RULES OF COMPETITION

NOTE:

IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF COMPETITORS TO FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH THESE RULES. THE FESTIVAL EXECUTIVE CANNOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR MISINTERPRETATION.

1. Online entries are encouraged, via our website: www.arklowmusicfestival.com

Entries received at Arklow Music Festival Office, 3rd Floor, Bridgewater Shopping Centre, Arklow, Co. Wicklow. Tel:(085) 8556686 will incur an administration fee of €1.50 per entrant.

2. Age of competitors (where applicable) shall be reckoned at that which they attain on January 1st, 2023

3. Entries for all competitions, MUST reach the registrar NOT LATER THAN 16th January, 2023. Entries will be accepted after that date and up to 23rd January, 2023 on PAYMENT OF DOUBLE FEES. NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 16th JANUARY, 2023. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL FEES BE RETURNED.

4. The time shown on the competitors notification will be the scheduled time at which the session commences. The Executive reserve the right to change the VENUE, TIME, or ORDER of Competitions where necessity dictates.

5. The Festival Director reserves the right to refuse entry to any intending competitor(s).

6. Prize Winners will be expected to perform (if invited) at the Prize Winners Concert on Sunday March 12th, 2023.

7. Competitors are requested to submit precise details of their own choice pieces, i.e. composers/duration on entry forms. Once submitted, these may be changed once advance notification is given.

8. Prizes or Bursaries may be withheld in whole or part IRRESPECTIVE OF THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES, if in the opinion of the adjudicators, the standard is not sufficiently high to warrant their award.

9. Competitions are open to both amateur and professional entrants.

10. The adjudicators decision on points of merit SHALL BE FINAL.

11. Teachers who have 8 or more pupils competing will receive a complimentary season ticket ON APPLICATION ONLY to the Registrar.

12. Where a time limit is specified, the adjudicator may stop the competitor when the time limit is reached.

13. The same piece may NOT BE PERFORMED by any competitor in more than one competition.

14. The decision of the Executive on all questions arising from or not provided in these rules shall be final. In the event of an objection, this must be made in writing and lodged with the secretary not later than twenty four (24) hours after completion of the competition in question. Such objections to be accompanied by a fee of €25, which will be returned in the event of the objection being upheld by the Executive. Objections submitted without fee will NOT be considered.

15. In competitions designated “Confined” this shall mean confined to competitors attending school or receiving tuition in Arklow and surrounding areas.

16. In duet or trio competitions, an individual may only enter once.

17. AUDIO AND/OR VIDEO RECORDING EQUIPMENT MAY NOT BE BROUGHT INTO ANY OF THE COMPETITION VENUES. ALSO, THE TAKING OF PHOTOGRAPHS DURING COMPETITIONS IS NOT PERMITTED.

IMPORTANT

No correspondence will be replied to unless accompanied by a Stamped Self-Addressed Envelope or Valid Email Addresss.

Notes Re: Accompaniment

1. Music must be supplied before January 16th 2023 where the service of the official accompanist is required. If this rule is not complied with, accompanist may refuse to accept music on the day.

2. The Official accompanists MUST be used in Competitions 1 to 17 (including Lieder) and Competitions 48 to 59 inclusive. Copies of choice pieces should be provided for the adjudicator on the day of the competition. Accompanist's copy must be sent to the Festival Office at time of entry.

3. Choirs, Action Songs, and String Repertoire Competitors must provide their own accompanists at their own expense.

4. Private arrangements in relation to accompaniment may be made with the Festival Official Accompanist, but this is the sole responsibility of the competitor.

NOTES:

1. See also Special Rules for Schools Drama competitions.

2. Please ensure that the preceding rules are complied with to avoid unnecessary embarrassment.

3. If competitors cannot attend on the day of competition, please contact one of our Public Relations Officers: Maria Nolan or Eleanor Russell at the Festival Office, Floor 3, Bridgewater Shopping Centre, Arklow (085) 8556686

FAQs

How is a competitor’s age calculated for ‘under 18, 16, 14, 12 and 10' competitions?
The age of competitors shall be reckoned as that which they attain on January 1st 2023.

Are entry fees returned if I decide to withdraw from a competition?
In general entry fees are not returned if you decide to withdraw from a competition. In exceptional circumstances or in cases of illness, with the provision of a sickness certificate from a doctor, it will be considered.

Can I change my competition if I notice later than I entered the wrong one?
As long as you give adequate notice and contact the office as soon as you can then it will be considered. If competitors are not available to appear when called for competition it may lead to disqualification from the event.

Am I allowed to enter after the official closing date?
Yes, if you pay double entrance fees up to the 31st of January 2023. No entries will be considered after this date.

Can I collect the adjudicator’s comments for another person?
No. However, a parent or guardian of each individual child is allowed to collect adjudicator’s comments.

My designated competition or performance time doesn’t suit me. Is it possible to change it?
Due to scheduling issues, it is at the discretion of the Committee whether or not this can be accommodated. Please notify the Festival office by phone or email as soon as you can so can this be decided.

Are we allowed to use cameras or other recording equipment at the festival?
Audio or visual recording equipment cannot be used inside any of the competition venues. Taking photographs is also forbidden.

Is there a limit to the choir size for competitions?
Yes, There is a limit of 55/60 voices per choirs. This is for health and safety reasons.

By what date should trophies be returned?
2. All cups and trophies to be returned to Margaret Nolan, Tara Hill, Gorey, Co. Wexford 086 8472187 and to be returned on or before 21st December 2024.

What do I do if I wish to make a complaint?
A complaint needs to be addressed in writing to the festival secretary on the same day of the competition and accompanied by a €20 fee which will be returned if the complaint is upheld.

Where are the result sheets available?
Results sheets containing adjudicator’s comments are available from the Secretary’s desk in each venue. Members of the public should not approach the adjudicator’s table and competitors may only collect the results sheets for their own entry.

Poetry and Dánta Gaeilge for the Arklow Music Festival 2023

Verse Speaking (6 - 7 Years)

The White Window by James Stephens

The Moon comes every night to peep

Through the window where I lie:

But I pretend to be asleep;

And watch the Moon go slowly by,

— And she never makes a sound!

She stands and stares! And then she goes

To the house that's next to me,

Stealing by on tippy-toes;

To peep at folk asleep maybe

— And she never makes a sound!

Upside Down by Aileen Fisher

It's funny how beetles

and creatures like that

can walk upside down

as well as walk flat.

They crawl on a ceiling

and climb on a wall

without any practice

or trouble at all.

While I have been trying

for a year (maybe more)

and still I can't stand

with my head on the floor.

The Witch by Percy H. Ilott

I saw her plucking cowslips,

And marked her where she stood:

She never knew I watched her

While hiding in the wood.

Her skirt was brightest crimson,

And black her steeple hat,

Her broomstick lay beside her—

I'm positive of that.

Her chin was sharp and pointed,

Her eyes were—I don't know—

For, when she turned towards me—

I thought it best—to go!

Recycling is the Greatest by Ted Scheu

The Recycling is the greatest thing,

That each of us can do.

We send our plastic out and,

it comes back as something new.

It works for glass and paper too.

We trade them in for others

I wonder if recycling works

For very bossy brothers.

Verse Speaking (8 - 9 Years)

The Cow by Robert Louis Stevenson

The friendly cow all red and white,

I laugh with all my heart:

She gives me cream with all her might,

To eat with apple tart.

She wanders lowing here and there,

And yet she cannot stray,

All in the pleasant open air,

The pleasant light of day;

And blown by all the winds that pass

And wet with all the showers,

She walks among the meadow grass

And eats the meadow flowers.

Little Trotty Wagtail by John Clare

Little trotty wagtail he went in the rain

And tittering tottering sideways he near got straight again

He stopped to get a worm and look'd up to catch a fly

And the he flew away e're his feathers they were dry.

Little trotty wagtail he waddled in the mud

And left his little foot marks trample where he would

He waddled in the water pudge and waggle went his tail

And chirrupt up his wings to dry upon the garden rail.

Little trotty wagtail you nimble all about

And in the dimpling water pudge you waddle in and out

Your home is nigh at hand and in the warm pigsty

So little Master Wagtail I'll bid you a 'Good bye".

Windy Nights by Robert Louis Stevenson

Whenever the moon and stars are set,

Whenever the wind is high,

All night long in the dark and wet,

A man goes riding by.

Late in the night when the fires are out,

Why does he gallop and gallop about?

Whenever the trees are crying aloud,

And ships are tossed at sea,

By, on the highway, low and loud,

By at the gallop goes he.

By at the gallop he goes, and then

By he comes back at the gallop again.

Fairy Story by Steve Smith

I went into the wood one day

And there I walked and lost my way

When it was so dark I could not see

A little creature came to me

He said if I would sing a song

The time would not be very long

But first I must let him hold my hand tight

Or else the wood would give me a fright

I sang a song, he let me go

But now I am home again there is nobody I know.

Verse Speaking (10 - 11 Years)

The Cradle Song by Padraic Colum

O men from the fields,

Come gently within.

Tread softly, softly

O men coming in!

Mavourneen is going

From me and from you,

Where Mary will fold him

With mantle of blue!

From reek of the smoke

And cold of the floor

And the peering of things

Across the half-door.

O men of the fields,

Soft, softly come thro'

Mary puts round him

Her mantle of blue.

The Balloon Man by Rose Fyleman

He always comes on market days

And holds balloons – a lovely bunch –

And in the market square he stays,

And never seems to think of lunch.

They're red and purple, blue and green,

And when it is a sunny day

The carts and people get between

You see them shining far away.

And some are big and some are small,

All tied together with a string.

And if there is a wind at all

They tug and tug like anything.

Some day perhaps he'll let them go

And we shall see them sailing high,

And stand and watch them from below —

They would look pretty in the sky!

Someone by Walter De La Mare

Someone came knocking

At my wee, small door;

Someone came knocking,

I'm sure — sure — sure;

I listened, I opened,

I looked to left and right,

But nought there was a-stirring

In the still, dark night;

Only the busy beetle

Tap-tapping in the wall,

Only from the forest

The screech owl's call,

Only the cricket whistling

While the dewdrops fall,

So I know not who came knocking,

At all, at all, at all.

I’ve Had This Shirt by Michael Rosen

I’ve had this shirt

That’s covered in dirt

For years and years and years

It used to be red but I wore it in bed

And it went grey

Cos I wore it all day

For years and years and years

The arms fell off

In the Monday wash

And you can see my vest

Through the holes in my chest

For years and years and years

As my shirt falls apart

I’ll keep the bits

In a biscuit tin

On the mantelpiece.

Verse Speaking (12 - 13 Years)

White Fields by James Stephens

I

In the winter time we go

Walking in the fields of snow;

Where there is no grass at all;

Where the top of every wall,

Every fence, and every tree,

Is as white as white can be.

II

Pointing out the way we came,

-Every one of them the same-

All across the fields there be

Prints in silver filigree;

And our mothers always know,

By the footprints in the snow,

Where it is the children go.

The Star by Jane Taylor

TWINKLE, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are !

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,

When he nothing shines upon,

Then you show your little light,

Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the trav'ller in the dark,

Thanks you for your tiny spark,

He could not see which way to go,

If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,

And often thro' my curtains peep,

For you never shut your eye,

Till the sun is in the sky.

'Tis your bright and tiny spark,

Lights the trav'ller in the dark :

Tho' I know not what you are,

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Autumn by John Clare

I love the fitfull gusts that shakes

 The casement all the day

And from the mossy elm tree takes

 The faded leaf away

Twirling it by the window-pane

With thousand others down the lane

      2

I love to see the shaking twig

 Dance till the shut of eve

The sparrow on the cottage rig

 Whose chirp would make believe

That spring was just now flirting by

In summers lap with flowers to lie

      3

I love to see the cottage smoke

 Curl upwards through the naked trees

The pigeons nestled round the coat

 On dull November days like these

The cock upon the dung-hill crowing

The mill sails on the heath agoing

      4

The feather from the ravens breast

 Falls on the stubble lea

The acorns near the old crows nest

 Fall pattering down the tree

The grunting pigs that wait for all

Scramble and hurry where they fall

Verse Speaking (14 Years)

The Little Waves of Breffny by Eva Gore-Booth

The grand road from the mountain goes shining to the sea,

And there is traffic in it and many a horse and cart,

But the little roads of Cloonagh are dearer far to me,

And the little roads of Cloonagh go rambling through my heart.

A great storm from the ocean goes shouting o’er the hill,

And there is glory in it and terror on the wind,

But the haunted air of twilight is very strange and still,

And the little winds of twilight are dearer to my mind.

The great waves of the Atlantic sweep storming on their way,

Shining green and silver with the hidden herring shoal,

But the Little Waves of Breffny have drenched my heart in spray,

And the Little Waves of Breffny go stumbling through my soul.

Daffodils by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound’s the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

A Boy’s Song by James Hogg

WHERE the pools are bright and deep,

Where the grey trout lies asleep,

Up the river and over the lea,

That 's the way for Billy and me.

Where the blackbird sings the latest,

Where the hawthorn blooms the sweetest,

Where the nestlings chirp and flee,

That 's the way for Billy and me.

Where the mowers mow the cleanest,

Where the hay lies thick and greenest

There to track the homeward bee,

That 's the way for Billy and me.

Where the hazel bank is steepest,

Where the shadow falls the deepest,

Where the clustering nuts fall free,

That 's the way for Billy and me.

Why the boys should drive away

Little sweet maidens from the play,

Or love to banter and fight so well,

That 's the thing I never could tell.

But this I know, I love to play

Through the meadow, among the hay;

Up the water and over the lea,

That 's the way for Billy and me

Verse Speaking - The Yeats Competition (14 years and over)

The Lake Isle of Innisfree by W. B. Yeats

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven by W. B. Yeats

HAD I the heavens' embroidered cloths,

Enwrought with golden and silver light,

The blue and the dim and the dark cloths

Of night and light and the half-light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

Down by the Salley Gardens by W. B. Yeats

Down by the salley gardens

my love and I did meet;

She passed the salley gardens

with little snow-white feet.

She bid me take love easy,

as the leaves grow on the tree;

But I, being young and foolish,

with her would not agree.

In a field by the river

my love and I did stand,

And on my leaning shoulder

she laid her snow-white hand.

She bid me take life easy,

as the grass grows on the weirs;

But I was young and foolish,

and now am full of tears.

To a Child Dancing in the Wind by W. B. Yeats

I

DANCE there upon the shore;

What need have you to care

For wind or water’s roar?

And tumble out your hair

That the salt drops have wet;

Being young you have not known

The fool’s triumph, nor yet

Love lost as soon as won

,

Nor the best labourer dead

And all the sheaves to bind.

What need have you to dread

The monstrous crying of wind?

II

Has no one said those daring

Kind eyes should be more learn’d?

Or warned you how despairing

The moths are when they are burned,

I could have warned you, but you are young,

So we speak a different tongue.

O you will take whatever’s offered

And dream that all the world’s a friend,

Suffer as your mother suffered,

Be as broken in the end.

But I am old and you are young,

And I speak a barbarous tongue.

 

 

 

Dánta Gaeilge

Dánta do Pháistí Aois 4 – 5

Mo Mhadra

Sin é mo mhadra

,

Ina suí ar an stól.

Bíonn sé ar ithe,

Is bíonn sé ag ól.

Ólann sé bainne,

Is itheann sé arán.

Is deir sé ‘Bhuf Bhuf!’

Nuair a bhíonn sé lán.

Clog na Scoile le Seán Máirtín

Éist le clog na scoile, am lóin atá ann,

Ólfaidh mé bainne agus iosfaidh mé arán,

Brostaigh anois, níl an sos thart fós,

Amach liom go gasta ag spraoi sa chlós.

Coinín na Cásca

Sin coinín na cásca,

An coinín deas donn.

Tá ubh Chásca aige dom,

Le milseáin dheasa ann.

Peist le Gabriel Rosenstock

Péist faoi thalamh mé, péist sa chré,

Cén treo abhaile é, ar dheis nó ar chlé?

Fanfaidh mé tamall, gan hob ná hé,

Mar tá báisteach ag titim ó mhaidin inné.

Dánta do Pháistí Aois 6 – 7

Lá Fhéile Pádraig

Lá Fhéile Pádraig,

Seamróg ghlas,

Suaitheantais álainn,

Ribín deas.

Amharc Naomh Pádraig,

Sa pharáid,

Ceol is rince,

Ar an tsráid.

Mo Chaitín

Tá caitín agamsa atá bán agus buí,

In aice na tine a bhíonn sé ina luí,

Ní féidir leis léamh, ní feidir leis scríobh,

Ní labhraíonn sé focial le muintir an tí.

Bímse ar scoil ag obair go dian,

Is mo chaitín sa bhaile ina chodladh faoin ngrian.

Bean an Phoist

Stop veain

Ag an teach,

Tháining bean

An phoist amach.

“Dia duit”,

A dúirt sí liom,

Thug sí beart

‘S litir dom.

“Slán”, ar sí

Ag imeacht léi,

D’oscail mé an beart –

Huiré!

Prionsa na bhFrog Le Art Ó Suilleabháin

Ba mhaith liom cónaí I gcaisléan,

Bheadh gliondar ar mo chroí,

Bheadh mo mhamaí ina banríon,

‘S mo dhaidí ina rí.

Bheadh mise I mo bhanphrionsa,

Bheadh mo chairde éadmhar, lag.

Rachaidh me amach amárach,

Agus pógfaidh mé cúpla frog.

Dánta do Pháistí Aois 8 -9

An Damhán Alla le Donnchadha Mac Aogáin

Amach as poll san urlár

Gach oíche ar a hocht,

Éalaíonn créatúr cúthail,

An Damhán Alla nocht!

Níl léine, seaicéad na bríste air,

Ach ní airsean atá an locht.

“Ní dhéantar bristí ochtchosacha’,

Arsa an Damhán Alla bocht.

Cuimhnígí ar scéilín seo

Gach maidin, luath moch,

Agus cuirigí oraibh bhur mbrísti,

Ná téigi ar scoil is sibh nocht!

Is fear liom le Uinsionn Ó Domhnaill

Is maith lion an ghrian, is í ag dul faoi,

Is an ghealach mor bhuí in airde,

Is maith liom na réaltaí ag lonrú san oích’,

Ach is fearr liom mo chlann is mo chairde.

Is maith liom na huain ag rith is ag siúl,

Is na bláthanna ar fud na páirce,

Is maith liom na héin ag seinm na chraobh,

Ach is fear liom mo chlann is mo chairde.

An Ghaoth Aduaidh

An ghaoth aduiadh, bíonn sí crua,

Agus cuireann sí fuacht ar dhaoine.

An ghaoth aneas, bíonn sí tais,

Agus cuireann sí rath ar shíolta.

An ghaoth anoir, bíonn sí tirim,

Agus cuireann si braith ar chaoirigh,

An ghaoth ania, bíonn sí fial,

Agus cuireann sí iasc chun tíre.

An tEarrach le Tomas Mac Anna

Leimeann na huain le háthas,

Ar na páirceanna cois trá,

Léimeann mo chroí le gliondar

Go bhfuil se ina lá.

Tagann an ghaoth ón muir,

Is í ag sioarnach dom

Faoi thíortha I bfhad I gcéin,

A mbánta is a sléibhte lom’.

Tá suan an gheimhridh thart;

Nach aoibhinn dúinn a bheith beo?

An t-earrach linn,

An samhradh romhainn,

Is an ghile a ghabhann leo.

Dánta do Pháisti Aois 10 – 11

Mise Éire le Pádraig Mac Piarais

Mise Éire:

Sine mé ná an Chailleach Bhéarra.

Mór mo ghlóir:

Mé do rug Cú Chulainn cróga.

Mór mo náir:

Mo chlann fein do dhíol a máthair.

Mór mo phian:

Bith-naimhde do mo shíorchiapadh.

Mór mo bhron:

D’éag an dream inar chuireas dóchas.

Mise Éire:

Uaigní mé ná an Chaileach Bhéarra.

An Grá le Éamonn Ó Ruanaí

Le cuileog bhacach,

Bhuail damhán alla tráth,

Is dá n-ainneoin féin,

Thit an bheirt I ngrá.

Pósadh iad ag coisir mhór,

Is an mhí na meala d’imigh siad leo.

An lá dar gcionn, go mór faoi léan,

D’fhill an damhán alla is é leis féin.

‘Ar mo chomhaireamh atá an locht –

Bhí me cinnte go bhfuair mé a hocht

Dallta ag an ngrá a bhí mé, muise,

Níor thug me faoi deara na maidí croise.’

Amhrán na Gaoithe le Pádraig Ó Duinnín

Bím ag rith,

Siar is soir,

Ar tír is ar muir,

Gan traochadh.

BIonn mo ghuth,

Go hard amuigh

San oíche dhubh

‘s gach aon bhall.

Bheirim liom

An bád is an long

Thar muir anonn

Go héascaidh.

Bimse riamh

Ar an sliabh

Amuigh go dian

Ag séideadh.

Eitleog le Áine Ní Ghlinn

Scaoilim m’eitleog

Suas suas san aer.

Pógann sí na crainn,

Is preabann chun na spéire.

Éalaíonn isteach I scamall,

Is tosaíonn si ag spraoi,

Ag luascadh is ag eitilt

Le rithim na gaoithe.

Ba bhreá liomsa bheith I m’eitleog

Thuas is airde sa spéir.

Ba bhrea liom dul ar foluain

Ar sciatháin aeir.

Ba bhreá liom bheith léi

Thuas os coinn na gcrann ag spraoi,

Ag lorg faoisimh

Ón uaigneas seo i mo chroí.

Dánta do Pháisti Aois 12 – 13

Dathanna le Patricia Forde

Is glas iad na cnoic atá I bhfad uainn,

Is gord iad na tonnta I gcéin,

Nach buí iad na bláthanna sléibhe,

Nach bán iad an eala is an néal.

Is dearg í an tine agus fearg uirthi,

Is liath é an cat ina shuí,

Nach corcra é an bláth ar an bportach,

Nárbh iontach é an saol mar a bhí.

Is dubh í an oíche sa gheimhreadh,

Is geall iad na réaltaí sa spéir,

Nach órga é an solas sa samhradh,

Nach uaine mo chos insan fhéar.

Is donn iad mo shúile sa scáthán,

Is bán iad na fiacla I mo bhéal,

Nach deas le Dia na dathanna,

Cibé cén dath atá ort féin!.

Caint le Éamonn Ó Ruanaí

Tá cigire cainte i mo cheann,

A chíorann gach smaoineamh a ritheann tríd,

Ag meá gach focail, ag blaiseadh na bhfonn,

Ag ceilt rún no fírinne lom,

Ag scagadh freagraí,

Ag baint, ag scrois,

Ag iarraidh frásaí borba a chosc,

Is é is toradh a dhianscrúdú

Mo theanga a cheangilt ina snaidhm, ina lúb,

Gach focal stadach,

Frogach, bacach,

Do m’fhágáil balbh

I mo

thost.

Ár nÓige le Máirtín Ó Díreáin

Má deirid leat do chairde

Gur siolla den ghaoth trí fhál,

An siolla a chloisir de ghnáth,

Ar bhóthar Bhaile an Chláir

Nó láimh le Rathún na gCnámh,

Ná géill feasta dá ráite:

‘Sí ár n-óige í go dearfa,

Ag éamh ar fud na háite.

Minic a d’fhill sí orm féin

Bhuail doras mo chuimhne

Is d’fhiafraigh go dian díom

Ar aithníos cé a bhí ann,

Ach ghabh cás is cian mé,

Is chuireas uaim siar í

Go bóthar Bhaile an Chláir

Is go Rathún na gCnámh.

Na Scamaill le Siobhán Ní Mhuimhneacháin

Tráthnóna breá samhraidh is mé amuigh faoin aer,

Chonac scamaill bhána ar foluain sa spéir.

Do stán siad anuas orm gan deifir orthu ná moill –

Iad scapithe thart mar a bheadh míreanna mearaí.

Bhí crogall is cearc ann is einín beag bán,

Ag casadh, ag rince is ag canadh amhrán.

Do chroith siad a lámh chugam, is scread mé thar n-ais,

Ná himigí, a scamalla, ach fanaigí le m’ais.

Lasadh áthas is gliondar is grá i mo chroí,

Thug mé moladh agus buíochas is glóir do Dhia.

Nuair a d’fheach me arís bhí dath órga is buí

Ar na scamaill san iarthar is an ghrian ag dul faoi.

Dánta do Pháistí Aois 14+

Valparaiso Le Pádraig de Brún

Tháinig long ó Valparaiso,

Scaoileadh téad a seol sa chuan,

Chuir a hainm dom i gcuimhne

Ríocht na Gréine, Tír na mBua.

“Gluais,’ ar sí ‘ar thuras fada,

Liom ó scamall is ó cheo,

Tá fé shleasaibh gorm Andes

Cathair scáfar, glé mar sheod.”

Bhíos óg is ní imeoinnse,

Am an dóchais, tus mo shaoil,

Chreideas fós go raidh I ndán dom

Iontaisí na ndán ‘s nascéal.

Ghluais an long thar lintibh mara,

Fad ó shin is a crann mar ór,

Scríobh a scéal ar phár na hoíche,

Ard I rian na réaltan mór.

Fillfidh sí arís chugam áfach;

Chifead cathair bhán fén sléibh,

Le hais mara na síochána –

Creidim fós beagnach, a Dhé.

Fáinne Geal an Lae

Maidin moch do ghabhas amach,

Ar bhruacha Locha Léin.

An Samhraidh teacht, ‘s an chraobh len’ais,

Is Ionradh te ón ngréin

Ar thaistil dom trí bhailte poirt is bánta mine réidh,

Cé a gheobhainn le m’ais ach an chúileann deas,

Le fáinne geal an lae.

Ní raibh bróg ná stoca, caidhp na clóc,

Ar mo stóirin óg ón spéir,

Ach folt fionn órga síos go troigh,

Ag fás go barr an fhéir.

Bhí calán crúite aici ina glaic,

‘S ar dhrúcht ba dheas a scéimh

Do rug barr gean ar Bhéineas deas

Le fainne geal an lae.

Do shuigh an bhrídeog síos le m’ais,

Ar bhinsa glas den fhéar,

Ag magadh léi, bhíos dá maíomh go pras

Mar mhnaoi nach scarfainn léi.

‘Sé dúirt sí liomsa, “imigh uaim,

Is scaoil ar siúl mé a réic.”

Sin iad aneas na soilse ag teacht

Le fáinne geal an lae.

Cill Aodáin le Antaine Ó Raftaire

Anois teacht an earraigh, beidh ‘n lá dul chun síneadh

‘S tar éis na Féil’ Bríde, ardóidh mé mo sheol,

Ó chuir mé’mo cheann é ní stopfaidh mé choíche

Go seasfaidh mé síos I lár Chontae Mhaigh Eo.

I gClár Chlainne Mhuiris bheas mé an chéad oiche,

‘S I mBalla taobh thíos de thosós mé ag ól,

Go Coillte Mach rachad go ndéanfad cuairt mhíos’ann

I bhfogas dhá mile do Bheal an Áth’ Móir.

Fágaim le huacht é go n-éiríonn mo chroíse

Mar éiríonn an ghaoth nó mar scapeann an ceo

Nuair ‘smaoíním ar Cheara nó ar Ghailleang taobh thíos de,

Ar Sceathach a Mhíl’ nó ar phlánaí Mheaigh Eo.

Cill Aodáin an baile a bhfásann gach ní ann,

Ta sméara ‘s sú craobh ann, is meas ar gach sórt,

‘S dá mbeinn-se ‘mo sheasamh I gceartlár mo dhaoine

D’imeodh an aois díom is bheinn arís óg.

Labhrann Deirde le Maire Mhac an tSaoi

Ar bhruach na coille

Chonac ag dul tharam

An triúr loach

Dob áille dealbh,

Is do lean mo chroí-se

An té dob fhearra,

Cé go rabhas-sa snaidhmthe

Le rímhac Neasa.

A Naois’ mhic Uisnigh,

A réalt chatha,

Ba bheo do ghrua

Ná an fhuil sa tsneachta.

Mar sciath an fhéich

Bhí do chumhrhfolt dáite,

Is ceann Chonchúir

Fena ualach seaca.

I bpálás Eamhna

Tá tinte ar lasadh,

Is grianán scáileach,

Romham tá ceaptha,

Is seanóir liath

Ann a d’fhanann

Ná luifead go brách

Len ais mar leannán.

Cá tairbhe domhsa

Staonadh feasta

Ó tú I ndán dom

Ulaidh a chreachadh?

Raghadsa, a ghrá,

Ag éalú leatsa,

Sara gcloifead le fear

Is sine na m’athair

A bhean sa chúinne

Éir’ it sheasamh

Is gléas orm gúna

Den stról dearg;

Le lásaí óir

Beidh mo bhróga ceangailte

Ag siúl lem’ stór

Thar bhánta an earraigh dom.