I'm hoping that someone with far more knowledge than myself can assist me in translating a line from the folk song "The Foggy Dew." I really connect with the line " 'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky than at Suvla or Sud-El-Bar," and I would very much prefer that it were in Irish instead of English. I have attempted my own research and translations and produced a number of different variations. Any help in producing the best translation would be greatly appreciated!

If you've done some research, please post what you have, so we can tell you if it's OK and, if not, what's wrong with it. That's an important first step in translation, as you can't tell if what you've found works (or why we've suggested something different) otherwise.

Not even all correct translations will be the same, so withholding the ones you've found in the hopes that whatever we give you will match one of them is counter-productive.

Redwolf

Like Redwolf said

I'll give it a shot, but wait for confirmations or other translations.

'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky than at Suvla or Sud-El-Bar,"

Ba bhfearr bás a fháil faoin spéir in Éirinn ná i Suvla nó i Sud-El-Bar

I'm not sure how to best say "Irish sky".

That looks good, and with the right use of meter it would even fit the tune nicely, but perhaps this would be a touch better:
Ba bhfearr bás a fháil faoin spéir Éireannach ná i Suvla nó i Sud-El-Bar

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I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

Literally:

B'fhearr bás (a fháil) faoi spéir na hÉireann ná i S nó i SeB

- B'fhearr is the usual spelling.
- bás on its own means 'death', so you could omit the part in parentheses.

Edit: typo corrected

Or:
B'fhearr liom marbh mé faoi spéir na hÉireann ná in Suvla nó in Sud-el-Bar.
= I'd better be dead under ...

Ah, yes

- A walk on the wild side, Labhrás?

LOL

I think there is no reason to use the poem's spelling "Sud-el-Bar" in Irish, especially given that this alternative spelling (which seems only to appear in this poem) is very divergent from how the place's name should actually be pronounced. I would stick with either "Sedd el-Bahr" (correct latinised form of Ottoman name) or "Seddülbahir" (modern Turkish)

If you wanted to mimic the original and create a version that suggests to the reader someone who has never seen this word written and is approximating it in their language, perhaps you could use an Irish version like Sadalbaithir or Sadailbeithir

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ЯГОН ТОҶИК НЕСТ ИНҶО???

The extent of what I found myself only extends to translation tools such as google translate, so what I have produced is not fairly trust worthy. I am curious as to what everyone thinks would be better in terms of translating the names sulva and sud el bar, leaving them the way they are or finding an alternate translation. I'm hoping to come to a final decision here soon for the best translation, with everyone's input of course. Again, thank you all for the help I really appreciate it.

I'd go with Cúmhaí recommendation - Sedd el Bahr. As it seems to be a more acceptable international spelling.

Normally I'd pick the local pronunciation and spelling but in this case that would change the words of the song too much. Only my opinion though.