Unique Word Count: 23
Music composed by: Unknown author, from manuscript RIA MS 23 D 4
Words written by: traditional, collected by P. Seoighe, set to text by Úna Ní Ógáin
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.
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.
Notes: Úna Ní Ógáin created 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).
Angela Ó Floinn put another text with this air to continue the song so it has three verses, recorded on her album, ‘Glór na nAingeal‘.