An Spailpín Fánach: English Translation

An Spailpín Fánach

Im spailpín fánach atáim le fada

ag seasamh ar mo shláinte,

ag siúl an drúchta go moch ar maidin

's ag bailiú galair ráithe;

ach glacfad fees ó rí na gcroppies,

cleith is píc chun sáite

's go brách arís ní ghlaofar m'ainmsa tír seo, an spailpín fánach.

Ba mhinic mo thriall go Cluain gheal Meala

's as san go Tiobraid Árann;

i gCarraig na Siúire thíos do ghearrainn

cúrsa leathan láidir;

i gCallainn go dlúth 's mo shúiste im ghlaic

ag dul chun tosaigh ceard leo

's nuair théim go Durlas 's é siúd bhíonn agam -'Sin chu'ibh an spailpín fánach!'

Go deo deo arís ní raghad go Caiseal

ag díol ná ag reic mo shláinte

ná ar mhargadh na saoire im shuí cois balla,

im scaoinse ar leataoibh sráide,

bodairí na tíre ag tíocht ar a gcapaill

á fhiafraí an bhfuilim hireálta;

'téanam chun siúil, tá an cúrsa fada' -

siúd siúl ar an spailpín fánach.

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English translation of the poem 'An Spailpín Fánach'

The Travelling Labourer

I have been a travelling labourer for a long time

depending on my health

walking the dew early in the morning

and gathering seasonal illnesses;

but I would accept fees from the kings of the croppies,

a stake and a pitchfork for thrusting

and never again will my name be called

in this country, the travelling labourer.

I often travelled to bright Clonmel

and from there to Tipperary;

in Carricknashure downwards I would cut

a strong wide path;

in Callan so dense and my flail in my grasp

going forwards regardless

and when I go to Thurles this is what I usually hear

'Here comes the travelling labourer!'

Never again would I go to Cashel

selling nor wrecking muy health

nor to the market of freedom sitting beside a wall,

a stringy fellow on the side of the street,

the landlords/big farmers of the country coming on their horses

asking am I hired;

'make for walking, the road is long'-

such is the walk of the travelling labourer.