A Sleepless Night I have thought long this wild wet night that brought no rest Though I have no gold to watch, or horned kine, or sheep— A storm that made the wave cry out has stirred my breast; Neither dogfish nor periwinkle was once my meat. Ah, if the men who knew me were but here tonight With their proud company that held me up secure, Captains of Munster before their great defeat, Not long would Corkaguiney see my children poor. MacCarthy stern and fearless that most upright man, MacCarthy of the Lee whose hearth is dark and cold, MacCarthy of Kanturk and all his kindred gone— The heart within me breaks to think their tale is told. The heart within my breast tonight is wild with grief Because, of all the haughty men who ruled this place, North Munster and South Munster to the wave beneath, None lives, and where they lived lives now an alien race. Ah, famous wave you sang the livelong night below; Small wonder if the noise set my wits wandering— I swear if help could ever come to Ireland now I’d strangle in your raucous throat that song you sing. Egan O’Rahilly Source: O'Connor, Frank (tr); Kings, Lords, & Commons: An Anthology from the Irish; 1962; London; Macmillan & Co; p.106