111. Beití Ó Brian - Betty O'Brien
Beití Ó Brian - Betty O'Brien

O'Brien Family Crest
O'Brien Family Crest

Nothing has been discovered regarding Betty O'Brien. The first line of the poem tells us that she lived 'la/imh le Bo/inn' i.e. beside the Boyne; but in one of the two manuscripts from which the verses are printed the word Boyne is corrected to Boyle, Co. Roscommon.

1. Atá stáid-bhean mhodhmhar i láimh le Bóinn
Mar deireadh gach eólaidhe sár-mhaith:
'Si Betti Ní Bhriain i ainnir na gciabh í,
Cailin is dísle gáire.

2. Cia fiú mé bheith beó mar bhfágh mé póg
Ó n-a beul mar rós i ngáirdin,
Dearbhaim gan bhréig dhuit dhá mbeitheá san Éigipt
Go rachainn féin a dh'fheuchainn na h-áille.

 3. A chiúin-bhean ghrianmhar, dheallmhar,
Siúr Uí Bhriain is Uí Chárrtha,
Ciabé shuidhfeadh le n-a taobh is phógfadh a beul
B'fhogus dó-san saoghal agus sláinte!

                            Vivace

Notations: Carolan, the Life and Times of a Irish Harper by Donal O'Sullivan
Compliments of Vivian and Jack Hennessey, IrishPage.com 2025
For phonetics consult the pocket dictionary Fóclóir Póca.

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