This fine song, with its intriguing and splendid melody, was widely sung in Munster in the early decades of the 19th century. The reference in O’Daly's Poets and Poetry of Munster states that the original version of An Clár Bog Déil is better known as Caiseal Mumhan. It suggests further that the song was originally written by an Augustinian friar, the Reverend William English of Newcastle West, Co. Limerick who previous to his taking the Augustinian habit had produced many striking and beautiful songs in his native tongue.

The dual title to the song is understood when you hear the third and fourth lines of the first verse:
Sé mo ghalar dubhach gan mé gust ú, a ghrá mo chléibhe
i gCaiseal Mumhan, is gan de leaba fúinn ach an clár bog Déil.

Again, as is the case with several of these old songs there is a Connacht version with somewhat different words and melody. Seán Ac' Donnachadh used to sing it occasionally.

:Séamus Mac Mathúna

Words

Phósfainn thú gan bó, gan punt,
gan áireamh spré
A chuid den tsaol gan toil do mhuintire,
Dá mb'áil leat é
Sé mo ghalar dúch gan mé ‘gus tú,
A ghrá mo chléibhe, i gCaiseal Mumhan
'S gan de leaba fúinn ach an clár bog Déil

Siúil a chogar, is tar i'm fhochair,
go dtéam ón ghleann
Agus gheobhaidh tú foscadh ar leaba fhlocais,
Agus aer cois abhann
Beidh na srutha ag déanamh torain
Faoi géaga crann, beidh an lon dubh
‘ N-ár bhfocair is an chéirseach ann

Searc mo chléibhe, do thugas féin duit,
agus grá trí rún
Is dá dtagadh sé de chor sa tsaol,
Go mbéinn féin ‘gus tú
Ceangail cléire bheith eadrainn araon
Leis a bhfáinne dlúth, 's dá bhfeicfinn féin
Mo ghrá ag aon fhear gheobhainn bás de cumha