Mac Cole Family Crest
"Carolan composed this song c. 1720 for the marriage
of John Cole, of Florence Court, Co. Fermanagh (then a widower),
to Jane Saunderson, the daughter of Robert, of Castle Saunderson, Co. Cavan. Carolan used to call Mrs Cole Jean dheas ghalánta - pretty, well-bred Jean. Petrie justly calls this 'one of Carolan's finest airs.'" ... Donal O'Sullivan v 2 p 12.
'Sí cúl na gcuachal tiugh í fáinneach,
Léir mar seir gach duine éifeachdach i n-inntreacht,
Níl duine air bith bhios tinn insa n-áit seo,
She of the thick, ringleted tresses,
Clear as sere to everyone, the intrinsic value,
Not any woman who is sick in this place,
John Cole was M.P. for Enniskillen and ancestor of the present Earl of
Enniskillen. ... O'Sullivan
Is aoibhin, is sáimh í, síothamhuil gach lá í,
Planda an tséin lér mian léithiceól,
Maighre na súl glas, péarla an chúil chais,
Is léithi-se músglaighear an chúirt-se ó bhrón,
Roghain gach duine an stáid-bhean,
Is éifeachtach binn í, is súgach chum grinn í,
Súd í an leanbh shíolruigh ón aicme don árd-fhuil mhóir.
Is tréitheach 's binn beacht, grinn ceart a glór,
Madam Cole facfánta i, grinn agus galánta i,
Sí mo mhian thar na mnáibh í.
Mara mbeith sé caillte ó nádúir.
Nach leigheastar insa gcúirt é le tuigsean a chúire:
Líontar glaine a's biodh 'na haice a sláinte dá hól.
She is pleasant, tranquil, peaceful each day,
A senna plant who likes music,
Fine green-eyed woman, pearl of the curly locks,
By her is this court awakened from sadness,
Choice of all people, this stately lady,
She is sweetly capable, cheerful of fun,
There is the child, seed of the great Blue blood class.
Accomplished, sweetly precise, truly perceptive her voice
Madam Cole merry and gallant is she,
She is my desire over all the women.
Unless she be lost in death.
Not cured in this court with understanding of the cause:
Glasses are filled and health restored is drunk to.
It consists of 4 verses: verse 1 and 2 from O'Sullivan's collection,
3 and 4 from Ó Máille.
Midi Music: Madam Cole
Courtesy of Vivian and Jack Hennessey, IrishPae.com 2024
Irish Text: 2 verses: Carolan, the Life and times of an Irish Harper by Donal O'Sullivan, 1958 Vol 2 pg 71 No 114.
ÓMáille: final 2 verses.
Back to Carolan Tunes Page