Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Ireland: Vol. V. 1876–79.
OBrien of Arra
By Thomas Davis (18141845)
T
Broad are the lands of MacCarha,
Desmond feeds five hundred men a-day;
Yet here ’s to O’Brien of Arra!
Up from the Castle of Drumineer,
Down from the top of Camailte,
Clansman and kinsman are coming here
To give him the Cead mile failte.
So is our chieftain in battle;
Welcome he has for the fugitive,
Usquebaugh, fighting, and cattle!
Up from the Castle of Drumineer,
Down from the top of Camailte,
Gossip and ally are coming here
To give him the Cead mile failte.
Sleek from the Sasanach manger;
Creaghts the hills are encamping on,
Empty the bawns of the stranger!
Up from the Castle of Drumineer,
Down from the top of Camailte,
Kern and bonaght are coming here
To give him the Cead mile failte.
Ryan and Carroll are neighbors,
Nenagh submits with a pillileu,
Butler is meat for our sabres!
Up from the Castle of Drumineer,
Down from the top of Camailte,
Ryan and Carroll are coming here
To give him the Cead mile failte.
Chased he the Baron of Durrow,—
Forced him five rivers to cross, or he
Had died by the sword of Red Murrough!
Up from the Castle of Drumineer,
Down from the top of Camailte,
All the O’Briens are coming here
To give him the Cead mile failte.
Broad are the lands of MacCarha,
Desmond feeds five hundred men a-day;
Yet here ’s to O’Brien of Arra!
Up from the Castle of Drumineer,
Down from the top of Camailte,
Clansman and kinsman are coming here
To give him the Cead mile failte.