The Dawning of the Day

The Dawning of the Day (Template:Lang-ga) is an old Irish song composed by the blind harpist Thomas Connellan in the 17th Century. It is famed for being the melody behind the song Raglan Road which was performed by a number of notable artists including: The Dubliners, Sinéad O'Connor, Luke Kelly and Dire Straits. This song also goes by the Gaelic name Fáinne Geal an Lae literally "The bright ring of the day" often played as a march and one of the first tunes that a student of Irish music will learn.

This is an Aisling where the poet encounters a mysterious beautiful woman who symbolises Ireland - Cait Ní Duibhir, Caitlín Ní Uallacháin, Róisín Dubh etc. In this case, she upbraids him as a frivolous rake and points to the approaching dawn (of freedom from English rule). At the end of the Desmond Rebellions and Nine Years' War, Irish poets were facing their own elimination as a matter of deliberate English policy.

Lyrics

Notes: Helen of Troy is used in the translation rather than the literal Venus simply for its rythm

The final verse is a poetical rather than literal translation, which would be:

She said to me "go away

and let me go - you rake!

there from the south the light is coming

with the dawning of the day"

Irish

Maidin moch do ghabhas amach,

Ar bruach Locha Léin;

An Samhradh teacht's an chraobh len'ais,

Is ionrach te ón ngréin,

Ar thaisteal dom trí bhailte

poirt is bánta mine réidhe,

Cé a gheobhainn le máis ach an chúileann deas,

Le fáinne geal an lae.

Ní raibh bróg ná stoca, caidhp ná clóc;

Ar mo stóirin óg ón spier,

Ach folt fionn órga sios go troigh,

Ag fás go barr an théir.

Bhí calán crúite aici ina glaic,

'S ar dhrúcht ba dheas a scéimh,

Do rug barr gean ar Bhéineas deas,

Le fáinne geal an lae.

Do shuigh an bhrideog sios le m'ais,

Ar bhrinse glas den fhéar,

Ag magadh léi bhios dá maiomh go pras,

Mar mhnaoi nach scarfainn léi.

'S é dúirt í liomsa, "imigh uaim,

Is scaoil ar siúl mé a réic",

Sin iad aneas na soilse ag teacht,

Le fáinne geal an lae.

English

One morning early I went out

On the shore of Lough Leinn

The leafy trees of summertime,

And the warm rays of the sun,

As I wandered through the townlands,

And the luscious grassy plains,

Who should I meet but a beautiful maid,

At the dawning of the day.

No cap or cloak this maiden wore

Her neck and feet were bare

Down to the grass in ringlets fell

Her glossy golden hair

A milking pail was in her hand

She was lovely, young and gay

Her beauty excelled even Helen of Troy

At the dawning of the day.

On a mossy bank I sat me down

With the maiden by my side

With gentle words I courted her

And asked her to be my bride

She turned and said, "Please go away,"

Then went on down the way

And the morning light was shining bright

At the dawning of the day.

translation by Na Casaidigh