Speak Irish: Cuireadh do Mhuire
- John O'Brien
- November 28, 2019
- Edited 5 months ago
Table of Contents
Speak Irish; Cuireadh do Mhuire
by Bob Carney
Máirtín Ó Direáin was born on Inis Mór in 1910. He left the Irish-speaking community for Galway and eventually, for life as a bureaucrat in Dublin.
After attending a lecture by Tadhg Ó Donnchadha, one of the more prominent figures of the revival period, he became determined to write poetry. He developed a style that came from the everyday speech he heard growing up among the farmers and fishermen of the Aran Islands, who according to Ó Direáin, spoke poetry without realizing it. “Invitation to Mary” has an even stronger message when you envision the time of it’s writing.
CUIREADH DO MHUIRE
(cur-ahd do wor-ah)
An eol duit, a Mhuire
(ahn ell gwit ah wor-ah)
Cá rachair i mbliana
(kah rah-ker ih mleena)
Ag iarraidh foscaidh
(egg eer-ahd fos-keed)
Do do Leanbh Naofa,
(doe doe lah-niv nye-fa)
Tráth a bhfuil gach doras
(traw will gach dor-ahs)
Dúnta Ina éadan
(doon-ta ina ayd-ahn)
Ag fuath is uabhar
(egg foo-ah iss oo-er)
An chine dhaonna?
(ahn kinn-ah gay-na)
Deonaigh glacadh
(dawn-ig glaw-ka)
Le cuireadh uaimse
(le cur-ahd oo-amsha)
Go hoileán mara
(guh hee-lawn mara)
San Iarthar cianda:
(san eer-her kin-da)
Beidh coinnle geala
(bayd kween-la gay-la)
I ngach fuinneog lasta
(ih nach fwin-ig lasta)
Is tine mhóna
(iss tin-uh woh-na)
Ar theallach adhainte.
(ar hall-ach eye-ta)
Nollaig 1942 Máirtín Ó Direáin
INVITATION TO MARY
Where will you find this year, Mary,
Shelter for your holy child?
Every door is shut against him
By human pride and human hatred
Let me, if you’ll allow, invite you instead
To a distant island in the western sea.
Candles will shine a welcome in every window
And a turf fire blaze in every hearh.
This time of year, an easy way to help spread Irish, is to use it in our Christmas greetings and cards. Traditions, folklore, history and language are all part of our heritage and should be a part of our Christmas celebrations.
“There is no other way to revive Irish than for a crowd of people to spread it.”
Douglas Hyde
Nollaig shona duit (null-ig hoe-na gwit) Happy Christmas to you
Nollaig shona daoibh (null-ig hoe-na yeev) Happy Christmas to you (when addressing more than one)
Beannachtaí na Nollaig (ba-knock-tee na null-ig) Christmas Blessings (or greetings)
Beannachtaí an tSéasúir (ba-knock-tee an tay-soor) Seasons Greetings
Blian úr faoi shéan is faoi mhaise duit (blee-un oor fwee iss fwee voosha gwit) Happy New Year to You
Nollaig faoi shéan is mhaise daoibh (null-ig fwee hayn is voosha yeev) Christmas happiness and goodness to you all
Go mba hé duit (guh mah hay gwit) And to you (an acceptable response to any of the above)
Oíche Nollaig (ee-ha null-ig) Christmas Eve
Lá na Nollaig (law na null-ig) Christmas Day
Drualas (dhroo-ah-lus) Mistletoe
Cuileann (kwill-un) Holly
Sneachta (shnak-tuh) snow
Fear sneachta (far shnak-ta) snowman
Fuar (foo-ur) cold
Réalta (rayl-tuh) star
Crann Nollaig (krann null-ig) Christmas tree
Daidí na Nollaig (dad-ee na null-ig) Santa Claus
Ciste Nollaig (kish-ta null-ig) Christmas cake
Gé (gay) goose
Ioscaid (us-kidh) ham
Bronntanas (brun-than-us) present or gift
Stoca na Nollaig (sthuk-ah na null-ig) Christmas stocking
Cártaí Nollaig (cawr-tee null-ig) Christmas cards
Ornáidí (ur-naw-djee) decorations
Íosa (ee-uh-suh) Jesus
Muire (mwir-uh) Mary
Seosamh (shoh-sow) Joseph
Aingeal (ayn-gul) angel
Máinséar (maw-in-share) manger
Dráma faoi Bhreith Chríost (dhraw-mah fwee vreh khree-usth) Nativity Play
Aifreann Méan Oíche (af-runn mahn ee-ha) Midnight Mass
“Agus duirt an t-aingeal leo: “Ná bíodh eagla oraibh: óir féach, tá dea-scéala agam daoibh a chuifidh áthas mór ar an bpobal uile: rugadh Slánaitheoir daoibh inniu- is é Chriost an é i geathair Dháiri.”
Lucás 2:10-11
“And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
Síocháin Agus Nollaig Shona Daoibh
