Can someone please translate this great song into bearla for me. Please :-)

Baidin Fheilimi

Baidin Fheilimi, d'imigh go Gabhla,
Baidin Fheilimi ' s Feilimi ann,
Baidin Fheilimi D ' imigh go Gabhla
Baidin Fheilimi 's, Feilimi ann.

Baidin bideach, baidin beosach, Baidin boidheach,
baidin Fheilimi,Baidin direach, baidin deontach,
Baidin Fheilimi 's Feilimi ann.

Baidin Fheilimi d ' imigh go Trocaigh,
Baidin Fheilimi 's Feilime ann. X2

Baikin Fheilimi briseadh i dToraigh,
Baidin Fheilimi ' s Feilimi ann. X2

Breandan,

I'm not going to be able to give you a "translation" per se, but I'll do my best to get you the general sense of the lyrics. This is only a beginner's effort so let's both hang on until the gaeilgoiri ring in.

Baidin Fheilimi (The title of the song. Phelim's Little Boat)

Baidin Fheilimi, d'imigh go Gabhla. (Phelim's little boat, the danger has gone. I'm really not sure about the "danger" part. I can't find Gabhla in my dictionary but Gábh is peril or danger)

Baidin Fheilimi ' s Feilimi ann, (Pheilm's little boat, and Phelim there. the 's is usually a contraction of agus, meaning "and". The use of ann, literally translates to "there" but sometimes has a significance that doesn't translate directly)

Baidin Fheilimi D ' imigh go Gabhla
Baidin Fheilimi 's, Feilimi ann. (Same thing as above)

Baidin bideach, baidin beosach, Baidin boidheach, (A very small little boat, a living little boat, a ???? kind of boat. I can't find boideach but bod means penis. I'm not kidding, that's the only root word I can find that seems to fit! But, it makes no sense so I'm obviously way off!!)

baidin Fheilimi,Baidin direach, baidin deontach, (Phelim's little boat, a straightforward little boat, a willing little boat. I'm 99% sure this is spot on.)

Baidin Fheilimi 's Feilimi ann.

Baidin Fheilimi d ' imigh go Trocaigh, (Phelim's little boat has gone wrinkled. Go Trocaigh, I believe is go + rocaigh which leads to a prefixing of a "t". Rocaigh is a form of roc which means wrinkle or crease. My guess is that poor Phelim has had a mishap with his little boat. If I'm wrong I'm gonna feel real stupid!!)
Baidin Fheilimi 's Feilime ann. X2

Baikin Fheilimi briseadh i dToraigh, (Phelim's little boat dismissed in the search. You've got a typo here, but that's understandable with all the "Baidin" you've had to type!)

Baidin Fheilimi ' s Feilimi ann. X2

Breandan, I really hope this is right. I had a blast working on it and I'd hate to find that this is really about a Londonderry Hairdresser or some other such oddity!!

Let's see what the "real" Irish speakers have to say.

Le meas,

James

A chairde,

I believe Toraigh and Gabhla mentioned above are Tory and Gola (those are the anglicized names) islands off the Donegal coast.

Le meas,
Paul

I wish all questions were this easy ;-)

Báidín Fheidhlimidh d'imigh go Gabhla, - Feidhlim's little boat took off for Gabhla
Báidín Fheidhlimidh 's Feidhlimidh ann - Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it
Báidín Fheidhlimidh d'imigh go Gabhla, - Feidhlim's little boat took off for Gola
Báidín Fheidhlimidh 's Feidhlimidh ann - Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it

Báidín bídeach, báidín beosach, - A tiny little boat, a lively little boat
Báidín bóidheach, báidín Fheidhlimidh, - A foolish little boat, Feidhlim's little boat
Báidín díreach, báidín deontach, - A straight little boat, a willing little boat,
Báidín Fheidhlimidh 's Feidhlimidh ann - Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it

Báidín Fheidhlimidh d'imigh go Toraigh, - Feidhlim's little boat took off for Toraigh
Báidín Fheidhlimidh 's Feidhlimidh ann - Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it
Báidín Fheidhlimidh d'imigh go Toraigh, - Feidhlim's little boat took off for Toraigh
Báidín Fheidhlimidh 's Feidhlimidh ann - Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it

Báidín bídeach, báidín beosach, - A tiny little boat, a lively little boat
Báidín bóidheach, báidín Fheidhlimidh, - A foolish little boat, Feidhlim's little boat
Báidín díreach, báidín deontach, - A straight little boat, a willing little boat,
Báidín Fheidhlimidh 's Feidhlimidh ann - Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it

Báidín Fheidhlimidh briseadh i dToraigh í, - Feidhlim's little boat was crushed against Toraigh
Báidín Fheidhlimidh 's Feidhlimidh ann - Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it
Báidín Fheidhlimidh briseadh i dToraigh í, - Feidhlim's little boat was crushed against Toraigh
Báidín Fheidhlimidh 's Feidhlimidh ann - Feidhlim's little boat and Feidhlim in it

That was the end of Feidhlimidh, I'm afraid. He was an Ulster chieftain who tried to escape his enemies even though his boat was far from suited for the Donegal seas. He first went to Gabhla but thought Toraigh a more secure hiding place. Unfortunately he never made it there, his boat broke against the high cliffs of Tory. He was neither the first nor the last to suffer this fate.

James, no reason to "feel real stupid" as you said ;-) It's always good trying to translate on one's own, great practice. Note, though, that "go" never ever would insert any "t".

A general piece of advice, almost always correct, is that Irish words tend to stay more or less the same. If you find a somewhat similar word but has to make changes outside those that involve lenition, eclipsis or genitive-formation you can be quite sure you have the wrong word. It almost never pays off to try to mend the word into another form.

Jonas,

Go raibh maith agat. I knew that Feidhlim (Phelim) had encountered a mishap with his boat. I just wasn't sure how or why. The historical perspective, and being familiar with the Irish names for regions, islands, etc is a big bonus!

Le meas,

James

This song is on Sinéad O'Connors last CD "Sean-Nós Nua". She sings that and "Oró Sé Do Bheatha 'Bhaile" in Irish.The lyrics are included so I join in. I love this album, even though it's a little over-produced. Singing along with "Paddy's Lament" though not in Irish, is a great stress reducer.

My favorite Irish CD is Iarla Ó Lionáird's "Seven Steps to Mercy", all in Irish but unfortunately, no lyrics so I can't sing along,but I get excited when I can pick up a word here and there. I could listen to this man all day. Fantastic voice. He's in the band Afro-Celt, and sings Irish on these albums also and if you ever get a chance to see them in person, please take it.

Another CD in Irish, Lasairfhíona Ní Chonaola's "An Raicín Alainn". This does have lyrics included and I'm working on it.

I figure listening to the language in any way I can is helpful and am always on the look out for other CD's. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

Le meas,
Julia.

Hi Julia!

Glad to hear you like Iarla, he's from the lovely Gaeltacht village of Cúil Aodha so his Irish is almost identical to the dialect I'm speaking. I really love his songs. I've written down some of his lyrics, so I guess I could post them here if you want to. Any song in particular that you like?

Lasairfhíona is also great, she's from the island of Inis Oírr, the smallest of the three Aran Islands, one of the most solidly Irish speaking places. I've visited the islands about 15 times and I still get that feeling of amazement every time. She has a really beautiful voice and the songs are excellent too. I've translated some of her songs for some of my friends so I could post them if you want. On the other hand, it is much better practice for you to try it yourself (and more fun too), but if you want any help I'll be glad to give it.

Jonas,

Though we were in Ireland just a month ago, near Doolin and in Galway, we didn't get to the Arans. I really wanted to see Dún Aonghasa, but while in Doolin the ferry wasn't going to Inis Mór, and while in Galway the weather didn't cooperate. So next time...

I would love it if you could post the lyrics to Iarla's "Seacht". It would be a great help to me, for though I'm sure I'll be able to read and write Irish some day, I would love to be able to understand it when spoken. Thanks so much,

Julia.

Julia,

I love Sinéad's album as well. Why did she "retire" after it was released? She seems to be such a fragile creature. I've just learned "Óro sé do bheatha bhaile" from this album.

I also really enjoy "Éist" by various artists. and Altan will always include Irish language songs and lyrics on their excellent albums.

I'll just add that most of Lasairfhíona's songs are quie well known. If you do a Google search with Bean Pháidín, Casadh an Súgán, An Raicín Alainn, Úna Bháin etc., you will find lyrics, translations and discussions of these songs. In fact, you might start right here:MUSTRAD.ORG.

Brían

Jim

I'm sad about her retirement, because I just "found" her. She seemed to put so much into what she did, it must have taken alot out of her.If you go to the websites and read her message asking for people to just let her live her life, you realize what people give up when they become "celebrities". Some people feed off it, some don't,and some can find a healthy balance. I hope her retirement is not permanent , as I'd like to hear more traditional music from her,but in thanks for the pleasure she's given me, I wish her nothing but happiness and peace.

I'm going to research "Eist" and I've been toying with buying an Altan album for a while now. I bought a "Lunasa" one instead....great music. I'll make Altan my next one. Thanks for the recommendation.