This piece was addressed to his lady-love Eibhlín Kavanagh the daughter of Sir Morgan and Lady Kavanagh of Clonmullen Castle, Co. Wexford. According to the traditional account, she was about to be married to another man and O'Dalley mingled with the wedding guests, disguised as an itinerant harper. He sang this song to the harp, with the result that Eleanor penetrated his disguise and eloped with him... Dónal O'Sullivan

by Cearbhaill O'Dalaigh (Carol O'Dalley). 1. Le grá dhuit níl radharc am cheann, Eibhlín a Rún, Is trácht ort is saidhbhreas liom, Eibhlín a Rún; Ó mo mhórdháil ró-ghreidhnmhear thú, sólás na Soillse's tú, Ó mo lile thú, mo mheidhir is tú, mo bhruinneal thú go deimhin. A's mo chlús dá bhfuil sa choill seo's tú. As mo chroí 'stigh níl leigheas gan tú, Eibhlín a Rún.

Gerald Griffin (1803-1840). 1. When, like the early rose, Eileen aroon!* Beauty in childhood blows; Eileen aroon! When, like a diadem, Buds blush around the stem, Which is the fairest gem? Eileen aroon!

2. Le cúirtéis na tlúig bhéit, is tú, Eibhlín a Rún, Dúrt bréag nú's liam fhéinig tú, Eibhlín a Rún, Mar is breátha ná Bhénus tú, 'sis áilne ná'n Réilthean tú; Ó mo Hélen tú gan bhéim is tú mo rós, mo lil mo chraobh Mo stór d'á bhfuil sa tsaol so's tú, Agus rún mo chroí agus mo chléibh is tú, Eibhlín a Rún. 3. Do shiúlfainn féin i gcónáí leat, Eibhlín a Rún Do shiúlfainn féin i gcónáí leat, síos go Tír Amhlghaidh leat, Mar shúil go mbéinn i gcleamhnas, Eibhlín a Rún.     4. An dtiocfaidh no'n bhanfaidh tó, Eibhlín a Rún Tiocfaidh mé, 'sní fhanfaidh mé, Tiocfaidh mé,' sní fhanfaidh mé Tiocfaidh mé, 'sní fhanfaidh mé 'S éalóidh mé stór.     5. Sheolfainn féin gamhna leat, Eibhlín a Rún Sheolfainn féin gamhna leat, síos go Tír Amhlghaidh leat Mar shúil go mbeinn i gcleamhnas leat, Eibhlín a Rún.

2. Is it the laughing eye? Eileen aroon! Is it the timid sigh? Eileen aroon! Is it the tender tone, Soft as the string'd harp's moan? Oh, it is the truth alone. Eileen aroon!       3. When, like the rising day, Eileen aroon! Love sends his early ray, Eileen aroon! What makes his dawning glow Changeless through joy or woe? Only the constant know - Eileen aroon! 4. I knew a valley fair, Eileen aroon! I knew a cottage there, Eileen aroon! Far in that valley's shade I knew a gentle maid, Flower of the hazel glade, Eileen aroon! 5. Who in the song so sweet, Eileen aroon! Who in the dance so sweet, Eileen aroon! Dear were her charms to me, Dearer her laughter free, Dearest her constancy, Eileen aroon!

* Eileen aroon means Eileen, my love

Carol O'Dalley, both poet and harper flourished in the early seventeenth centrury and wrote both in the bardic metres and in the metres appropriate for song. To him is attributed the composition in romantic circumstances of the words and music of this one of the most celebrated Irish songs.

Courtesy of Vivian and Jack Hennessey, IrishPage.com 2009
Replay background music Eileen Aroon.

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