Unique Word Count: 147
Music composed by: Traditional Scottish, from Lachlann Mac Beathain
Words written by: Unknown (from manuscript in RIA); set by Úna Ní Ógáin
Lyrics:
Le croídhe soilbhir seinnimid fáilte
Ar Mhac Mhuire do rugadh 'san stábla,
Is muna mbeadh turas ag Leinbh an lá sin
Do bhíomar-ne uile 'n a dhorn ag Sátan.
Briathar síorruidhe an Ghrian-Ríogh ghrásaigh,
Do chum an domhan d'aon-fhonn, 's a álmhach;
Aingeal na Comhairle móire anáirde,
Anois i gcrios-cheangal, is Banaltra tál air!
Seinnid na haingil don Leanbh-sa fáilte
Go follus do'n tsaoghal 's an spéir faoi lán-ghuith:
'Glóire gan chiach do Dhia sna hArdaibh
Is síocháin feasta do mhaithibh Clann Ádhaimh.'
Ní chuala Séasar tréan, nó a ghárda,
Nó 'n [duairc-]rí Héarod thug éag do na gárlaig',
Acht ba chlos d'aodharaibh faon-luighe fásaigh
Gáir na n-aingeal ag agall an Áird-Mhic.
A Thobair na haithne, a Mhaise Puirt Phárrthais,
'S an chruinne uile fád' chumas mar áitreabh,
Cred fáth fá'r thógais mar rogha an stábla,
Acht gráin ar uaill na n-uaibhreach sásta?
Maitheas na cruinne 's a hionnmhas áirmheach,
Giodh madh leat uile fé chumas Do lámha;
Do cheapais boichte gan doiche do D'cháirdibh,
Seach an saidhbhreas taibhseach lánmhar.
A Mhic na Banaltran is fearr do tháinig,
Ós dár gceannach mar mhargadh tháingis,
Maith ár gcionta, cé fada le n–áiriomh,
Is beir ár n–anama go flaitheas do D'Árus.
Machine Translation:
With joyful hearts we sing welcome
To the Son of Mary born in the stable,
And if the Child had not had a journey that day
We would all have been Satan's fist.
The eternal Word of the gracious Sun-King,
Had the world been formed with one accord, and with his arm;
The Angel of the great Council on high,
Now in a girdle, and a Nurse is upon him!
The angels sing welcome to this Child
Clearly to the world and the sky with full voice:
'Glory to God in the highest
And peace henceforth to the goodly Children of Adam.'
Not heard the mighty Caesar, nor his guards,
Or the [dark] king Herod who put the garlic to death,
Although the desert-lying worshippers heard
The cry of the angels at the meeting of the High-Mic.
O Fountain of knowledge, O Beautiful Port of Paradise,
With the whole world at your disposal as a dwelling,
Why did you choose the stable as your choice,
As a grain of grain on the pride of the proud?
The goodness of the world and its countless treasures,
All was well with you within the power of your hands;
You appointed the poor without a doubt for your friends,
Rather than the abundant, spectacular wealth.
O Son of the Nurse, who has come,
Since we were bought as a market for goods,
Forgive our sins, how long to count,
And bring our souls to the kingdom of Your House.
Notes: Úna Ní Ógáin created the earliest version of this Christmas song. She found this text by an unknown author in a manuscript of the Royal Irish Academy (in her own words, ‘As láimh-scribhinn ‘san Acadamh Gaedhealach. Duine gan ainm do chum.’)
She then matched this text with a traditional melody from Scotland, Bun Easain (“Bunessan”). This melody was first published in “Songs and Hymns of the Gael” by Lachlann Mac Beathain / Lachan MacBean. Bun Easain is the birthplace of Mary McDonald on the Isle of Mull, from whom Lachlann Mac Beathain learned the tune. Mary sang different Gaelic lyrics to it, under the title “Leanabh an Àigh”. This melody is very popular, and most famously known as ‘Morning Has Broken’.
This matching of text and music was published in Úna Ní Ógáin’s book Dánta Dé idir Sean agus Nuadh (1928, Ó Fallamhain, Dublin).
(Seán Óg Ó Tuama subsequently composed different music to the three verses of the poem selected by Úna, details here.)