Unique Word Count: 76
Music composed by: traditional, collected by P. Seoighe, set to text by Úna Ní Ógáin
Words written by: Verse 1 is by an unknown author, taken from a manuscript of the Royal Irish Academy, RIA MS 23 D 4; verses 2 and 3 were selected by Angela Ó Floinn from the poem “Duan Chroí Íosa” by Tadhg Gaelach O’Suilleabháin 1715-1795.
Lyrics:
Dia do bheatha idir asal is damh gan riar,
Dia do bheatha id Leanbh, id bhFlaith gan chiach,
Is Dia do bheatha-sa ód fhlaitheas go teach na bpian,
Is Dia do bheatha-sa id Athair, id Mhac, id Dhia.
Gile mo chroí do chroíse, ’Shlánaitheoir,
Is ciste mo chroí do chroíse d’fháil im' chomhair,
Ós follas gur líon do chroí dom’ ghrá-sa, a stór,
I gcochall mo chroí do chroíse fág i gcomhad.
A Athair ’s a Íosa ’dhíon led’ bhás mé beo, '
S do dhealbh mo ghnaoi gan chríochnú ceard id’ chló,
Nach danartha an gníomh, a Chríost, nár ghrása fós
Ach gach uile ní 'na mbíodh do ghráin don tsórt.
Translation:
A hearty welcome to you, between the ass and the ox, without provision,
And a hearty welcome to you, a child and a prince without sorrow,
And a hearty welcome to you, from your Heavens to the House of Pain,
And a hearty welcome to you, Father and Son and God.
Machine Translation of verses 2 & 3:
The light of my heart is your heart, Savior,
And my heart's treasure is your heart, to find it before me,
Since it is clear that your heart is full of love for me, my treasure,
In the hood of my heart, leave your heart in file.
Father and Jesus, by your death I live,
And you have carved my life, unfinished, in your print,
Is the deed not done, O Christ, that is not grace yet
But all things in which you have hated such things.
Notes: Úna Ní Ógáin created the first version of this Christmas song. She found this poem in a manuscript of the Royal Irish Academy, RIA MS 23 D 4, visible here: https://www.isos.dias.ie/RIA/RIA_MS_23_D_4.html#33
Dia do bheatha idir asal is damh gan riar,
Is Dia do bheatha-sa id leanbh id fhlaith gan ciach,
Is Dia do bheatha-sa ód Fhlaitheas go Teach na bPian,
Is Dia do bheath-sa id Athair id Mhac is id Dhia.
She then matched this text with a traditional song, “Réalt na Maidne”, collected by “O.I.M.” P. Seoighe, and published it in her book Dánta Dé idir Sean agus Nuadh (1928, Ó Fallamhain, Dublin).
The words and music of Úna’s version were published in the book Ceol na Nollag (2002, Fionnuala de Barra-Cusack, Cló Chaisil, Dublin).
Verses 2 and 3 were added by Angela Ó Floinn from the poem “Duan Chroí Íosa” by Tadhg Gaelach O’Suilleabháin 1715-1795, and recorded on her album ‘Glór na nAingeal’.