovable Kitty do no reject me
Walk away now and escape with me
In a wooded glen or mountain
or for a while in the flowering wood
I would marry you unknownst to the world
Or to the priest if I could
And if we cannot be bound in Ireland
Let’s both go abroad.

I arrived in this town last night
And it was quite late for me
Intending to make the match
And that I would never be parted from her
Her Father did not reach an agreement
It was not my fault
I bid farewell to my kinsfolk
We shall never meet again

I received neither welcome nor hospitality
Since I came to this village
Since my love heard
That I gave my hand to a woman
They think I am a married man
But if they do it is not true
By the book which is in my pocket
I was enticing a young woman.