Speak Irish: Nollaig Shona Daoibh
By Bob Carney
Oh Come Let Us Adore Him
Taraigí a Phobail Oh Come All Ye Faithful Taraigí a phobail le háthas agus mórtas Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
Taraigí, taraigí go Bethlehem Oh come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Taraigí ‘gus amharcaigí rugadh Rí ar aingil Come and behold Him, born the King of angels
Taraigí ‘gus adhráimis é Oh come, let us adore Him
Taraigí ‘gus adhráimis é Oh come, let us adore Him
Taraigí ‘gus adhráimis é, Críost an Rí Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord
Canaigí le lúcháir córacha na n-aingeal Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Canaigí uile thuas ar Neamh Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above
Glóir do Dhia ins na harda Glory to God in the highest
Repeat chorus
Fáilte a Thiarna ar an dea-mhaidin seo Yea, Lord we greet thee, born this happy morning
A Íosa, a Íosa gach glóir duit Jesus, to thee be glory given
Briathar an Athar anois I gcolainn dhaonna Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing
Repeat chorus
It’s that time of year, Christmas music is everywhere you turn. Hearing carols sung in Irish, however, requires a little bit of searching. With the technology of today at our disposal, you can find many of the carols you recognize and even some new ones by a variety of artists in Irish.
Find a favorite and follow along. Our memory adapts easily to rhymes and melody. I can’t be the only one that hums the abc’s when I’m filing something.
Most of us can hear a song we haven’t heard in years and easily remember the chorus. So as you’re enjoying your favorite Christmas songs sung in the beautiful language of Irish, you may find improvement in your pronunciation and how you “hear” the language.
We’ll also work on some greetings and blessings that can be used this time of year, and some toasts that can be used year round. First some seasonal vocabulary.
FOCLÓIR (fohk-lore) VOCABULARY
sneachta (shnak-ta) snow fear sneachta (fihr shnak-ta) snowman
sioc (shuk) frost sa gheimhreadh (sa ghivra) in winter
féirin (fayr-een) gift fuar (foo-ar) cold
crann Nollaig (krann null-ug) Christmas tree Lá Nollaig (law null-ug) Christmas day
Oíche Nollaig (ee-ha null-ug) Christmas Eve Daidí na Nollaig (dad-ee na null-ug)
Santa Claus
Lá na Bliana Úire (law na bleena oora) New Years Day réalta (rayl-tuh) star
Iosa (ee-uh-suh) Jesus Muire (mwir-uh) Mary
Seosamh (shoh-suh) Joseph Aingeal (ayn-gul) angel
cór (khor) choir carúil (cahr-oo-il) carol
cuileann (qwill-un) holly drualas (dhroo-ah-lus) mistletoe
stoca na Nollaig (shuk-ah na null-ug) Aifreann Meán Oíche (af-runn mahn ee-ha)
Christmas stocking Midnight Mass
Ciste Nollaig (kish-ta null-ug) Christmas cake iosaid (us-kidh) ham
gé (gay) goose turcaí (turkey turkey
cloigín (klegg-een) bells cártaí Nollaig (char-tee) Christmas cards
FRÁSA (frah-sa) PHRASE
Nollaig Shona Duit (null-ug hoe-na gwit) Merry Christmas to you (singular)
Nollaig Shona Daoibh (null-ug hoe-na yeev) Merry Christmas to you all (plural)
Beannachtaí an tSéasúir (bahn-uhk-tuh an tay-soor) Seasons Greetings (lit. Blessings of the
Season)
Beannacht Dé Leat (bahn-uhkt day laht) God’s Blesssing with you
Rath Dé ort (rah day ort) God bless you
Nollaig faoi shéan agus faoi mhaise duit/daoibh Christmas happiness and goodness to you/y’all
(null-ug fwee hayn ah-gus fwee vuh-shuh gwit/yeev)
Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit/daoibh A happy prosperous New Year to you/y’all
(ah-vleen fwee vuh-shuh gwit/yeev)
“Agus dúirt an t-aingeal leo: “Ná bíodh eagla oraibh: óir féach, tá dea-scéla 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 good 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.”
Luke 2:10-11
Merry Christmas to you all. The greatest gift we can give is of ourselves.
Síocháin agus Grá Nollaig Shona Daoibh!
*Bob Carney is a student of Irish history and language and teaches the Speak Irish Cleveland class held every Tuesday @PJ McIntyre’s. He is also active in the Irish Wolfhound and Irish dogs orginiations in and around Cleveland. Wife Mary, hounds Morrighán and Rían and terrier Doolin keep the house jumping. He can be contacted @ ca**************@gm***.com
