From the recording The Vow, An Irish Wedding Celebration
12. An Chúilfhionn 4:53
(un kool-uhn)
Accounts differ as to the exact time of origin of this tune. According to Lynch's Dublin Penny Journal - the original tune may have been written as early as 1295 by an Irish bard, coinciding with an Act passed banning the wearing of long lochs of hair by the young men, as was the custom of the Irish at the time. Bunting maintains it was composed in the 28th year of the reign of Henry VIII.
Bunting manuscripted the tune from harper Dennis Hempson at Magilligan in 1796, in the form that had been popular since the 1700's. A much loved air - which has survived in that form to the present day.
Lyrics
AN CHÚILFHIONN
An bhfaca tú an chúilfhionn is í taobh leis an toinn
fáinni óir ar a méaraibh is í ag réiteach a cinn?
Is é dúirt an Paorach a bhí ina mhaor ar an loing
go mb'fhearr leis aige féin í na Éire gan roinn.
An bhfaca tú an spéirbhean is í ag siúl ar na bóithre
maidin gheal drúchta is gan smúit ar a bróga?
Is iomaí óg´anach súílghlas ag tnúth lena pósadh
ach ní bhfaighidh siad mo rúnsa ar an gcuntas is dóigh leo
An bhfaca tú mo bhabán lá breá is í ina haonar
a cúl dualach drisleanach go slinnean síos leí
Míl ar an ógbhean is rós breá ina héadan
is is dóigh le gach spreasán gur leannán leis feín í.