18 Size-mór.] Two great hills (quasi Fairy-hill) in the County of Leitrim, O'Ruarc's country. O'Ruarc's Table is a flat-headed high hill at the head of Lough Gill. Had it anything to say to the feast? A wooden vessel.-F. ? A covering of linen, worn on the heads of the women.-F. 3 The name of an Irishman.-F. 4 An Irish oath.-F. The name of an Irishwoman.-F. [Swift has not translated the six last verses, which, says Sir Walter Scott, may be rendered thus: 8 It is the custom in Ireland to call nurses, foster-mothers; their husbands, fosterfathers; and their children, foster-brothers or foster-sisters; and thus the poorest claim kindred to the richest.-F. No. XXIII. We obtained this air from Edward O'Reilly, under the name of ni infe me barraċ na ljn—literally-not will-stretch I tow nor flax. It has been rendered, "I will neither spin" &c.; but the proper phrase for "I will not spin," &c. would be nj šnjoṁfa mé, &c. as in the verse (Luke xii. 27,) which speaks of the lilies wherewith Solomon in all his glory could not compare, it is said, agus ní snjoṁujd sjad, "neither do they spin." There is a gay strain pervading this air well suited to the occupation of spinning. It is in the beautiful antique Celtic 9-8 time, and we deem it to be " very ancient." No. XXIV. A gift from our valuable and venerable ally, Paddy Coneely,-"The Hurler's March,"-as he himself performs the air on the pipes. As the manly sport of hurling is a favourite rustic game with our youthful peasantry, so is this lively tune a favourite quickstep with those of all ages. If Paddy were at our elbow he would give us some pleasant story about this, as he can about every other tune he plays. Ask him does he recollect the Clare Island boys singing it with the chorus of abú mo leanb on the lovely day when the six boys of the Morans were rowing him across to Achill; the time he was on his travels looking for Seajan Gaba ? |