Unique Word Count: 35
Music composed by: An tAthair Piaras Ó hUiginn SJ
Words written by: Unknown, c. 1500s
Lyrics:
Íosagán a tháinig chughainn,
Insan oíche fhuar,
Íosagán a tháinig chughainn,
Insan oíche fhuar,
Insan oíche fhuar.
Rugadh insa stábla é,
Asal agus bó ann,
Rugadh insa stábla é,
Asal agus bó ann,
Asal agus bó ann.
Bhí na réiltíní sa spéir,
Is an talamh ciúin,
Bhí na réiltíní sa spéir,
Is an talamh ciúin,
Is an talamh ciúin.
In excelsis gloria,
Sin a chan na haingil,
In excelsis gloria,
Sin a chan na haingil,
Sin a chan na haingil.
Beannaigh sinn, a Íosagáin,
Beannaigh sinn ó Bheithil,
Beannaigh sinn, a Íosagáin,
Beannaigh sinn ó Bheithil,
Beannaigh sinn ó Bheithil.
Translation:
Baby Jesus came to us,
In the cold night,
Baby Jesus came to us,
In the cold night,
In the cold night.
He was born in the stable,
There was a donkey and a cow there,
He was born in the stable,
There was a donkey and a cow there,
There was a donkey and a cow there.
The stars were in the sky,
And the land was quiet,
The stars were in the sky,
And the land was quiet,
And the land was quiet.
In excelsis gloria,
That’s what the angels sang,
In excelsis gloria,
That’s what the angels sang,
That’s what the angels sang.
Bless us, baby Jesus,
Bless us from Bethlehem,
Bless us, baby Jesus,
Bless us from Bethlehem,
Bless us from Bethlehem.
Notes: An tAthair Piaras Ó hUigínn (1935-1976), or Fr. Pearse O’Higgins SJ, wrote this song, to go with the tune Puer Nobis Nascitur. It is sometimes said that he translated this Latin hymn into Irish, but the poem he wrote is actually completely independent of the lyrics of Puer Nobis Nascitur (here).