Unique Word Count: 76
Music composed by: Dónal Ó Cuill
Words written by: Dónal Ó Cuill
Lyrics:
Sneachta is fuacht i mBeithil bhí,
Is gach tigh óstaíochta líonta,
I stábla beag, gan fothain cheart,
Do rugadh leanbh, Íosa.
Bhí Muire Máthair, riamh ina hóigh,
Is Iósaf ann á coimhdeacht,
Thug teas an asailín is na bó,
Compord don leanbh Íosa.
Na haoirí bhí ar an gcnoc go hard,
D’fhágadar a gcaoire,
Is thángadar go n-adharfaidís,
An leanbh rí sin, Íosa.
Bhí triúr ag teacht ar chamallaibh,
Fé sholas réalt na hoíche,
Le hór, le túis, le miorr, is le searc,
Le tabhairt don leanbh Íosa.
Is guímíd chun an linbh sin,
Go mbeidh sé inár gcroí-na,
Is go mbeimíd leis i bhflaitheas Dé,
I measc na naomh go síoraí.
Translation:
Bethlehem was cold and snowy,
And every lodging house was full,
In a small stable, without proper shelter,
A child was born, Jesus.
Mother Mary, ever a virgin, was there
And Joseph was there keeping her company,
The heat of the donkey and of the cow,
Gave comfort to the child Jesus.
The shepherds high on the hill,
Left behind their sheep,
And they came to worship,
That kingly child, Jesus.
Three men were coming on camels,
By the light of a star in the night,
With gold and incense and myrrh and love,
To give them to the child Jesus.
We pray to that child,
That he may remain in our hearts,
And that we may be with him in God’s heaven,
Amongst the saints forever.
Notes: Dónall Ó Cuill wrote this poem, and he first published it, as a poem, in his book Loinneog Fómhair (1994, Coiscéim, Dublin). For the book Ceol na Nollag (2002, Fionnuala de Barra-Cusack, Cló Chaisil, Dublin) he set it to music, and it can be heard being sung on the accompanying CD.