Dóchas linn Naomh Pádraig

Dóchas Linn Naomh Pádraig (a hymn in honour of St Patrick, with the English translation of Father Seán Coyle from his blog Bangor to Bobbio).

Dóchas linn Naomh Pádraig, Aspal mór na hÉireann,

Bring hope to us, St Patrick, great Apostle of Ireland,

Ainm oirearc gléigeal, solas mór an tsaoil é.

Illustrious, glorious name, he is the great light of the world.

D'fhill le soiscéal grá dúinn d'ainneoin blianta i ngéibheann.

He came back to us with the gospel of love, despite years of captivity.

Grá mór Mhac na páirte, d'fhuascail cách ón daorbhruid.

Great love of the Son, freed all from oppression.

Sléibhte, gleannta, máighe,'s bailte mór’ na hÉireann:

Hills, valleys, plains, large towns of Ireland

Ghlan sé iad go deo dúinn, míle glóir dár naomh dhil.

He cleaned them for ever, a thousand praises to our dear saint

Iarr’maid ort, a Phádraig, guí orainn na Gaela,

We ask you, Patrick, pray for us Irish,

Dia linn lá 'gus oíche 's Pádraig Aspal Éireann.

God and St Patrick Apostle of Ireland be with us day and night.

You can hear a wonderful recording of the hymn by singer Éamonn Ó Faogain here. Father Seán's blog also has an extra verse and all I can say is that if there was supposedly some lingering affection among early Irish Christians for the pagan past it cetainly doesn't show here:

Sé a chloigh na draoithe,

He who defeated the druids

Croíthe dúra gan aon mhaith.

Hard of heart and no good.

D'ísligh dream an díomais

Brought down the arrogant

Trí neart Dé ár dtréan-fhlaith.

Through the strength of God our powerful lord.

The hymn is based on an eighth-century poem by Niníne Éces, but in this form is attributed to Tomás Ó Flannghaile (1846-1916), a poet of the 19th-century Gaelic revival.

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