Unique Word Count: 49
Music composed by: Irish Traditional
Words written by: Máirtín Ó Direáin
Lyrics:
An eol duit, a Mhuire,
Cá rachair i mbliana,
Ag iarraidh foscaidh,
Do do leanbh naofa;
Tráth a bhfuil gach doras,
Dúnta ina éadan,
Ag fuath is uabhar,
An chine dhaonna?
Deonaigh glacadh,
Le cuireadh uaim-se,
Go hoileán mara,
San iarthar cianda;
Beidh coinnle geala,
I ngach fuinneog lasta,
Is tine mhóna,
Ar theallach adhainte.
Translation:
Do you know, Mary,
Where you will go this year,
Looking for shelter,
For your holy child;
At a time when every door,
Is closed in his face,
By the hatred and pride,
Of the human race?
Deign to accept,
An invitation from me,
To a sea island,
In the ancient west;
There will be bright candles,
Lit in every window,
And a turf fire,
Burning on the hearth.
Notes: There are at least 3 settings of this poem to music, by Eugene Kelly, Seán Óg Ó Tuama, and Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich. I found this poem in a collection of Christmas carol lyrics in the Irish language, assembled by the priest Clement Mac Mánuis C.Ss.R. (1943 – 2023), with the note that the poem can also be sung to the Irish traditional melody, ‘Glory O To The Bold Fenian Men’.
Source: I found these lyrics in a collection of Christmas carol lyrics in the Irish language, assembled by the priest Clement Mac Mánuis C.Ss.R. (1943 – 2023) from Co. Louth. The collection is available here: https://www.cumannnasagart.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/caruil-nollag-le-seoladh-3-1.pdf