DASG Blog

Seanchas a' Choilich

There are many sorts of special birds in Gaelic Folklore, for example the wren (King of the Birds), the eagle, the owl, the cuckoo, the robin and so on but there isn’t a bird as special as the cockerel.

Since from long ago the Gaels have kept a brood and therefore they’ve had a cockerel and he’s been very important to us in many ways. The cockerel is good for food, as it’s clear to you, and in the proverb, from the book “Campbell Collection of Gaelic Proverbs and Sayings”, (206) “Ceum coise coilich air an latha, Latha Nollaige” [On Christmas Day, the day is longer by a cock’s stride] and “Latha cois-cheum Coillich” he is good for measuring times of the year. The phrases above mean the the lengthening from the shortest day onwards, the previous Christmas day or the previous New Year’s Day.

The proverb (382) “Coileach a’ Mhàirt, bidh e ’na thràthadair daonnan” [“A March rooster is always a steady signaller”] showing the cockerel’s worth waking people of the town up with his crowing. His crowing was useful for dispelling bad spirits, the fairies and undertaking and acts of the devil. This is clear in the proverb (554) “Is binn uiseag ’sa chamhanaich, ach is binne coileach mu mheadhon oidhche” [“A lark at daybreak sounds sweet, but a cockerel around midnight sounds sweeter”] showing his faculty, strength and protection. In “Gaelic Words and Expressions from South Uist and Eriskay,” by Father Allan MacDonald, he has the same meaning that the black cockerel of March was luckier than a cockerel than hatched in Autumn, with the name “Gogan foghair.” The “Coileach Ruadh an Fhàis” [“Red cockerel of the growth”] was not as lucky apparently. There are many names for him, showing his faculty: “Fear-coimhid na h-ùrnaigh [“The regulator of prayer”], Fear-dìon nam baoth [“The protector of the simple-minded”], Fear-dùsgaidh nan creidmheach [“The waker of the faithful”], Fear-dùsgaidh nan naomh [“The waker of the pious”], Fear-faire [The watchman], Fear-faire na h-oidhche [“The watchman of the night”], Fear-faire nan tràth [“The watchman of the hours”], Fear-seannsaidh na maidne [“The announcer of morning”].”

The cockerel’s virtue is well-known in Irish folklore as well; in the book “Irish Superstitions”, by Dáithí Ó hÓgáin, the black cockerel dispelled, with his crowing evil spirits if the cockerel hatched in March he would have stronger powers than others (that is the reason to praise the “Coileach a’ Mhàirt” [“The March cockerel”]. The white cockerel wasn’t praised although because he was said to be unlucky. There is a story about a seaman who bought a black cockerel from a farm close to the beach and as soon as the cockerel was taken from the house a beò-bheithir [thunderbolt] struck the house! In the book “The Otherworld: Music & Song from Irish Tradition”, by Comhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann, there is an account from County Kerry that nobody would go out on a walk or the likes until the cockerel had crowed, at about two in the morning. It was believed that the fairies would leave after his crowing and it would be safe to wonder after that. (p. 105)

This imagery is shown in the song “Tá an Coileach ag fogairt an lae” in Irish, with the cockerel “dispelling” the day but it is more likely that he is dispelling the night and the beast and demons involved with the night:
“Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae
Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae
Tá an mhuc ag an doras
A d’iarraidh é oscailt
Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae

Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae
Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae
Tá ’n chearc is a hál
Ina gcodladh go sámh
Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae

Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae
Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae
Tá bó na leath-adhairce
’Tál bhainne do’n teaghlach
Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae

Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae
Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae
Tá an ghealach ’na lui
Is an ghrian ag éirí
Tá ’n coileach a’ fógairt an lae.”
[“When the cock crows it is day
When the cock crows it is day
The pig is at the door
Requesting you to open it
When the cock crows it is day

When the cock crows it is day
When the cock crows it is day
The hen and her chickens are
Sleeping pleasantly.
When the cock crows it is day

When the cock crows it is day
When the cock crows it is day
The one horned cow is providing
Milk for the family.
When the cock crows it is day

When the cock crows it is day
When the cock crows it is day
The moon is setting
The sun is rising.
When the cock crows it is day.”]

Because there is such an amount of folklore, proverbs and phrases connected to the cockerel we shall carry on with more of them next week. Do you know any stories or information about any words or phrases of the cockerel. Do you know any of the words above? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!