Craiceann Anna
/
Anna’s Skin
Anna’s Skin
Informant: Peadar Ó Conncháin
Age: 75
Address: An Gort Breac, Baile Chruaich, Co. Mayo
Collector: Tomás a’ Burca, National Folklore Collection, UCD
Date of Recording: 30/07/1941
Reference:
NFC 803: 165
Grey Seals [Courtesy of the Irish Seal Sanctuary]
Craiceann Anna
Bhí fear fadó ó shoin agus bhí sé tugthaí do mharbh na róntaí. Bhí sé leo ansin ag iascaireacht agus mhara’ sé ceann do na róntaí agus thug sé isteach chun tí leis ’is d’fheann sé é. Thug sé an craiceann amach leis agus chuir sé suas ar charraig é ag triomú. Ní raibh sé i bhfad ar an charraig nuair dho dtáinig scata do na róntaí isteach. Chuir ceann do na róntaí glaim aisti.
“Óchó,” ar sise, “craiceann Anna, craiceann Anna.”
D’éirigh ceann eile acu is chuir sé suas a cheann;
“A’ bhfaca tú Filip? A’ bhfaca tú Filip?”
D’imigh an uile ceann leofa ansin.
Anna’s Skin
There was a man long ago who was taken with killing seals. He was there with them fishing and he killed one of the seals and took it into the house and he skinned it. He took the skin out with him and put it up on a rock to dry. It hadn’t been long on the rock when a group of seals came in. One of the seals let out a howl.
“Óchó,” she said, “Anna’s skin, Anna’s skin.”
Another one came up and he put up his head;
“Have you seen Filip? Have you seen Filip?”
They all went away then.