From the words we can tell that he was a young bachelor at the time the song was composed, and it was probably made toward the end of Carolan's career. George Brabazon married Sarah, the daughter of Dominick Burke of Clorough, Co. Galway. They had a son Anthony. George died on the 29th of March, 1780. Catherine Brabazon (surnamed deoch an dorais " of the parting cup" , from her hospitality) sprang from the ancient family of Burkes of Glinsk, baronets, and wife of Malby Brabazon, of Ballinasloe, is yet remembered for her many virtues.
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le Turlough O'Carolan A Sheórsa Brabston, go maire tú saoglach slán, Grá gach duine a's' leinbh is aoibhne cál, Lámh an oínigh dhár ghfurus dúinn fíon a dh'fháil, Is gártha an chuideacht san íonad a mbíonn do ghrádh.
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by Anonymous George Brabazon, may you live hale and hearty, Love for every person and child of pleasant repute, Generous hand providing us with wine, And the cheers of the company in the purity of your love.
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Curfá Hí hó súd é an preabaire, Hóm bó! plúr na scafairí Spóirt. gleó, cosg ar n-aicidí, Feóil, beóir, ceól agus ceaparí.
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Chorus Hi ho! Yonder the lively one, Hom-bo! Flower of youthfulness; Sport , clamor, spontaneous party, *1 Meat, beer, music and sandwiches.
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Clárach fideléir, gáir aig piobairi, Sé báire conairte é (i) lár a thire 'sdigh, Bárshlat Ghailionn é, grádh mo chroidhe-sa leis, Sár-mhac dathamhail é, carthannach, firinneach.
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Harps, fiddlers, wail of pipers, He is head of the pack amidst the country, Supreme Irish speaker he, the love of my heart to him, Excellent, handsome son, charitable and true.
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B'fearr liom ná búailigh a's ná ór riogh na Spáinne, Eachraidh a's cóisdi na Róimhe agus a' Pápa leis, Agus ná dún mór Mhac Fheórais a'r Nóraill Mhac Raghnaill, Beith ag amharc air Sheórsa 'tabhairt óir 'na mháma uaidhe.
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I'd prefer more than bullocks or the king of Spain's gold, Or the teams and coaches of Rome, and the Pope too, And the keeps of Mac Fheorais and Noraill Mac Raghnaill, *2 To be watching George giving fistfulls of gold away.
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Curfá Hi hó rúd é an siollaire, Hom-bo! dubhslán duine faoi, him-jam, plancstaí, merriment, Sing, dance, drink his health about.
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Chorus Hi ho! yonder the handsome one, Hom-bo! Challenger of all around, Him-jam Planxty, merriment, Song, dance, drink his health about.
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Is sáimh agus soineanta é tá sé cúirtéiseach, Sé bláth a chineadh é, racham dhá dhúithche leis, Táinte sonais air, ahdh agus einneach air, Agus bárr maith uile breagh go dtuitidh air.
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He is tranquil and pleasant, he is courteous, Best of his race is he, I'd go to his home with him, *3 A wealth of fortune on him, luck and generosity, And may the best of all good things befall him.
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Cabhair ó Proinsias Osborne
Note: 1 I believe the word "naicidí" here refers to "accidental", meaning "unplanned" or "spontaneous" parties
Note: 2 I think the word "Dún" here is a reference to the homes (mansions?) of these two families. I used "keeps" to reflect the original meaning of "dún."
Note: 3 The word "dhúichthe" means "his homeland", I believe.
Midi Music: George Brabazon
Irish Text: Carolan, Life and Times of an Irish Harper by Donal O'Sullivan 1958, vol 2 pg 7 no 6.
There are 4 quatrines and 2 choruses.
The final 3 quatrains and chorus are found in O'Maille pg. 117, No. 7.
Filleadh go Clár Carolan
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