An Raibh Tú ag an gCarraig? - Were You at the Rock?
People at a Mass Rock in Penal Times
This song speaks of Penal Days when the Mass was celebrated in secret at remote gatherings. The "Carraig" was the "Mass rock" used as a meeting-place and altar. According to native Irish "sean nos" singers, the words appear as a love song, "Were you at the Rock and did you see my Valentine?" (meaning either the priest or the Host).
However, it was a code addressed to a disguised priest or congregant, so the enemy would not grasp the true meaning even if he spoke Irish. Death was the penalty for those caught at Mass. In Penal Times, a price of 30 pounds was offered for the head of a priest or hedge-school master, the same as for that of a wolf.
| Traidisiúnta | Traditional |
|
An raibh tú ag an gCarraig? Nó a' bhfaca tú t-úll Ó bhí mé ag an gCarraig, Ó chonaic mé an t-ull |
Were You at the Rock? Or did you see the apple, O, I was at the rock O, I did see the apple |
At first glance, "An Raibh Tú ag an gCarraig" appears to be a series of questions and answers about a young woman, but in reality it contains a coded message. A traditional air from the 1796 collection of "Ancient Irish Music" of Edward Bunting. The coded message is uncoded below.
[English metaphoric translation]
Were you at the Mass?
Did you see the Virgin Mary?
Did you receive communion?
And say the rosary?
Did you see the chalice?
Did you see the sacrifice of the Mass?
Did you practice the faith?
Are we being persecuted as they are saying?
I was at the Mass;
I saw the Virgin Mary
I received communion,
and said the rosary
I saw the chalice,
and saw the sacrifice of the Mass
And I practiced the faith;
we are not being subdued as they are saying.
Source: https://www.irishpage.com
