Molly St. George – Irish : Mailí san Seóirse (Original version)
Donal O’Sullivan - translation

Miss Molly St. George is
a maid without peer,
So handsome, so modest,
so graceful, so dear.
Though demure and retiring,
she yet far excels
The lasses of Omagh,
the damsels of Kells:
From lake-side Portumna
to Limerick sound
There’s no doubting maid Molly,
your like is not found!

I’m a sprite from the deluge,
afloat on the lake
A sprite that is banished
from mountain and brake
With nets on each side in
which thousands have strove
A net full of magic,
a net full of love.
How I wish that in either
imprisoned I’d been,
With a hope of release at
the hand of my queen!

My frends all keep saying
I’m foolish and wild,
That in loving maid Molly
My hopes are beguiled:
When I wish to persuade her
I tremble, I’m mute,
For her voice is far sweeter
Than viol or lute
Oh! Life is a burden and
Death hovers near,
If you tell me maid Molly,
You’ll not be my dear!

Mailí San Seóirse - Original
Tomás Ó Coindhealbháin (Thomas Connellan)

‘Sí an níon sin San Seóirse
an oígbhean rug barr
Le deise, le mórdháil,
le sgéimh is le breácht.
‘Sí an ainnear chiúin óg í,
‘sí is ionnraic’ a’s is fearr
Ón tSionainn chunna h-Ómuí,
ón Ómui go Droichead Átha,
Portumna na long is
go Luimneach na mbád,
go deimhim, a Mhailí mhaighdean,
níl do leithid-se le fail!

Is mé an síogaí ón ndíleann
Ar bhruach loch’ a’ snámh,
Is mé an síogaí ga mo dhíbirt
Ó Ghaillimh’s gach áit.
Bíonn lion ar gach taobh dhíom
Chuir na mílte chun báis,
Líon a mbíonn síothbhraíocht
Is lion a mbíonn grá:
Mo chreach mór’s mo dhíth nach
I lion aca táim,
‘S gan m.fhuasgailt ag aoinneach
ach ag an mhaighdean deas mná!

Tá mo chaired gá shíor-rá liom
go bhfuilim gan chéill,
Go bhfuil grá agam ar Mháire
‘s gan fáth dhomh bheith lé:
Go mbíom gá síor-shása
‘s ag innse na mbréag,
‘S gur binne liom nó cláirseach
foghar a béil.
Tá an bás ga mo chrá’s is
fogus domh an t-éag,
Go deimhin, a Mhailí mhaighdean,
muna ngéabhair liom féin!

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