Here are the words of a hauntingly beautiful tune included on the first Windham Hill Celtic Christmas sampler. It is superbly performed there by Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill. Why it's on a Christmas CD I don't know. But it is a wonderful rendition nonetheless. This translation from the Irish original was done in the late 19th century.
After Aughrim's great disaster when our foe, in sooth, was master It was you who first plunged in and swam The Shannon's boiling flood. And through Sliabh Bloom's dark passes when you led your Gallowglasses Although the hungry Saxon wolves were howling for your blood. And as we crossed Tipperary we rived the Clan O' Leary And we drove a creach before us as our horsemen onward came. With our swords and spears we gored them as through flood and tide we bore them. Ah but Seán Ó Duibhir A' Ghleanna you were worsted in the game.
It was long, long we kept the hillside and our couch hard by the rillside With the sturdy knotted oaken boughs our curtain overhead. And the summer sun we laughed at, oh the winter snow we scoffed at And we trusted in our long bright swords to win us daily bread. Till the Dutchman's troops came round us, in fire and sword they bound us, They blazed the woods and mountains till the very clouds were flame. Yet our sharpened swords cut through them, to their very hearts we hewed them Ah but Seán Ó Duibhir A' Ghleanna you were worsted in the game.
So here's a health to yours and my king, the sovereign of our liking And to Sarsfield, underneath whose flag, we'll cast once more a chance. For the morning dawn will wing us all across the seas and bring us, To take a stand and to wield a brand among the sons of France. And though we part in sorrow still, Seán Ó Duibhir a chara , Our prayer is God save Ireland and pour blessings on her name. May her sons be true when needed, may they never fail as we did, For Seán Ó Duibhir A' Ghleanna you were worsted in the game.
