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Ennis wrote that Affey Gibbons, a priest, was on the run during the time of the Fenians. There was a price on his head. He asked for a bed for the night in a house in Iorras Mór, and when people in the house agreed to this he took two pistols from his suitcase. The family then suspected his identity and they reported him to the police. The police suggested they remove the pistols, which they were able to do as the priest was exhausted and sound asleep. The priest was arrested and hanged. His brother composed the song in his memory.
The song expresses grief over the betrayal and death of the priest and the fact that Affey’s family or friends were not present to lament him when he was laid out. How they would have rallied round. Nature is in tune with the deep grief caused by the priest’s death. The blackbird, the cuckoo and the thrush are silent, the gulls are lamenting and the swans on Lough Erne cannot swim. Trees cannot bear fruit and there is no sunlight.
Séamus Ennis collected the song from Seán Geary [Ó Gaora] on two occasions. The collector noted (p.596) that he had previously collected some of the song from him. Seán then got additional verses from Maidhcil Foley(33), Aill na Brón. Maidhcil had got some of it from Éamonn de Búrca and some from Séamus Cheannabháin, Cora na gCapall.
[from NFC 1280: 347-348, 595-596, 616]
Affey Gibbons
Ennis wrote that Affey Gibbons, a priest, was on the run during the time of the Fenians. There was a price on his head. He asked for a bed for the night in a house in Iorras Mór, and when people in the house agreed to this he took two pistols from his suitcase. The family then suspected his identity and they reported him to the police. The police suggested they remove the pistols, which they were able to do as the priest was exhausted and sound asleep. The priest was arrested and hanged. His brother composed the song in his memory.
The song expresses grief over the betrayal and death of the priest and the fact that Affey’s family or friends were not present to lament him when he was laid out. How they would have rallied round. Nature is in tune with the deep grief caused by the priest’s death. The blackbird, the cuckoo and the thrush are silent, the gulls are lamenting and the swans on Lough Erne cannot swim. Trees cannot bear fruit and there is no sunlight.
Séamus Ennis collected the song from Seán Geary [Ó Gaora] on two occasions. The collector noted (p.596) that he had previously collected some of the song from him. Seán then got additional verses from Maidhcil Foley(33), Aill na Brón. Maidhcil had got some of it from Éamonn de Búrca and some from Séamus Cheannabháin, Cora na gCapall.
[from NFC 1280: 347-348, 595-596, 616]
“Phlúir ‘sa scoth na Féinne ‘gus úghdair cheart an Bhéarla
A Bhuinneáin Bháin gan aon locht ó’n bpréamh go dtige’n bárr
Nach b’é mo léan mar d’éag tú, thiar i n-íochtar Éire
Gan aon neach go do ghaolta lé thú bhréagú as cíonn chláir.
Sean-fhocal ‘s ní bréag é, seachain is ná taoíbha’
An coithidheachaí má fhéadann tú agus béidh tú níos feárr
Ach mo chreach agus mo léan géar, ‘sé Affey fuair lé léiú é
Mar is fada siar i n-Éirinn dearnú éagcóir air is feáll.
Tá’n smóilín mhilis bhréagach ‘sna faoi(igh)leáin gheala ‘géar-ghol
Tá’n eala’r bhruach Loch’ Éirne ‘sní féidir léithe snámh
Ach faoi dhuibhthean is faoi Éicliops tá’n ghealach is na réalta
Le cumha ‘ndia’ chroidhe na féile thug a’ sway leis as gach ceárd.
Níl torthaí ar bharra géaga ‘sníl meas a’ góil i n-éifeacht
Níl soillse ‘bith ar a’ ngréin, ‘s tá’n féar glas ó fhás.
Ó Sheán Geary
Aill na Brón
Cearthú eile de “Affey Gibbons” (ó Sheán Geary, Áill na Brón). (616)
Nach minic a chuala ‘ch aoin fhear gur mairig é fhéin a thréig(c)feadh
A Chúige féin ghá bhféadadh sé ‘s bheith ‘n -éanraic go brách
Nach deas a’ fortún a gheáll Mac Dé dhó a shocraíde leath ar Éirinn,
Na dártha beannacht Dé leis ‘s go dtéi sé ar staid na nGrást.
(sine an cearthú deirionnach atá ann).
Affey Gibbons ó Sheán Geary
‘gCill Eala buailiú an dé-smál na Frannca’ theacht go h-Éirinn
Muid a’ scarúint ó n-a chéile mo chreach agus mo chrá
Ó d’imi’ croí na Féinne go flaithis geal na ndéadara(?)
Tá daoiní uaisle ‘géar-ghol, gun léigheann a bheith ‘g a gclánn.
A phlúir ‘sa Scoith na Féinne ‘gus ‘úghdair cheart an Bhéarla
A bhuinneáin bháin gan aon locht ó’n bpréamh go dtige ‘n bárr
Nach b’é mo léan mar d’éag tú, thiar in íochtar Éireann
‘Sgun aon neach go do ghaolta lé thú bhréagú as cíonn cláir.
Nach iomú marcach spéiriúil is cúlógach** glan gléasta
Rachadh (ó) goit’ fhéachaint ‘s thú géanacan*** a’ bháis
Níl clúid ná ceárd in Éirinn ‘dtiocfadh ort cath ná géibhionn
Nach bhfuightheá buachaill spéiriúil a d‘eireóch in do pháirt.
(596)
Sean-fhocal ‘s ní bréag é, seachain is ná taoíobha’
‘n coithíoch choí’ má fhéadann tú ‘gus beigh tú níos feárr
Ach mo chreach agus mo léan géar ‘sé Affey fuair lé léiú é
Mar’s fada siar in Éirinn deárnú éagcóir air is feáll.
Níor bhinne leat ceól na n-éanla’ faoi chiúis na coile craovaí’
Tá’n londú ‘n chuach ‘sa’ chéirseach gun aon smid amháin
Tá’n smóilín mhilis bhréagach, tá na faoighleáin gheala ‘géar-ghol
Tá’n eala ‘r bhruach Loch’ Éirne ‘s dhiún ar féidir léithe snáú.
Níl torthaí ar bharra géaga ‘s níl meas a’ góil in-éifeacht
Níl soighillse ‘bith ar a’ ngréin ghil ‘s tá’n féar glas ó fhás
Ach faoi dhiofan**** is faoi éiclips tá’n ghealach ánn ‘s na réalta
Le cú ‘ndía’ croí na Féinne thug a’ “sway” leis as gach ceárd.
Scríobhas cuid dhe seo cheana ó Sheán ach fúair sé an méid eile ó chonnaic mé cheana é, ó Mhaidhcil Foley (33) Aill na Brón a fuair cuid ó Éamonn a’Búrc agus cuid eile ó Shéamus Cheannabháin, seanachaí nach maireann, Cora na gCapall.
* ainm an tSagairt
** Duine thiúrfá taoí thiar díot ar chapall
*** Saothrú, fáilt, bháis.
**** duibhthean
