Réalta an chruinne Caitir Fhíona

This translation is slightly altered from my original version. I was finally able to find a copy of Volume 2 of Aithdiogluim Dana at Ohio State, and have corrected some translation mistakes I'd made. Anyway, the text originally came from 24 P 25 103. Another version of 17 stanzas is in The Book of the Dean of Lismore.

Réalta [an] chruinne Caitir Fhíona fhóireas Gréagaigh, fóiridh forgla clann gach chóigidh ann ar éagaibh. Caitir Fhíona inghean [chasda] craobh na buaidhe, gnúis mar blath na habhla úire abhra [uaine].* Abhra uaine ag inghin Gréigríogh nar ghabh guidhe [a-táid] i ndath a gruadh gile 's snuadh na suibhe. Snuadh na suibhe [is] samhradh gréine* 'n-a gruaidh chorcha, iomdha glún as a fréimh feactha 'n-a céibh choptha. Ar deilbh corrshúl Caitreach-fíona nír cínn Gréigbean, súil chorr nachar fhéagh ar óigfhear béal donn déidgheal. Gnúis mar abhaill, ucht mar eala ógh nar truailleadh, nír ghile clúimh ná a bas bháingheal súil ghlas ghruaidhgheal. Ní fhaghaim ógh ar a gruaidhse gan a guidhe go síntear brat ar mo bhuile ó Mhac Muire.* Brighid Éireann agus Alban ógh na n-oiléan is í an blath braoingheal na mbanóg caoilthreabh [coiréal]. Athrachta fhóireas na Luighnigh lór a déine is í an bhanóg bhoinnfhionn Bhúille* coinneall chéire. Ciarán Caoimhfhionn, Colam Cille caomh an fhoireann Pádraig, Martain, Mongan, Manann Coman, Coireall. An Tríonóid, mórMhuire is Míchéal macradh gréine aoinmhíle déag banógh mBúille glanógh gléire.

Star of the world, Catherine, the helper of the Greeks, Helping the chosen children, saving each, there at their dying. Catherine, honored daughter, branch of virtue, a face like fresh appleblossom, green brow. * A green brow on the Greek king's daughter * not captured by a suitor -- in the shade of her cheeks is brightness and a berry's color. Berry's color and sun's garland* in crimson cheeks -- many a knee bending from the source in tufted locks. In the shape of her curved eyes, Catherine is not surpassed by Greek women. Curved eyes do not look at a young man -- bright-toothed dark mouth. Face like an apple, breast like a swan, a virgin not violated. Down is not brighter than her shining white hand-- green eyes, bright cheeks. The virgin with her cheeks will not be found without my suit; stretch your cloak over my madness, son of Mary.* Brigid of Ireland and Scotland, the virgin of the islands -- she is the misty-bright flower of the young women, coral-collared. Athrachta, helper of Limerick -- speedy enough is the white-soled young woman of the Boyle,* wax candle. Gentle white Ciaran, Columcille-- gentle the company-- Patrick, Martin, Mongan, Manann, Coman, Coireall. The Trinity, great Mary and Michael -- sunny band-- eleven thousand noble virgins of the Boyle, flower of pure virgins.

* abhra uaine/green brow: "uaine" means green or greenery. McKenna translates this as "dark brow", but I have a feeling it could also refer to the laurel crowns you sometimes see on pictures of saints (because of St. Paul's comparison of life to a race, and Heaven to the athlete's laurel). It would be especially fitting for Catherine as a Greek Egyptian to wear such a crown of victory.

* inghin Gréigríogh/the Greek king's daughter: I don't know if it means anything, but a good number of Irish fairytales have the hero meet up/quest for/marry the king of Greece's daughter. Anyway, as far as I know, European legends of St. Catherine of Alexandria do not make her a princess -- just a philosopher.

* samhradh gréine/sun's garland: sunshine.

* ó Mhac Muire/son of Mary: Jesus.

* Bhúille/the Boyle: a river

* an Tríonóid/the Trinity: the Holy Trinity. (I told you God got into this prayer. Nothing like rounding out a prayer or hymn by getting the Trinity into the last verse.)

* everybody: popular Irish saints, or (Martin, Mary and the archangel Michael) saints popular in Ireland. Back then, anyway.

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