Although the Irish National Anthem does not translate easily into English, a translation is provided anyway. You have an option of viewing it in Irish, English or both side by side.
Amhán Na bhFiannSinne Fianna Fáil,
Atá Fá gheall ag Éirinn,
Buidhean dár sluagh tar rúinn do ráinig chughainn:
Fámhoídh bheírh saor,
Sean-tír ár sinnsear feasta
Ní fágfar fá'n tíorán ná
fa'n tráil;
Anocht a theigeamh sa bhearna baoghail,
Le gean ar Gaedhí chun báis nó saoghail,
Le gunna sgréach: Fá lamhach na piléar.
Seo Libh canaidh amhrán na bhFiann.
Seo dhibh a cháirde duan oglaidh
Caithréimeach, bríoghmhar, ceolmhar.
Ár dteinte cnámh go buacach táid,
`S an spéir go min réaltógach.
Is fionmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo
'S go tiúnmhar glé roimh tigheacht do'n ló,
Fa ciúnas chaoimh na h-oidhche ar seol,
Seo libh, canaídh amhrán na bhFiann.
Cois banta réidhe, ar árdaibh sléibhe.
Ba bhuadhach ár rinnsear romhainn,
Ag lámhach go tréan fá'n sár- bhrat séin
Tá thuas sa ghaoith go seolta;
Ba dhúthchas riamh d'ár gcine cháidh
Gan iompáil riar ó imirt áir,
'Siubhal mar iad i gcoinnibh rámhaid
Seo libh, canaidh amhrán na bhFiann.
A buidhean nach fann d'fuil Ghaoidheal is Gall
Sinn breacadh lae na saoirse,
Tá sgéimhle 's sgannradh í gcroidhthibh namhad,
Roimh ranngaibh laochra ár dtíre;
Ár dteinte is tréith gan spréach anois,
Sin luinne ghlé san spéir anoir,
'S an bíodhbha i raon na bpiléar agaibh:
Seo libh, canaidh amhrán na bhFiann.
Soldiers are we,
whose lives are pledged to Ireland
Some have come from a land beyond the wave,
Some to be free,
no more our ancient sireland
Shall shelter the despor or the slave;
tonight we man the Bearna Baoghal
In Erin's cause.
come woe or weal;
'Mid cannon's roar and rifle's peal
We'll chant a soldier's song.
We'll sing a song, a soldier's song
With cheering, rousing chorus
As round our blazing fires we thong,
The starry heavens o'er us;
Impatient for the coming fight,
And as we wait the mornings light
here in the silence of the night
We'll sing a soldier's song
CHORUS
In valley green or towering crag
Our fathers fought before us,
And conquered 'neath the same old flag
That's 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 soldier's song
CHORUS
Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!
The Long watched day is breaking;
The serried ranks of Innisfail
Shall set the tyrant quaking.
Our camp fires now are burning low;
See in the east a silvery glow,
Out yonder waits the saxon foe,
So sing a soldier's song.
| Amhán Na bhFiann | A Soldiers Song |
| 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 despor 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
The Anthem was written in 1907 by Peadar Kearney, an uncle of Brendan Behan. It was not a widely known song until it was sung both at the GPO during the Easter rising of 1916 and later at various camps where republicans were interned. Soon after, it was adopted as the national anthem, replacing God Save Ireland. The first edition of the song was published only in 1916.