SOLDIER'S SONG, A
(The National Anthem of the Republic of Ireland,
originally written in English in 1907, first published in 1912)
(Lyrics: Peadar Kearney / Music: Peadar Kearney & Patrick Heeney)
We'll sing a song, a soldier's song
With cheering rousing chorus
As round our blazing fires we throng
The starry heavens o'er us
Impatient for the coming fight
And as we wait the morning light
Here in the silence of the night
We'll chant a soldier's song
Soldiers are we, whose lives are pledged to Ireland
Some have come from a land beyond the wave
Sworn to be free, no more our ancient sireland
Shall shelter the despot or the slave
Tonight we man the Bearna Baoghal
In Erin's cause come woe or weal
'Mid cannon's roar and rifle's peal
We'll chant a soldier's song
In valley green, on towering crag
Our fathers fought before us
And conquered 'neath the same old flag
That's proudly floating o'er us
We're children of a fighting race
That never yet has known disgrace
And as we march, the foe to face
We'll chant a soldier's song
Soldiers are we, whose lives are pledged to Ireland
Some have come from a land beyond the wave
Sworn to be free, no more our ancient sireland
Shall shelter the despot or the slave
Tonight we man the Bearna Baoghal
In Erin's cause come woe or weal
'Mid cannon's roar and rifle's peal
We'll chant a soldier's song
Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!
The long wathed day is breaking
The serried ranks of Inis Fáil
Shall set the tyrant quacking
Our campfires now are burning low
See in the silv'ry glow
Out yonder waits the Saxon foe
So chant a soldiers song
Soldiers are we, whose lives are pledged to Ireland
Some have come from a land beyond the wave
Sworn to be free, no more our ancient sireland
Shall shelter the despot or the slave
Tonight we man the Bearna Baoghal
In Erin's cause come woe or weal
'Mid cannon's roar and rifle's peal
We'll chant a soldier's song
********************
AMHRÁN NA BHFIANN
(Irish Lyrics by Liam Ó Rinn, first published in 1923
and adopted as the Official National Anthem in 1926)
Seo dhíbh, a chairde, duan Ógláigh
Caithréimeach bríomhar ceolmhar
Ár dtinte cnámh go buacach táid
'S an spéir go mín réaltógach
Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo
'S go tiúnmhar glé roimh thíocht don ló
Fé chiúnas chaomh na hoíche ar seol
Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann
Sinne Fianna Fáil, atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn
Buíon dár slua thar toinn do ráinig chugainn
Faoi mhóid bheith saor, Seantír ár sinsear feasta
Ní fhágfar faoin tíorán ná faoin tráill
Anocht a théam sa bhearna baoil
Le gean ar Ghaeil, chun báis nó saoil
Le gunna scréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar
Seo libh canaídh amhrán na bhfiann
Cois bánta réidhe, ar ardaibh sléibhe
Ba bhuadhach ár sinsir romhainn
Ag lámhach go tréan fén sárbhrat séin
'Tá thuas sa ghaoth go seolta
Ba dhúchas riamh dár gcine cháidh
Gan iompáil siar ó imirt áir
'S ag siúl mar iad i gcoinne námhad
Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann
Sinne Fianna Fáil, atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn
Buíon dár slua thar toinn do ráinig chugainn
Faoi mhóid bheith saor, Seantír ár sinsear feasta
Ní fhágfar faoin tíorán ná faoin tráill
Anocht a théam sa bhearna baoil
Le gean ar Ghaeil, chun báis nó saoil
Le gunna scréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar
Seo libh canaídh amhrán na bhfiann
A bhuíon nach fann d'fhuil Ghaeil is Gall
Sin breacadh lae na saoirse
Tá sceimhle 's scanradh i gcroíthe námhad
Roimh ranna laochra ár dtíre
Ár dtinte is tréith gan spréach anois
Sin luisne ghlé sa spéir anoir
'S an bíobha i raon na bpiléar agaibh
Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann
Sinne Fianna Fáil, atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn
Buíon dár slua thar toinn do ráinig chugainn
Faoi mhóid bheith saor, Seantír ár sinsear feasta
Ní fhágfar faoin tíorán ná faoin tráill
Anocht a théam sa bhearna baoil
Le gean ar Ghaeil, chun báis nó saoil
Le gunna scréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar
Seo libh canaídh amhrán na bhfiann
(Contributed by Mel Priddle - March 2016)
