Unique Word Count: 73
Music composed by: Seán Óg Ó Tuama
Words written by: Unknown (from manuscript in RIA)
Lyrics:
Le croí soilbhir seinnimid fáilte
Ar Mhac Mhuire do rugadh sa stábla,
Is muna mbeadh turas ag Linbh an lá san
Do bhíomarna uile 'na dhorn ag Sátan.
Seinnid na haingil don Leanbh so fáilte
Go follas don tsaol 's an spéir fé lánghuth:
'Glóire gan chiach do Dhia sna hArdaibh
Is síocháin feasta do mhaithibh Shíl Ádhaimh.'
A Mhic na Banaltran is fearr do ráinig,
Ós dár gceann ach mar mhar(a)gadh thángais,
Maith ár gcionta cé fada le n–áireamh,
Is beir ár n–anama go Flaitheas do d'Áras.
Machine Translation:
With a joyful heart we sing welcome
To the Son of Mary born in the stable,
And if the Child had not had a journey that day
We would all have been Satan's fist.
The angels sing welcome to this Child
Clearly to the world and the sky with a full voice:
'Glory to God in the highest
And peace henceforth to the blessed of the seed of Adam.'
O Son of the Nurse, best thou hast come,
Since for us but as a merchant thou hast come,
Forgive our sins, how long to count,
And bring our souls to Heaven to thy House.
Notes: Úna Ní Ógáin created the earliest version of this Christmas song. She found this text by an unknown author in a manuscript of the Royal Irish Academy (in her own words, ‘As láimh-scribhinn ‘san Acadamh Gaedhealach. Duine gan ainm do chum.’)
She then matched this text with a traditional melody from Scotland, Bun Easain (“Bunessan”), and published the pairing in her book Dánta Dé idir Sean agus Nuadh (1928, Ó Fallamhain, Dublin).
Seán Óg Ó Tuama subsequently composed different music to three verses of the this text found by Úna. This, Seán Óg’s composition, was published in the book Ceol na Nollag (2002, Fionnuala de Barra-Cusack, Cló Chaisil, Dublin).