The Ballad of the Three Keening Marys

Ballad of the Three Keening Marys

An é sin an maicín a d'iompair mé trí ráithe?
(Ochón agus ochón ó!)
Nó 'n é sin an maicín a rugadh ins an stábla?
(Ochón agus ochón ó!)

Nó an é sin an maicín a hoileadh in ucht Mháire?
A mhaicín mhuirneach, tá do rós-bhéilín gearrtha.

Chrochadar suas í ar ghuaillí arda
'Gus chuireadar anuas í faoi leacrachaí na sráide

Buailigí mé féin ach ná bainidh le mo mháithrín
Maróidh muid thú féin agus buailfidh muid do mháithrín.

Cuireadh culaith róin air le spídiúlacht a namhaid
'Gus cuireadh an tsleá thrína bhrollach álainn.

Cuireadh go Calvary é ag méadú ar a pháise
Bhí sé ag iompar na croise 'gus Síomón lena shála

Éist, a Mháthair 'gus ná bí cráite
Tá mná mo chaointe le breith fós, a mháithrín.

Here's the English version... seo leagan Béarla de:

Is that the dear son I carried for three seasons?
Or is that the dear son who was born in the stable?

Or is that the dear son who was reared in Mary's bosom?
My little darling son, your rosy mouth is bleeding.

They lifted her up on high shoulders
And they cast her down on the stones of the street.

Beat me, but do not touch my mother.
"You we will kill, and we will beat your mother."

A hair shirt was put on him through malice of his enemies
And the spear was thrust through his lovely bosom.


He was sent to Calvary, increasing his suffering
He was carrying the cross, while Simon followed after.

"Listen, O Mother, and do not be tormented,
The women who will keen me are yet unborn, dear mother."