irish songs and rhymes
Our mother tongue is absorbed in a special way, right from birth. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all those who celebrate Irish culture! This collection of short rhymes and songs is a reflection of some of my earliest memories. May the joy they awaken in me be yours, and may you pass along your own mother tongue, whatever it is, in a spirit of togetherness and love.
Bhí Pól ag rith i rith an lae, agus thit sé i bpoll sa ród inné
Agus tháining bean agus thóg sí Pól, agus thug sí deoch do Phól le n-ól
“A Phóill,” ar sí. “Cá raibh tú ag dul?”
“Bhíos ag dul ar scoil,” arsa Pól, ag gol.
Paul was always running, all day long, and yesterday he fell in a hole in the road
A woman came and she lifted him out and she gave him a drink
“Paul," she said. “Where were you going?”
“I was going to school,” replied Paul, crying.
An bhfaca tú mo Shéamaisín? An bhfaca tú mo bhuachaillín?
An bhfaca tú mo Shéamaisín, is é dul síos an bóthar?
Níl bróg ar bith ar a dhá choisín, ar a dhá choisín, ar a dhá choisín
Níl bróga ar bith ar a dhá choisín, is é dul síos an bóthar.
Have you seen my little boy, Jimmy?
He has no shoes on (his two feet) , and he's running down the road.
A haon, a dó, a trí, lucha beaga buí,
Ag ithe píosa cáise,
I ngan fhios d’fhear an tí.
Cat mór liath, Tháinig sí isteach;
Cad a dhein na lucha? Ritheadar amach!
One, two three, little brown mice
Eating a piece of cheese without the man of the house knowing about it
The big, grey cat, she came inside
What did the mice do? They ran outside!
Dilín ó deamhas ó deamhas
Dilín ó deamhas ó dí
Dilín ó deamhas ó deamhas ó deamhas ó
Dilín ó deamhas ó dí
Caithfimid suas is suas
Caithfimid suas sa spás í
Caithfimid suas í suas is suas í
'S tiocfaidh sí 'nuas amárach
She didn’t dance at all
She didn’t dance today
She didn’t dance at all at all no
She didn’t dance today
Throw/bounce her uppity up
Throw her up so high
Throw her uppity up up up
And she will come down tomorrow
Gugalaí-gug, mo chircín dubh,
Suíonn sí síos is beireann sí ubh
Ubh inné is ubh inniu,
Gugalaí-gug, mo chircín dubh.
Guggly-gug, my little black hen,
She sits down and she lays an egg:
An egg yesterday and an egg today
Guggly-gug, my little black hen.
Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Gabhla,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Gabhla,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín bídeach, báidín beosach,
Báidín bóidheach, báidín Fheilimí
Báidín díreach, báidín deontach
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Toraí,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín Fheilimí briseadh i dToraí,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín bídeach, báidín beosach,
Báidín bóidheach, báidín Fheilimí
Báidín díreach, báidín deontach
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Feilimí's little boat went to Gola,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it,
Feilimí's little boat went to Gola,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it.
A tiny little boat, a lively little boat,
A buoyant little boat, Feilimí's little boat,
A straight little boat, a willing little boat,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it.
Feilimí's little boat went to Tory (Island),
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it,
Feilimí's little boat crashed on Tory,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it
A tiny little boat, a lively little boat,
A buoyant little boat, Feilimí's little boat,
A straight little boat, a willing little boat,
Feilimí's little boat and Feilimí in it.