These are beautiful and perfect and inspiring. I am going to save them all because I'm thinking this book has a second in the series. Maybe I can use them then.

The main character, whose name is Michael, is a bit of a tease to his wife. But they've been through much together. His mother died before the story began, and I have him referring to her a lot in the book. But he doesn't embrace Gaelic fully until he gets his life back together. Perhaps a repressed thing come to light. He also has a beautiful singing voice. This was not planned on my part at all, but I got to this scene where she had lost her memory and he was trying to woo her. It came to me he would perhaps resort to song. In any case, if all of that makes you want to read the book, I'll be glad to send it your way, though for now it's unedited. I'm up for suggestions, should anyone wish to read it, of how to make him appropriately Irish or any places he might resort to Gaelic again.

And total TMI and FYI - here's the book cover, if you want to see it. I designed it myself. http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2855099650011388271KszqeF

I debated over including some Gaelic oaths early on. But the book is considered Christian Fiction and so supposed to be more clean. They'd have to be mild or hidden somehow to do it.

If you can get your hands on it, post it and I'll read. I have time to decide what to use. Everyone here has given me some good choices.

I found these words online. I can follow most of it, but will leave translation to someone more fluent.

Bhíos-sa maidin Shamhraidh ag góilt síos trí Chontae an Chláir,
Agus éanlaith coille ag labhairt liom ar an gcrann is iad ag siúinseáil,
Sea do casadh liomsa an ansacht ba bhreátha is ba dheise snua,
'Gus thugas searc is greann di, 'dtaobh 'amhrais 'sí bláth na n-úll.

Maidin aoibhinn uaibhreach ar bhruach na coille glaise breá,
Is mo ghadhair le m'ais ag gluaiseacht go huasal is mo ghunna im' láimh,
'Sea do dhearcas chughamsa stuairín na gruaige finne 's an bhrollaigh bháin,
Agus ábhar ' bhinse buainte aici den luachair ba ghlaise fás.

'S do dh'fhéachas ar na cuanta agus bhí ann uaigneas agam ar nóin,
Is do dhruideas suas lem' stuairín agus fuaireas uaithi cúpla póg,
Ach 'sé dúirt sí liom go huaibhreach 'Fan suanmhar is ná cuir orm stró,
'Gus ná scaip mo bhinse luachra t'r éis a bhfuaireas dá thrioblóid'.

Is a chailín bhig na luachra, dá leagfása do bheart ar lár,
Ar bhruach na coille craobhaí nó ag éisteacht le fuaim na trá,
Mar na sagairt ní bhfaighidh scéal' air ná éinne eile dá bhfuil san áit,
Nó go dtiocfaidh an chaint don chéirseach 's go n-iompóidh an lon dubh bán.

Ó cailín deas ab fhearr liom a bheith ar láimh liom thar a bhfeacaíos riamh,
'Gus dá bpósfainn cailleach ghránna mo lánchreach ná mairfinn bliain,
Ach phósfainn thusa, a ghrá ghil, a chúil fáinneach na dtrioplaí siar,
Is do bhainfinnse binse breá duit chomh hálainn is a chonaic tú ariamh.

Is a chailín bhig na luachra glac suaimhneas agus fan go réidh,
Mar ní cás duit a bheith chomh buartha in uaigneas is tú leat féin,
Mar má scaip mé do chuid luachra nach dual go bhfuil mórchuid tar a éis,
Agus bainfeadsa binse mór duit agus ualach mar thuilleadh léi.

Is ba dheas an cailín seomra í um thráthnóna is a bruis 'na láimh,
Is cár dheise ná crú na mbó í 'sí smóilín í an bhrollaigh bháin,
Do tharraingeodh samplaí coróinneach go róbhreá ar éadach cláir,
'Sí searc mo chroí 's mo rún í 'sí mo stuairín í go bhfaighidh mé bás.

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I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

I will wait on the translation. Thanks.

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Suzanne D. Williams is a native Floridian, wife, and mother with a penchant for spelling things and an Irishman somewhere way back in her background.

Caoimhín, this is just one of the many versions of this old song. Mo bhinsín luachra is very popular in both Munster and Connacht Gaeltachts.

Is a chailín bhig na luachra glac suaimhneas agus fan go réidh,
Mar ní cás duit a bheith chomh buartha in uaigneas is tú leat féin,
Mar má scaip mé do chuid luachra nach dual go bhfuil mórchuid tar a éis,
Agus bainfeadsa binse mór duit agus ualach mar thuilleadh léi.

This is probably the most suitable verse:

My little girl of the rushes, remain calm and relaxed
For you have no case to be so worried that you will be lonely and alone
For, if I were to scatter your rushes (you will receive much more in return?)
for I will pick/ take/ remove for you, a large bench of rushes and your burden with that (i.e as well as that)

Beware this is my own translation, wait for more input/ corrections from others.

In the verses leading up to this one he tries to woo her, as initially she is not interested in giviing up her "rushes". He woos her with promises of marraige, for both of them are lonely. The priest or nobody else would find out. In this verse he reassures her that he would not leave her alone- if she were to give him her rushes and If she did, he would provide for her and he would remove her burden.



This is not a literall translation, please wait for input/ corrections:

1st verse:

a mhuirnín/ stóirín, tabhair dom póigín ,(what's billing in this context???)
gur mhúineas dhuit ar oíche mhilis
agus sinn inár n- eipiciúraigh ag casadh i scléip.
Do thriailleamar gníomhaí an phleisiúr

My love, give me a kiss....(billing?)
that I taught you one sweet night
While we were epicures turning in bliss
We tried deeds of delight/pleasure



I sill think this one is the best. You could leave out the last two lines. It still depicts a night of passion.

Nice book cover by the way

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Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

Mmhmm, yes, on the "bright pipe playing". I might, in fact, use that one. Thanks on the book cover. And thanks for the translations.

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Suzanne D. Williams is a native Floridian, wife, and mother with a penchant for spelling things and an Irishman somewhere way back in her background.

No problem, please wait for input from others on what they think.

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Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

Nobody else picked up on this? Childish, infantile, call it what you will, but I couldn't let it pass.

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, Jesus Saoirse, you really have to be careful what you say around here, don't know how it'll be interpreted by some- thank God Caoimhín found it

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Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

Wow. I missed that one myself.

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Suzanne D. Williams is a native Floridian, wife, and mother with a penchant for spelling things and an Irishman somewhere way back in her background.