"A Night Prayer." This fragment and the eleven succeeding prayers were taken down in Irish among the Decies of Co. Waterford by Rev. M. Sheenan, D.Ph., and have been published by him in his Cnó Cóilleadh Craobhaighe (Gill & Son, Dublin, 1907).
"The Man who Stands Stiff." From Dr. D. Hyde's Religious Songs of Connacht, vol. i. p. 101, taken down from the mouth of Martin Rua O'Gillarna (in English, Red Martin Forde) of Lisaniska, Co. Galway. He spoke no English. This poem is a sample of much of the popular religious poetry dealing with the approach of death and the danger of continuing in evil courses.
"Charm for a Sprain." This and the succeeding charms are taken from Lady Wilde's Legends, Charms, and Cures of Ireland (Chatto & Windus). It is unfortunate that Lady Wilde does not give either her originals or her authorities.
"Before the sun rose at yesterdawn." Original in Walsh's Irish Popular Songs, 2nd ed. (Gill & Son, Dublin), p. 146. Edward Walsh, who translated into English verse a great number of Irish popular songs, lived between the years 1805-50.
"The Blackthorn." One of those favourite old songs of which there are many versions, and verses in one that are not in another. Like many another Irish song, it seems to be a colloquy between a maid and her lover, and it is often difficult to tell if it is the lad or the girl who is speaking. My version is the one printed in Miss Borthwick's Ceól Sidhe, ii. p. 18 (an excellent collection of old Irish songs), with two verses added from the version in Dr. D. Hyde's Love-Songs of Connacht (T. Fisher Unwin, 1893), p. 30. The poem is sad and troubled. Dr. Hyde says, "There was an old woman in it, long ago, who used to sing it to me, and she never came to the verse—
'Although the rowen-berry tree is high, &c.,'
that she used not to shed tears from her eye." We can well believe it. Hardiman (i. p. 234) has published a different version, and Miss Brooke another in her Reliques (1816), p. 306.
"Pastheen Finn," or "Fair little Child." Original in Hardiman's Irish Minstrelsy, i. p. 217. Dr. Hyde gives a quite different version in his Love-Songs, p. 65. We find the curfa or chorus attached to different songs. Sir Samuel Ferguson's version will be found in his Lays of the Western Gael (Sealy, Bryers, Dublin, 1888), p. 152. Hardiman considers that it is an address to the son of James II, under a secret name.
"She." Original in Miss Brooke's Reliques of Irish Poetry, p. 232.