04 Domhnall na Greine

Micho Russel indicated the Gaelic title of the song translated literally as 'Daniel of the Stroke', referring to someone with sunstroke. It was a fiary tune, said Micho, and told the sotry of a man who lived in a small thatched house by the side of the road. The man became very ill, but was able to rise and happened to go out to the road one night where he met a stranger who inquired after his health. The man replied that he was indeed very sick and 'I cannot get any better'. The stranger said that if he was able to play this tune until morning he should be alright, and proceeded to lilt a tune which was listened to very carefully. Upon returning to his dwelling, the man practised the tune on his old tin whistle, and sure enough, by morning's light his sickness was gone.

The song appears in Sean O Dalaigh's Poets and Poetry of Munster (1849), though not usually sung to the version Breathnach gives. Breathnach says it is apparently in priase of Dhonal na Greine, though 'it is a complete pretence'. He remarks that in districts in which Irish was formerly spoken a common lilt survives, which goes:

'Donall ar meisce is a bhen ag ol uisce is na leanai ag beicigh, na leanai ag beicigh'
'Donal drunk and his wife drinking water and the children roaring and the children roaring'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkycbufVxQs

https://myspace.com/doimnic/music/song/donal-na-greine.wav-80898986-89131554

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBIpdluoCtM

Commoradh a's froilic thug Domhnall a Bhalas
Do Dhomhnall na Greine, cleasaidhe go treaethach,
'A mbeadh se seachtmhain i dtoigh-leanna Racain,
Cha dtiocfadh a'n neal air, s' b'annamh dithcheille air.

D'olfadh se a dtuillfeadh se 'sa thuilleadh a ngeobhadh se;
B'fheirrde toigh'n oile, a'sgabhfadh se ceol doibh,
Le feabhas a chuideachta mheallfad se an iomadaigh,
Cailini oga, diomhaoin as posta.

Domhnall na Greine, giolla na peite,
'Gcuala tu a leitheid d'alpurnach treitheach;
Leigheasfadh se cailleach air phlupadh 'siar chasachtaigh
A's gan teannadh uirthi acht smeideadh.

Bhiodh Domhnall 'gol leanna a's e fhein 'ga ceannach
Gan deoin na mbrather daonnai gan naire;
Dhafadh si pistear a shuidhfeadh sa chistinigh
A's a choinneochadh Genebha a d'olfadh na ladies.

Bhiodh Domhnall air meisce 'sa bhean ag ol uisce,
Domhnall na Greine, giolla na peite.
Plucadh 'sa placadh o neoin go dti maidin,
Mala mor mairte, sin samhail a mheadail.

Ba liomhtha a teanga i mBearla gus Laidin,
Scriobhfadh se Gaodhlag, Dutch agus breaga,
Le neart is a dhochar gur sharuigh se an domhan;
Sin chugaibh cuid treartha Domhnall na Greine.

Biodh poll air a hata, gus smal air a leine,
Ranntoir a's toitire, Domhnall na Greine