Laoidhean Nollaig sa Ghàidhlig – Christmas Carols in Gaelic
Ged nach b’ àbhaist dhan mhuinntir den Ghàidhealtachd Chlèirich Nollaig a chomharrachadh mar a nì sinn an latha an-diugh, bha a dh’aindeoin sin an còmhnaidh laoidhean Nollaig ann, an fheadhainn as ainmeile ‘Tàladh Chriosda’ agus ‘Leanabh an Àigh’ . Rè nam bliadhnaichean tha laoidhean Nollaig eile air an cur ri cheile, agus tha mòran laoidhean Beurla air an eadar-theangachadh cuideachd. Seo roghainn beag dhuibh, le ceanglaichean gu làraichean-lìn far an lorg sibh rannan eile agus uireannan an ceòl cuideachd. Tha mòran eile ri fhaotainn anns an leabhar agus air na CDs ‘Duan Nollaig’ le F. J. Mackenzie*.
Tha mi an dòchas gun còrd e ribh a bhith gan seinn!
***
Although the people of the Presbyterian Highlands didn’t use to celebrate Christmas the way we do nowadays, there were always Gaelic carols around, the most famous being the Gaelic originals of The Christ Child’s Lullaby and Child in the Manger. In the course of time further carols were composed, or English ones translated. Here’s a selection, with links to websites with more carols and sometimes the sung music too. There are a lot more in the book and on the CDs ‘Duan Nollaig’ by F. J. Mackenzie*.
Hope you enjoy singing them!
Sàmhach an Oidhch’
(Silent Night)
Sàmhach an oidhch’, naomha an oidhch’
Saoghal ‘na chadal; ‘s a-mach bho ar soills’
Moire is Iòseph an stàball fàs
Faire os cionn an Leinibh le gradh,
Cadal gu nèamhaidh sèimh,
Cadal gu nèamhaidh sèimh.
Sàmhach an oidhch’, naomha an oidhch’
Buachaillean chunnaic an solas le boillsg’,
Chual’ iad an t-òran bho ainglean na Glòir,
Fada is farsaing an naidheachd ro-mhór,
Crìosd am fear-saoraidh tha dlùth,
Crìosd am fear-saoraidh tha dlùth,
Sàmhach an oidhch’, naomha an oidhch’
Aon Mhac Dhé, saor bho fhoill,
Failte a’ ghràidh anns an aghaidh cho caoin,
Latha nan gràs nis air tighinn duinn dlùth,
A Shlànaigheir, bhon thàinig Thu nuas,
A Shlànaigheir, bhon thàinig Thu nuas.
(This is only one of many different translations, from the carol selection by George Setas at:
http://scotgaelic.tripod.com/carols.html )
Leanamh an àigh
Words by Mary Macdougal Macdonald1789-1872
Tune: Bunessan
(Child in the manger)
Leanabh an àigh, an Leanabh aig Màiri
Rugadh san stàball, Rìgh nan Dùl;
Thàinig do’n fhàsach, dh’fhuiling ’n ar n-àite
Son’ iad an àireamh bhitheas dhà dlùth!
Ged a bhios leanabain aig rìghrean na talmhainn
An greadhnachas garbh is anabarr mùirn,
’S geàrr gus am falbh iad, ’s fasaidh iad anfhann,
An àilleachd ’s an dealbh a’ searg san ùir.
Cha b’ionann ’s an t-Uan thàinig gur fuasgladh
Iriosal, stuama ghluais e’n tùs;
E naomh gun truailleachd, Cruithfhear an t-sluaigh,
Dh’éirich e suas le buaidh o ùir.
Leanabh an àigh, mar dh’aithris na fàidhean;
’S na h-àinglean àrd’, b’e miann an sùl;
’S E ’s airidh air gràdh ’s air urram thoirt dhà
Sona an àireamh bhitheas dhà dlùth.
You can hear sung extracts from this and the other Duan Nollaig carols on the Am Baile website:
http://www.ambaile.org.uk/en/item/item_audio.jsp?item_id=67223
Tàladh Chriosda 
(The Christ Child Lullaby)
Words by Fr. Ranald Rankin 1855, tradional Hebridean tune
Mo ghaol, mo ghràdh is m’eudail thu
M’iunntas ùr is m’èibhneas thu
Mo mhacan àluinn, ceutach thu
Chan fhiù mi fhèin bhi ‘d dhàil
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
Mo ghaol an t-sùil a sheallas tlàth
Mo ghaol an cridh’ tha liont’ le gràdh
Ged is leanabh thu gun chàil
Is lìonmhor buaidh tha ort a’ fàs
‘S tusa grian gheal an dòchais
Chuireas dorchadas air fògairt
Bheir thu clann-daoin bho staid bhrònaich
Gu naomhachd, soilleireachd is eòlas
Translation:
My love, my dear, my darling
My new treasure, you are my joy
You are my beautiful, fair son
I am unworthy to be near you
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
My darling of the gentle eyes
My darling whose heart is filled with love
Though you are but a helpless baby
Great victories will be yours
You are the white sun of hope
Who will banish darkness from us
You will redeem Mankind from sorrow
To sanctity, light and knowledge
http://www.ambaile.org.uk/en/item/item_audio.jsp?item_id=67231
and various versions on YouTube.
*Book: ISBN 978-0-948026-08-9(Mairi Mhor Fellowship) approx. 14.99
*Double CD on Greentrax Records approx. 13.99
www.fionamackenzie.org (also has the lyrics to download free)
