Athraigh Gléas, a Ghiolla Íosa: Dán ar Dhroch-Chláirseoir

Abstract:This paper consists of an edition, with translation and notes, of a previously unpublished poem on an incompetent harper. The poem, which is in séadnadh, dán díreach, was added in a later hand to the copy of Féilire Óengusa preserved in the fifteenth-century vellum manuscript UCD A 7 (formerly held at the Franciscan library in Killiney, Co. Dublin). Although its date of composition is uncertain, it is suggested here that the poem is one of a handful of satires on harpers which were composed towards the end of the Classical Irish period and which bear witness to the marginalisation and decline of the harping profession. The poem contains some poorly attested vocabulary and, although many difficulties with the text remain unresolved, it is of particular value for enhancing our understanding of some music terms.Réamhrá:Cláirseoir a bhfuil a uirlis as tiúin is ábhar do dhán gairid atá ar caomhnú i lámhscríbhinn UCD A 7. Tugtar ainm an chláirseora, Giolla Íosa (1a) mac Donnchaidh (2b), sa dán féin, agus más tagairt don fhear céanna (seachas tagairt do phearsa stairiúil) atá i rann 5a, Mac Cearb[h]aill ba shloinne dó. Tugann an buafhocal 'an Caoch' (5a) le tuiscint gur dócha go raibh sé dall. Ní fhaighimid tuilleadh eolas beathaisnéise faoin gcláirseoir sa dán féin, agus ní heol dom tagairt ar bith dó i bhfoinsí eile. Déanann an file anaithnid cur síos ar a mhíbhinne agus atá ceol Ghiolla Íosa agus sreanga a chláirsí as tiúin (ar mīghlēas, 2a), agus impíonn sé air an uirlis a thiúnáil. Tá an ceol chomh holc sin go bhfuil scaipeadh na mionéan tagtha ar na ba (3b) agus ar an eachra (6b), agus tugtar le tuiscint go gcuirfear iachall ar an gcláirseoir cúiteamh a thabhairt sna hainmhithe atá ar iarraidh (3cd; 6cd).