Thar Lear (1954)

Pádraig Ó Broin, composed in Toronto, Ontario

Descend, oh snow, descend;

Spinning against my window,

Handfuls of cold snow

Coming down quietly,

Covering the trees and ground.

Tuirling, a shneachta, tuirling;

Ag guairneach in aghaidh m'fhuinneoige,

Sláma sneachtaidh fhuaire

Ag teacht anuas go ciúin,

Ag clúdach na gcrann 's na cré.

More beautiful than precious jewels,

Softer than duck feathers,

Brighter than a maiden's breast:

I see now your true beauty -

I must say.

Níos áille ná seoda ceirde,

Níos boige ná clúmh na lachan,

Níos gile ná cíoch cailín:

Chím anois d'fhíor-áille -

Ní mór dom sin a rá.

Beautiful, and bringing the winter -

The shape of you, from my heart.

Álainn, 's ag tabhairt an Gheimhridh -

Fuath dhuitse, óm chroí.

Adapted from: Ó Broin, Pádraig. 1954. “Thar Lear.” Teangadóir. 2.1. Cló Chluain Tairbh: Toronto.

For citation, please use: Ó Broin, Pádraig. 1954. “Thar Lear.” Ó Dubhghaill, Dónall. 2024. Na Gaeil san Áit Ró-Fhuar. Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir: www.gaeilge.ca