The Irish National Anthem

Amhrán Na bhFiann A Soldiers Song

The Irish National Anthem was written in English by Peader Kearney around 1907, who together with Patrick Heeney also composed the music. A Soldiers Song was first published in the newspaper, Irish Freedom in 1912. The song was not widely known until it was sung during the Easter Rising of 1916 and later at various internment camps.  The chorus was formally adopted as the National Anthem in 1926

Sinne Fianna Fáil,

Soldiers are we,

Atá Fá gheall ag Éirinn,

whose lives are pledged to Ireland

Buidhean dár sluagh tar rúinn do ráinig

Some have come from a land beyond the wave,

chughainn:

Sworn to be free,

Fámhoídh bheírh saor,

no more our ancient sireland

Sean-tír ár sinnsear feasta

Shall shelter the despot or the slave;

Ní fágfar fá'n tíorán ná fa'n tráil;

tonight we man the Bearna Baoghal

Anocht a theigeamh sa bhearna baoghail,

In Erin's cause.

Le gean ar Gaedhí chun báis nó saoghail,

come woe or weal;

Le gunna sgréach: Fá lamhach na piléar.

'Mid cannon's roar and rifle's peal

Seo Libh canaidh amhrán na bhFiann.

We'll sing a soldier's song.

Seo dhibh a cháirde duan oglaidh

We'll sing a song, a soldier's song

Caithréimeach, bríoghmhar, ceolmhar.

With cheering, rousing chorus

Ár dteinte cnámh go buacach táid,

As round our blazing fires we thong,

`S an spéir go min réaltógach.

The starry heavens o'er us;

Is fionmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo

Impatient for the coming fight,

'S go tiúnmhar glé roimh tigheacht do'n ló,

And as we wait the mornings light

Fa ciúnas chaoimh na h-oidhche ar seol,

here in the silence of the night

Seo libh, canaídh amhrán na bhFiann.

We'll sing a soldier's song.

Curfá:

CHORUS

Cois banta réidhe, ar árdaibh sléibhe.

In valley green or towering crag

Ba bhuadhach ár rinnsear romhainn,

Our fathers fought before us,

Ag lámhach go tréan fá'n sár- bhrat séin

And conquered 'neath the same old flag

Tá thuas sa ghaoith go seolta;

That's floating o'er us,

Ba dhúthchas riamh d'ár gcine cháidh

We're children of a fighting race

Gan iompáil riar ó imirt áir,

That never yet has known disgrace,

'Siubhal mar iad i gcoinnibh rámhaid

And as we march the foe to face,

Seo libh, canaidh amhrán na bhFiann.

We'll sing a soldier's song.

Curfá:

CHORUS

A buidhean nach fann d'fuil Ghaoidheal is Gall

Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!

Sinn breacadh lae na saoirse,

The Long watched day is breaking;

Tá sgéimhle 's sgannradh í gcroidhthibh namhad,

The serried ranks of Innisfail

Roimh ranngaibh laochra ár dtíre;

Shall set the tyrant quaking.

Ár dteinte is tréith gan spréach anois,

Our camp fires now are burning low;

Sin luinne ghlé san spéir anoir,

See in the east a silvery glow,

'S an bíodhbha i raon na bpiléar agaibh:

Out yonder waits the saxon foe,

Seo libh, canaidh amhrán na bhFiann.

So sing a soldier's song.