Unique Word Count: 139
Music composed by: Úna Ní Ógáin (1868-1927) put this poem to the music of a lullaby she found in a collection of George Petrie.
Words written by: Aodh Mac Aingil (1571-1626)
Lyrics:
Dia do bheatha, a naoidhe naoimh,
Insa mhainséar cé taoi bocht,
Meadhrach saibhir atá tú,
Is glórmhar id dhún féin anocht.
A naoidhe bhig atá mór,
A leanbháin óig atá sean,
Sa mhainséar ní chuire a lán,
Cé nach bhfaighfeá áit ar neamh.
Ar neamh dhíbh gan mháthair riamh,
Gan athair inár n-iath anois,
Id fhír-Dhia riamh atá tú,
Is id dhuine ar dtús anocht.
Dia do bheatha, a Íosa, arís,
Dia do bheatha i gclí ón óigh,
A ghnúis is áille ná an ghrian,
Na mílte fáilte do Dhia óg.
A Mhuire, a mháthair, is a ógh,
Oscail doras an chró dhamh,
Go n-adharfainn Ard-Rí na nDúl,
Nach córa dhúinn ná do dhamh?
Déanfad seirbhís do Dhia i bhfos,
Faire go moch agus go mall,
Gadhair na mbuachaill ón tsliabh,
Buailfead ón triath atá fann.
An t-asal fós is an damh,
Ní ligfead i ngar dom rí,
Déanfad féin a n-áit sin dó,
Asal mé is bó Mhic Dé Bhí.
Bead mar chócaire ag an bhia,
Is im dhoirseoir do Dhia na nDúl,
Is ó tá orthu go mór m’fheidhm,
Iarrfad fair mo dhéirc do thriúr.
Ní iarrfad airgead ná ór,
Ach uair sa ló póg dom rí,
Bhéarfad mo chroidhe féin uaim,
Is glacfaidh é mar luach an trír.
Míle fáilte anocht i gclí,
Le mo chroidhe dom rí fial,
In dá nádúir ó do chuaigh,
Póg is fáilte uaim do Dhia.
Translation:
A hearty welcome for you, holy infant,
Although you are poor in the stable,
You are wealthy and happy,
And glorious in your own fortress tonight.
Oh small infant who is so big,
Oh young child who is so old,
You do not fill much of the manger,
Although all of heaven could not hold you.
You have always been motherless in heaven,
Now you are fatherless in our country,
You have always been true God,
But tonight you are human first.
A hearty welcome to you again, Jesus,
A hearty welcome to you in the flesh from the virgin,
Oh face more beautiful than the sun,
A thousand welcomes to the young God.
Mary, mother, virgin,
Open the door of the stable for me,
That I might worship the High King of Creation,
Is it not more fitting for me than for an ox?
I will give service to God in this life,
Keeping watch both early and late,
The dogs of the boys from the hills,
I will hold back from the weak prince.
Even the donkey and the ox,
I will not let them close to my king,
I will take their place for him,
I am the donkey and the cow of the Son of God.
I will be the cook for his food,
And the doorman for the God of Creation,
And since the others are depending on me,
I will beg for alms for all three of us.
I will not ask for silver or gold,
But once a day, a kiss from my king,
I will give him my own heart,
And he will accept it as payment from all three.
A thousand welcomes tonight in the flesh,
From my heart for my generous king,
Since he has taken on two natures,
A kiss and a welcome from me for God.
Notes: Aodh Mac Cathmhaoil (nicknamed Aodh Mac Aingil) (1571-1626) wrote a beautiful poem, 27 verses in all, which can be found in manuscript 23 A 8 in the Royal Irish Academy, visible here: https://www.isos.dias.ie/ga/NLI/NLI_MS_G_1304.html#226
Úna Ní Ógáin (1868-1927) put this poem to the music of a lullaby she found in a collection of George Petrie, and she published the song thus created in her book Dánta Dé idir Sean agus Nuadh (1928, Ó Fallamhain, Dublin).
The lyrics above are those annotated in ‘Amhrán Is Fiche Don Nollag‘; the editors chose 10 verses of the 27 to use, and edited them so the text could be better understood.