Anseo i lár an Ghleanna

Bhí an tAifreann léite is gach rud déanta,
Bhí pobal Dé ag scaipeadh
Nuair chualamar gleo ag teacht 'nár dtreo
Anseo i lár an ghleanna.

"Cén gleo é siúd ag teacht 'nár dtreo?"
"Sin torann cos na gcapall."
"Seo chugainn saighdiúirí airm an rí
Anseo i lár an ghleanna."

Do chas an seanfhear Brian Ó Laoi
Is shiúil i dtreo an tsagairt, 
Is chuir sé cogar ina chluais
Anseo i lár an ghleanna.

"Ó a Athair Seán, Ó a Athair Seán.
Seo chugainn na cótaí dearga;
Ní féidir leatsa teitheadh anois
Anseo i lár an ghleanna."

"Tá tusa óg, a Athair Séan,
Táim féin i ndeireadh beatha;
Déan malairt éadaigh liom anois
Anseo i lár an ghleanna."

Do deineadh malairt gan ró-mhoill
I gcoinne toil an tsagairt,
Is shíl sé deora móra bróin
Anseo i lár an ghleanna.

Do ghaibh na Sasanaigh Brian Ó Laoi,
Is d'imigh saor an sagart;
Do chroch siad Brian ar chrann caol ard
Anseo i lár an ghleanna.

Ach mairfigh cáil an tsean-fhir áigh
Fad fhásfaidh féar ar thalamh;
Beidh a scéal á ríomh ag fearaibh Fáil,
Is anseo i lár an ghleanna.

              Seán Mac Fhearais

Here in the Middle of the Glen

The mass was finished and everything done

The congregation was leaving

When we heard a sound coming on

Here in the middle of the Glen.

“What is that noise coming our way?”

“It’s the sound of horses’ hooves”

“Here come the soldiers of the King”

Here in the middle of the Glen.

The old man Brian O Lee he turned

And walked towards the priest,

He whispered gently to him then

Here in the middle of the glen.

“O Father Seán, O Father Seán

Here come the Red Coats to us

You cannot escape, it’s too late now.

Here in the middle of the glen.

“You are young, Father Seán,

I am at the end of my life,

Make a change of clothes with me right now”

Here in the middle of the glen.

They made the change quite hurriedly

In spite of the priest’s reluctance,

The priest shed many tears of regret

Here in the middle of the glen.

The English, they caught Brian O’ Lee

And the priest he fled to freedom

They hung Brian on a tall high tree

Here in the middle of the glen.

But the fame of the beloved old man

Will live as long as we walk the earth

The tale will be told by Irish people everywhere

And here in the middle of the glen

(Translation -Máire Hunt)