Is this a bad translation?

Jennamarie

Hi there,

I've been trying to find an Irish translation of the song Galway Bay for my 80 yr old Uncle who learned it in Irish when he was younger and is hoping to re-connect with it. I came across a translation online which looked to be a google translate job (there were some English words still in it, which I've attempted to fix) but I'm still not sure if it's any good. If anyone could tell me if this is any use at all as a translation of the song, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Here's the the English and Irish versions of the song:

Galway Bay
If you ever go across the sea to Ireland,
Then maybe, at the closing of your day,
You can sit and watch the moon rise over Claddagh
And see the sun go down on Galway Bay.

Just to hear again the ripple of the trout stream
The women in the meadow making hay
Just to sit beside a turf fire in the cabin
And watch the barefoot gossoons at their play.

For the breezes blowing o'er the sea from Ireland
Are perfumed by the heather as they blow
And the women in the uplands diggin' praties
Speak a language that the strangers do not know.

Yet the strangers came and tried to teach us their ways
And they scorned us just for bein' what we are
But they might as well go chasin' after moonbeams
Or light a penny candle from a star.

And if there is going to be a life hereafter
And faith, somehow I'm sure there's going to be
I will ask my God to let me make my heaven
In that dear land across the Irish sea.


Cuan Na Gaillimhe
Má théann tú go deo trasna na farraige go hÉirinn
Ansin is féidir ar an lá deiridh de do
Beidh tú suí agus feachaint ar ghealach t-ardú os cionn Claddagh
Agus féach an ghrian ag dul síos ar Chuan na Gaillimhe.

Ach a éisteacht arís an feachtroc a bhreac sruth
Na mná i móinéir a dhéanamh féar
Agus suí in aice le tine móna i gcábán
Agus féachaint ar an gossoons cosnochta ag a imirt.

Tá na gaotha ag séideadh thar na farraigí ó Éirinn
Agus cumhraithe ag an fhraoch mar atá siad buille
Agus na mná i dtailte arda ag tochailt 'bprátaí
Labhair le teanga nach bhfuil fhios ag na strainséirí.

Ach na strainséirí a tháinig agus iarracht a mhúineadh dúinn a mbealaí
Bhí siad díspeagadh dúinn do chéard atá againn
Ach d'fhéadfadh siad chomh maith ag dul tar éis do soilse gealach
Nó solais a coinneal pingin ó réalt.

Agus má tá dul chun bheith ina saol ina dhiaidh seo
Agus ar bhealach mé cinnte go bhfuil ag dul a bheith
Beidh mé ag iarraidh mo Dhia chun a chur in iúl dom mo bhflaitheas
Sna talamh daor trasna na farraige Gaeilge.

Insect Overlord

That is a really terrible attempt at translation. It looks like it was done on Google Translator, which is an abysmal tool. I've tidied it up a little bit, but there's still a lot more that could be done to improve it.

Cuan Na Gaillimhe

Má théann tú riamh trasna na farraige go hÉirinn
Ansin b'fhéidir ag deiridh an lae
Bheifeá in ann suí is an ghealach a fheiceáil ag ardú os cionn Claddaigh
Agus an ghrian a fheiceáil ag dul síos ar Chuan na Gaillimhe.

Fiú iomaraín srutha na bhreac a cloisteáil,
Is na mná i móinéir ag déanamh féir,
Agus suí cois tine móna i gcábán
Agus imirteas na ngársún cosnochta a fheicéail.

Mar tá na gaotha a shéideann thar na farraigí ó Éirinn
Cumhraithe ag an fhraoch mar atá siad séidte
Is na mná sna hardchríocha ag tochailt 'bprátaí
Ag labhairt i dteanga nach dtuigeann strainséirí.

Ach tháinig stróinséirí is d'iarradaís a nósanna a mhúineadh dúinn
Is do dhein siad tarcaisne de bharr an slí mar atáimid
Bheadh sé chomh maith dóibh dul sa tóir ar sholas ghealaí
Nó coinneal pingin a lasasdh le réalt.

Agus má tá aon domhan iarbháis théis an cheann seo
Agus cinnte, táim muiníneach go mbeidh a leithéad ann
Beidh mé ag impí ar Dhia chead dom 'fhlaitheas a ligint
Sa tír ársa sin trasna tonnta Mhuir Éireann.

Jennamarie

I had a feeling it was pretty bad! Thanks so much for taking the time to go through it - I really appreciate it

Insect Overlord

No problem.

Like I said, I've only fixed a few parts of it. I reckon it could still be made much better.

Cailleachdubh

I hope you're not going to attempt to sing that (either translation)! The google translate version is really awful, even at a glance, and doesn't even work as a literal translation. Neither of them fit into the rythm or rhyme of the song, though I don't think that was attempted anyway, so fair enough!

Here's my quick attempt at at sing-able version (possibly - but only in very forgiving company!), based on the two translations above.



Cuan Na Gaillimhe

Má thrasnaíonn tú an fharraige go hÉirinn
B'fhéidir 's é ag teacht go deireadh an lae
Go bhfeicfí tú an ghealach thar an gCladdach
Is ar Chuan na Gaillimhe 'dul faoi na gréin.

Fiú siosca shruth na mbreac arís a chloisteáil,
Is na mná sin thíos sa móinéir 'déanamh féir,
Bheinn ag suí cois tine móna istigh sa gcábán
Gasúir cosnochta ag imirt gan aon staon.

Tá an ghaoth ag séideadh anonn chuiginn as Éirinn
Is í cumhraithe ag fhraoch is í ag séid'
Is na mná a thochlaíonn fataí ar na sléibhte
Labhraíonn teanga aosta nach dtuigfeadh strainséir.

Bhí stráinséirí 'g iarraidh ár saol uilg a athrú
'S níor thuig go bhfuil muid sásta mar atá
Ach in áit dúinn dul sa tóir ar sholas ghealaí
Nó coinnilín a lasadh ó réalt' chomh hard.

'S má tá saol ar bith i ndán dúinn théis an chinn seo
Is tá muinín agam go bhfuil a leithéid ann
Impeoidh mé ar Dhia go bhfuil na flaitheas síoraí
Sa tír bheag álainn trasna tonnta thall.

Jennamarie

Wow, thanks for that!

I'm not too familiar with the song myself so I need all the help I can get! It's been great to get such helpful responses on here