Buachaill o'n Eirne - Anne Byrne and Jesse Owens - Abbey Tavern

 

Buachaill ón Éirne mé 's bhréagfainn cailín deas óg

I'm a boy from the Erne and I could charm a nice young girl.

Ní iarrfainn bó spré léi tá mé fhéin saibhir go leor

I would not ask for her wealth as I am rich enough myself.

'S li om Corcaigh da mhéid é, dhá thaobha' ghleanna 's Tír Eoghain

I own Cork, as big as it is, two sides of the glen, and Tyrone.

'S mura n-athraí mé béasaí 's mé n' t-oidhr' ar Chontae Mhaigh Eo.

And not to repeat myself, I'm the heir of County Mayo.

Rachaidh mé 'márach ag dhéanamh leanna fán choill

I will go tomorrow to make ale in the wood

Gan choite gan bád gan gráinnín brach' ar bith liom

Without a cot, without a boat, without a pinch of gruel with me

Ach duilliúr na gcraobh mar éadaigh leapa os mo chionn

But leaves of the branches as bedclothes over my head

'S óró sheacht m'anam déag thú 's tú 'féachaint orm anall.

And O! good for you! And you looking across at me.

Buachailleacht bó, mo leo, nár chleacht mise ariamh

A cowherd, my pet, I've never been accustomed to be

Ach ag imirt 's ag ól le h'ógmhná deasa an tsliabh

But playing and drinking and (being) with nice young women on the mountain

Má chaill mé mo stór ní moide gur chaill mé mo chiall

Even though I lost my wealth it's not as though I lost my senses

A's ní mó liom do phóg ná'n bhróg atáim ag caitheamh le bliain

And your kiss is no more to me now than a shoe worn for a year.

      Buachaill ón Éirne is an Irish phrase meaning "Boy from the Erne," referring to the River Erne in Ireland, and is also the title of a well-known traditional Irish folk song about a charming, boastful young man, often performed by artists like The Corrs and Clannad. The song features the singer claiming wealth and prowess, but in a teasing, tongue-in-cheek way, suggesting he's actually a humble herdsman.