Amhrán na bhFiann
(The Irish National Anthem)
by Peadar Kearney - c.1907
English translation by Tim Martin

Most of the time, only the chorus is actually sung by those in the stands of a football match.


[1st Verse: rarely sung]
Seo dhibh a cháirde duan Óglaigh,
Cathréimeach 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 do'n ló
Fé chiúnas chaomh na hoiche ar seol:
'Seo libh canai/dh Amhrán na bhFiann


Curfa:
Sinne Fianna Fáil
Atá fé gheall ag Éirinn;
Buion dár slua
Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn.
Fé mhóid bheith saor,
Sean tír ár sinsear feasta
Ní fhágfar fé’n tiorán ná fé’n tráill.
Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil,
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil
Le gunni scréach fé lámhach na bpiléar,
Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann.

[2nd & 3rd Verses]
Cois bánta réidhe, ar árdaibh sléibhe,
Ba bhuachach ár sinsir romhainn,
Ag lámhach go tréan fé’n sár-bhrat séin
Tá thuas sa ghaoith go seolta
Ba dhúchas riamh d’ár gcine cháidh
Gan iompáil siar ó imirt áir,
'S ag siúl mar iad i gcoinne námhad
Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann

Curfa

A bhuíon nách fann d’fhuil Ghaeil is Gall,
Sin breacadh lae na saoirse,
Ta scéimhle ’s scanradh i gcroíthe namhad,
Roimh ranna laochra ár dtire.
Ár dtinte is tréith gan spréach anois,
Sin luisne ghlé san spéir anoir,
’S an bíobha i raon na bpiléar agaibh:
Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bh Fiann.

Curfa




We’ll sing a song, a soldier's song,
with a cheering, rousing chorus,
as round our blazing fires we throng,
the starry heavens over us;
impatient for the coming fight,
and as we wait the morning's light,
here in the silence of the night,
we'll sing a soldier's song.


Chorus:
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 sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave.
Tonight we man the "varna-bwail"
(gap of danger)
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal
’Mid cannons' roar and rifles' peal,
We'll sing a soldier's song.

[2nd & 3rd Verses: also rarely sung]
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 sing a soldiers song.

Chorus

Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!
The long watched day is breaking;
The serried ranks of Inisfail
Shall set the Tyrant quaking.
Our campfires now are burning low;
See in the east a silv’ry glow,
Out yonder waits the Saxon foe,
So sing a soldier's song!

Chorus