The only real question is how? Altan does have a contact form on its website, and I actually used it once years ago (I had written to ask about some missing lyrics in the liner notes for "Cuach Mo Londubh Buí"...there's a verse they sing on the CD that isn't in the notes). I got a prompt reply from someone affiliated with the group saying he/she would ask Mairéad when she came back from on tour, but never heard back (I'm assuming that Altan gets tons and tons of fan emails, and this one got lost in the shuffle).

I had barely any Irish at that time, though. Maybe if I write this query in Irish, I'll have better luck!

Redwolf

Gabh go Gaoth Dobhair agus cuir ceist ar dhuine ineacht a bhfuil a t-uarán sin aige
Tá 'n t-uarán sin ag deirfiúr Mhairéad, Anna, agus ó tharla nach bhfuil sí gomh cáiliúil lena deirfiúr, bheadh sé níos fusa bualadh léithe agus a' cheist a chur orthaí (bhail, níl 's agam an bhfuil sí 'na cónaí i nGaoth Dobhair go fóill).

Ach amannaí cha bhíonn 's ag na huaránaithe ciall achan fhocail ina n-uaráin, nuair is rudaí liteartha srl a bíos i gceist...

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Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

Lá éigin, le cúnamh Dé!

Redwolf

Well, I just sent them a nice little note (probably very stilted sounding, but hopefully comprehensible!). I'll let you all know what I hear!

Redwolf

Just to add to what was said before, one of the meanings of a hackle is a comb or a board with long metal teeth for dressing flax, hemp or jute, so the person whose job to use one is obviously enough a hackler. It made me immediately think of Hackler from Grousehall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dHupFqLvaw

Never did hear back, I'm sorry to say. I have found versions of this song on-line, though, that have "faoileann," and given the usual translation of "fair maiden," I'm guessing that it's either the vocative or a variation thereof.

Redwolf

I've seen Faoilidhe in the old spelling as an adjective meaning generous. So maybe "Oh Generous faithful darling!".

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The dialect I use is Munster Irish, particularly Cork Irish, so words or phrases I use
might not be correct for other areas.

Ar sgáth a chéile a mhairid na daoine, lag agus láidir, uasal is íseal

"Generous" doesn't really make sense in context, though. In the song, the singer is trying to persuade the girl to marry him (the piper) rather than the hackler, the weaver, or the tailor by telling her about the hardships she'll have with each of the others.

I'm also reading "dílis" as "beloved/dear" here rather than "faithful." "Oh, my darling dear, my fair maiden."

Redwolf