Brighid Crús

Bridget Cruise was Carolan's first love. He had a crush on her when he was sixteen and before losing his eyesight. She loved him as well but there is no word as to why they never married.

Even superior to the first is this second song to Bridget Cruise. 0'Carolan was linked to the Cruises, another notable Nobber family. This family lost the lands of Brittas in the Cromwellian plantation, but they managed to cling on in Cruisetown and Rahood. 0'Carolan is said to have been educated in Cruisetown probably at a school maintalned by the Cruises.

le Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin 1. Mo chreach! mo dhith a's mo sgalladh croidhe! Gan mé mo righ mhór air Éire, Ni' (i) ngeall air mhaoin ná saidhbhreas sáoghalt. A's ná cáoirigh mine 'ns dtréada,	Carolan 4. Acht tá cách dhá rádh liom go bhfuil fear san áit Is mile feár léith ná mo leithéide, A's ós mar súd atá sí cuirim cúl mo láimhe, Le cumann geárr ban Éireann.
2. Acth i ngeall air chaoin-bhan na mbachall buidh Bu deise gnaoi agus feuchaint, Dhéanfad marbhadh daoine agus sladadh tiortha, Mar bhfagha mé Brighid óg le bréagadh.	5.(A) Rí na ndúl nach gartha an chúis so, Chuir an bhean bhreágh uasal i gcéill dom, Bhain mó shnuadh dhíom agus mo lúth, Agus mo choisceím lúthmhar éadrom.
3. (A) Rí na ngrásda nach cruaidh an cás sin, An ghaoth 'sa' bháisteach bheith in m'éadan, A's nach dtugann an stáro-dhean gean ná gra Mur bheir mná mánla dhá gcéile.	6. Mo léan! a shiúr bhead, gan mé a's tú, Fa choillte dlút'na hÉirne, A's gan de leabaidh fúinn acht féar a's drúcta, Agus duilleabhar cúmhrtha mar éadach.

As late as 1702 the family was praised for learning and patronage of the arts by Séamus Dall Mac Cuarta, the greatest poet of Oriel, in his lament for Murcha Cruise. 0'Carolan is said to have fallen in love with Brigid Cruise in whose honour he composed this second of four songs of praise. Legend has it that many years later, on a pilgrimage to Lough Derg. he recognised her by the touch of her hand.

Courtesy of Vivian & Jack Hennessey, IrishPage.com
For phonetics consult the pocket dictionary Fóclóir Póca
Lyrics: Tomás ÓMáille Amhráin Chearbhalláin 1916 p 150 No 7
Notations: The poems of Carolan, Tomás Ó Máille, Irish Texts Society, 1916, pg No 37.
Notations: Dónal O'Sullivan, Life and Times of an Irish Harper vol 1 pg.

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