Celtic Stencil Design D–“Stretch Your Coat Over My Madness”
Celtic Symbols and Language A Granite Bay Design Microsite
“…stretch your cloak over my madness…”
ANCIENT CELTIC POETRY*
Ní fhaghaim ógh ar a gruaidhse
gan a guidhe
go síntear brat ar mo bhuile
ó Mhac Muire.
Brighid Éireann agus Alban
ógh na n-oiléan
is í an blath braoingheal na mbanóg
caoilthreabh [coiréal].
Athrachta fhóireas na Luighnigh
lór a déine
is í an bhanóg bhoinnfhionn Bhúille*
coinneall chéire.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
In a cloak, that bright breast of yours–
The virgin with her cheeks will not be found
without my suit;
stretch your cloak over my madness,
son of Mary.*
Brigid of Ireland and Scotland,
the virgin of the islands—
she is the misty-bright flower of the young women,
coral-collared.
Athrachta, helper of Limerick—
speedy enough
is the white-soled young woman of the Boyle,
wax candle.
* An excerpt from a longer poem. Stencils are rendered by Dutch artist Co Sinhoven and are his modern interpretation of “The Book of Kells.” All of this artwork is in the public domain. Learn more about the artist here.