Athair Ar Neamh - "Our Father in Heaven"

Was listening to some songs on youtube tonight and came across this song by Enya, and interestingly, found out later that this song has a very meaningful translation which goes as this. Haha... praise God that I was actually meditating to a song of worship... not some weird lyrics. haahaha..

Athair Ar Neamh - aka, "Heavenly Father"
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Athair ar Neamh, Dia linn Heavenly Father, God is with us
Athair ar Neamh, Dia liom Heavenly Father, God is with me
m'anam, mo chroí, mo ghlóir, my soul, my heart, my glory,
moladh duit, a Dhia. a praise to you, God.

Fada an lá, go sámh, A long and peaceful day
Fada an oích', gan ghruaim, A long night without gloom
aoibhneas, áthas, grá beauty, joy, love,
moladh duit, a Dhia. a praise to you, God.

Móraim thú ó lá go lá. I glorify you day by day.
Móraim thú ó oích' go hóich'. I glorify you night after night.

Athair ar Neamh, Dia linn Heavenly Father, God is with us
Athair ar Neamh, Dia liom Heavenly Father, God is with me
an ghealach, an ghrian, an ghaoth, the moon, the sun, the wind,
moladh duit, a Dhia. a praise to you, God.

Listen:


Athair ar Neamh is gaelic for “Our Father in Heaven” or Heavenly Father. It takes it’s cue from the first line of the Lord’s Prayer in gaelic “Ar n’Athair ata ar Neamh” - Our Father who art in Heaven and the songs lyrics are a setting of key passages from The Lord’s Prayer in Gaelic and English set to Enya’s typical musical treatement which is itself highly influenced by Gregorian Chant.

Enya’s (Eithne Ni Bhranoin) family are the Brennan family from the Gweedore Gaelteacht (Irish speaking area) of Co. Donegal in north-west Ireland and her other siblings are the members of the Irish Folk Group, Clannad. It is an area which clung to its culture and religion during English rule and where because of the anti-catholic Penal laws religious observance was often in family groups or in each other’s houses.

This song reflects that devotional tradition of rural Ireland. The gaelic word for Heaven “Neamh” also appears in other languages as in “Ben Nevis” - the heavenly mountain or “Sierra Nevada” in Spain or the state of “Nevada” in the USA.