Transcript

Bhí Pádraic Ó Cearbhalláin thiar i gCondae Mhaigh Eo. Bhíodh sé amuigh go hantráthach agus go mall ins an oíche. Bhí sé ag tíocht abhaile aon oíche amháin ar an tráigh agus casadh comhra leis agus triúr fear dhá hiompar, beirt ar aon taobh agus fear amháin ar an taobh eile. "Ag Dia go rabh m'anam," arsa Pádraic, "go rachaidh mé ag cúnamh leis an bhfear aonraic." Rug sé ar an maide cróchair agus nuair a rug leagadh an chomhra síos ar an tráigh ag Pádraic. D'imigh na triúr fir agus ní rabh a fhios ag Pádraic cé ndeachaigh siad. "Níl a fhios agam céard a dhéanfas mé anois," arsa Pádraic. "(Go) gcuire Dia ar mo leas mé." Ghlac sé misneach. Bhain sé an clár dhon gcónra. Fuair sé an bhean ba bhreáchte dhár leag sé a shúil ariamh uirthi istigh insa gcónra. Thug sé as amach í. Thug sé abhaile ar ghreim láimhe í isteach chun an toighe. Nuair a chonaic a mháthair an cúpla ag tíocht isteach chuir sí céad míle fáilte agus sláinte roimh an gcúpla.

"Tá sí leat ar deireadh," ar sise le Pádraic.

"Tá, a mháthair," arsa Pádraic.

"B'fhéidir le Dia gurb é an t-ádh é," arsa a mháthair.

Chaith siad an oíche sin go buíoch beannachtach go dtí lá harna mhárach. Nuair a tháinig lá harna mhárach dúirt sé lena mháthair, "A mháthair," ar seisean, "sílim go ndéanfaidh mé mo bhean phósta dhaoithe."

"Muise, b'fhéidir, a mhic," arsa an mháthair, "gurb é an t-ádh é."

Thug sé leis an cailín lá harna mhárach go teach an tsagairt agus pósadh an cúpla. Tháinig siad abhaile. Chaith siad an t-am grách cuidiúil cuidiúlach go dtáinig bliain ón t-am sin. Agus nuair a tháinig bliain ón oíche a fuair sé an bhean sa gcomhra dúirt sé lena mháthair, "A mháthair," ar seisean, "bliain is an oíche anocht fuair mé an... mo bhean insa gcónra. Imeoidh mé anocht," ar seisean, "aríst go bhféachfaidh mé m'fhortún."

D'imigh Pádraic. Níor mhórchónaigh sé ariamh go ndeachaigh sé isteach 'un an oileáin, an áit a rabh lios. Shuigh sé síos le hais an leasa agus níorbh fhad go gcualaidh sé glór.

Translation

Patrick Carolan was back west in County Mayo. He used to go out very late in the night. He was on the beach coming home one night and he came upon a coffin and three men carrying it, two men on one side and one man on the other side. "God save me," said Patrick, "I will go and help the man who is on his own." He took hold of the bier-pole and when he did the coffin was knocked down onto the beach by Patrick's side. The three men left and Patrick did not know where they went. "I don't know what I will do now," said Patrick. "May God set me on the right course." He plucked up courage. He took the lid off the coffin. He found the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on inside the coffin. He took her out of it. He took her hand and brought her into the house. When his mother saw the pair coming in she gave them a heartfelt welcome and blessing.

"You have her at last," she said to Patrick.

"Yes, mother," said Patrick.

"Please God it's a sign of good fortune," said his mother.

They spent that night full of gratitude until the next day. When the next day came he said to his mother, "Mother," he said, "I think I will make her my wife."

"Well, maybe, son," said the mother, "it's for the best."

The next day he took the girl to the priest's house and the couple were married. They came home. They spent the time full of love and friendship until a year from that time. And when it was a year since the night he found the woman in the coffin he said to his mother, "Mother," he said, "a year ago tonight I found the… my wife in the coffin. I will go tonight," he said, "again to seek my fortune."

Patrick left. He didn't delay anywhere until he went out to an island where there was a ringfort. He sat down by the ringfort and it wasn't long until he heard a noise.

Commentary

This incomplete story may be a variant of an international migratory legend, ML 5090 Married to a fairy woman. See Reider Th. Christiansen, The migratory legends (Helsinki, 1958). The introductory episode employs a motif that is commonly found in Irish tradition regarding the fairies, where a person assists them in carrying a coffin. For an example, see L. McManus, 'Folk tales from western Ireland', Folklore 25:3 (1914), 324-41: 340.