Bó na leathadhairce ('The one-horned cow') is a playful song learned by many children in school. With origins in county Kerry, located on the south-west coast of Ireland, the one-horned cow is a metaphor for a poitín still (think Irish home-brewed alcohol) and the lyrics become more peculiar as the song unfolds.
Bó na Leathadhairce - Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
An English Tranlsation
The One Horned Cow
The cow, the cow the one horned cow
The cow the cow the old horned sheep
The cow, the cow the one horned cow
The red speckled cow I know not where to find her
My sheep was reared down by the seaside
By Dermot O Dillain from Barra na heena
Twas a son of my father’s brother that put her over the cliff
For the blaggard was short of tobacco
I’d rather than a shilling to see my sheep
Coming to my door by morning or night
She would give me milk she would rear me a lamb
She would put a lovely wee jacket on my shoulder
I saw her cooked I saw her shared
I wanted a taste but not a morsel would I get
Oh she was nice Oh she was lively
Oh she was nice the old horned sheep
If I had inheritance and wealth and honour
I would give a guinea for a few slices
Oh she was nice! Oh she was lively!
Oh she was nice the old horned sheep
Gaelic Words
Bó na Leathadhairce
Bó, bó, bó na leath adhairce
Bó, bó, sí an tseana chaor adharcach
Bó, bó, bó na leath adhairce
Bó dhroimhionn dhearg ná feadar cá bhfaighead’ í
Thíos cois na toinne ‘sea beathaíodh mo chaora
Ag Diarmuid Ó Díoláin ó Bharra na hAoine
Mac dearthár athair dom a chuir le faill í
Easpa tobac a bhí ar an gcladhaire.
B’fhearr liom ná scilling go bheicfinn mo chaora
‘Teacht go dtí an doras ar maidin nó istóiche
Thálfadh sí báinne orm, bheathódh sí uan dom11
Chuirfeadh sí ‘jacketeen’ deas ar mo ghualainn.
Chonacsa beirithe í, chonac a roinnt í
Chuireas-sa dúil intí ach blaúíre ní bhfaighinn di
ó nár dheas í, ó nár mheidhreach
ó nár dheas í an tseana chaor adharcach.
Dá mbéinnse i rachmas, i ngradam is in oidhreacht
Thabharfainnse giní ar chupla sladhas di
Ó nár dheas í, ó nár mheidhreach
Ó nár dheas í an tseana chaor adharcach.
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