Dictionary Entry

Óh ní raibh scríobh ná léamh aige ach bhí sé ábalta na hamhráin a chumadh ar an gcaoi chéanna a raibh Raiftearaí agus a leithéidí roimhe ag cumadh na n-amhrán agus dhá rá agus bhíodh daoiní eile ag éisteacht agus thógaidís síos é. Bhoil thógaidís isteach ina ina n-aigne é agus ansin nuair a thiocfadh duine a bheith ábalta é a scríobh scríobhadh duine éigin síos é.

Oh, he had neither writing nor reading, but he was able to compose songs in the same way that Raiftearaí and the likes of him before had composed songs and recited them, and other people would listen and they would take it down. Well, they would take it into their minds and then when someone came along who was able to write, someone would write it down.