Little Drummer Boy / An Drumadóirín
Unique Word Count: 58
Tar, a dúirt siad liom, pa rup a pum pum
Rí nua óg a fheiceáil, pá-rum pum pum pum
Ár mbronntonais is fearr, pá-rum pum pum pum
A chur os comhair an rí, pá-rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Ómós a thabhairt don rí, pá-rum pum pum pum
Is mian liom.
Á Íosagáin, pá-rum pum pum pum
Is buachaillín bocht mé, pá-rum pum pum pum
Níl féirín agam duit, pá-rum pum pum pum
A oireann do rí óg, pá-rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
An seinnfidh mé duit, pá-rum pum pum pum
Ar an drum?
D'aontaigh Muire, pá-rum pum pum pum
D'éist bó 'gus asal, pá-rum pum pum pum
Do sheinn mé mo dhrum dó, pá-rum pum pum pum
Rinneas mo dhícheall dó, pá-rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Ansin rinne sé gáire liom, pá-rum pum pum pum
Mise 's an drum
Source: While working in Irish schools, I came across an A4 booklet with lyrics of Christmas carols in the Irish language, which contained this translation. Regrettably the name of the creator is not written on this educational resource. If you know of the excellent teacher* who made it, please let me know so I can credit them appropriately.
(*One unique feature of the booklet is that the words are colour-coded to symbolise accompanying chords (words coloured blue harmonise with a C major chord, etc); another identifying feature is that the font used is Comic Sans.)
Little Drummer Boy / An Drumadóirín
Unique Word Count: 59
Translation: Treasa Ní Cheannabháin
Tar, a dúirt siad liom, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Rí nuabheirthe, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Na féiríni is fearr, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Le cur os comhair ár rí, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Rum-pa-pum-pum, rum-pa-pum-pum,
Chun é a adhradh, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Ar a fheiceáil dhom.
Leanbh beag bídeach, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Táimse bocht chomh maith, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Nil tada agam le tabhairt, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Le leagan os do chomhair, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum, rum-pa-pum-pum,
An gcasfaidh mise dhuit, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Ar mo dhruma.
D'aontaigh Muire liom, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
Choinnigh an t-uan is bullán am, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Chas mé mo dhruma dhó, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Chas mé thar cionn ar fad, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Rum-pa-pum-pum, rum-pa-pum-pum,
Rinne sé gáire liom, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum,
Mise is mo dhruma,
Mise is mo dhruma, mise is mo dhruma.
Source: ‘Amhráin Na Nollaig’ by Róisín Elsafty & Ronan Browne
Little Drummer Boy / An Drumadóir
Unique Word Count: 60
Tar, a deir siad pá-rum pum pum pum
Go bhfeicfimid an Rí pá-rum pum pum pum
Ár dtogha is ár rogha againn pá-rum pum pum pum
Le cur i lámha an Rí pá-rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum ,
rum pum pum pum
Ómós cuí dár Rí pá-rum pum pum pum
Ar ár son.
Naíon bheag ghléigeal, pá-rum pum pum pum
Is buachaill bocht mé féin, pá-rum pum pum pum
Níl féirín ceart agam, pá-rum pum pum pum
Is fiú a thabhairt dár Rí, pá-rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum
Déanfad ceolta Duit, pá-rum pum pum pum
Ar an drum?
D'umhlaigh Muire, pá-rum pum pum pum
Bhuail bó is uan an t-am, pá-rum pum pum pum
Bhuaileas mo bhodhrán Dhó, pá-rum pum pum pum
Bhuaileas go cumasach, pá-rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum
Gháir Sé liom fé rún, pá-rum pum pum pum
Is lem dhrum!
Source: https://www.scoilgaeilge.org/Nollaig/
Little Drummer Boy / An Drumadóirín
Unique Word Count: 68
Translation: Róisín Uí Chuill
Tar, a dúirt siad liom, pa rup a pum pum
Go bhfeicir Rí óg nua, pa rup a pum pum
Chun bronntanas thar barr, pa rup a pum pum
A chur os comhair an rí, pa rup a pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Ómós a thabairt do Dhia, pa rup a pum pum
Sin a bhfuil uaim
A Íosa, 'Rí na ndúl, pa rup a pum pum
Is buachaill bocht mé, pa rup a pum pum
Níl féirín agam Duit, pa rup a pum pum
Ná rud le bronnadh Ort, pa rup a pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Ach seinnfead séis Duit, pa rup a pum pum
Ar an drum'
Bhí Muire sásta liom, pa rup a pum pum
An bhó 's an t-asal leis, pa rup a pum pum
Sheinn mé mo dhruma Dó, pa rup a pum pum
B'shin é mo dhícheall Dó, pa rup a pum pum
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Do dhein gealgháire liom, pa rup a pum pum
Mise 's an drum'
Source: De Barra-Cusack, F. (2002) Ceol Na Nollag: Carúil Nollag Agus Roinnt Amhrán. Baile Átha Cliath: Cló Chaisil.