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Writer's pictureA Beautiful Ceremony

Irish (Gaelic) Wedding Readings

A selection of various themes and genres of Wedding Readings in Irish (Gaelic).

Beit if you're after a poignant modern saying, lovely lyrics of a popular Irish tune, a traditional Irish blessing, or a Bible passage... there is something here for all...


“THE VOYAGE” by Christy Moore

(Irish version)

Is mairnéalach mise, tusa mo leathbhádóir

Liostáil muid le chéile, agus anois tá muid ar bord

Tiomanta chun bua ‘s ár n-ancaire i mbarainn

Treabhadh muid ar aghaidh i dtreo saoil gan sáinn

Gan léarscáil á treorú, stiúradh muid ár gcúrsa féin

Throid muid na stoirmeacha nuair a bhí na gálaí an-tréan

Ag feitheamh sna doldrama le foighne ‘s muinín

Ag comhoibriú le chéile, mé féin ‘s mo mhuirnín

Tá an saol mar an bhfarraige, ‘s an grá mar bhád

In uiscí garbha, coimeádann sé muid ar snámh

Nuair a thosaigh muid amach, ní raibh ann ach muid beirt

Anois, inár dtimpeall, tá ár bhfoireann féin le neart

Is araon atá muid sa chaidrimh seo beo

Tógadh le cúram ionas go mairfeadh sé go deo

Níl ceann scríbe na foirne marcáilte in aon chaoi

Tá muid araon ag treabhadh i dtreo gcladaí an chroí

Tá an saol mar an bhfarraige, ‘s an grá mar bhád

In uiscí garbha, coimeádann sé muid ar snámh

Nuair a thosaigh muid amach, ní raibh ann ach muid beirt Anois,

inár dtimpeall, tá ár bhfoireann féin le neart

English translation:

I am a sailor, you're my first mate We signed on together, we coupled our fate Hauled up our anchor, determined not to fail For the hearts treasure, together we set sail

With no maps to guide us we steered our own course Rode out the storms when the winds were gale force Sat out the doldrums in patience and hope Working together we learned how to cope

Life is an ocean and love is a boat In troubled water that keeps us afloat When we started the voyage, there was just me and you Now gathered round us, we have our own crew

Together we're in this relationship We built it with care to last the whole trip Our true destination's not marked on any charts We're navigating to the shores of the heart Life is an ocean and love is a boat In troubled water that keeps us afloat, When we started the voyage, there was just me and you Now gathered round us, we have our own crew


GEALLAIM IAD SEO


Ní féidir liom saol lán le gréine a ghealladh duit,

Ní gheallfaidh mé saibhreas, maoin ná ór,

Ní féidir liom bealach éasca a ghealladh duit,

A cheallaigh athrú nó éirí sean.

Ach geallaim dúthracht mo chroí duit,

Miongáire a shaorfaidh tú ó do dheora,

Geallaim grá síoraí gcónaí duit,

Mo lámh i do lámh go deo.


English Translation;


I can't promise you a life full of sunshine,

I will not promise wealth, property or gold,

I can't promise you an easy way,

who intended to change or become old.


But I promise you the didication of my heart,

A smile that will free you from your tears,

I promise you eternal love always,

My hand in your hand forever




WHEREVER YOU GO, I GO (variation)


Ná bí ag tathant orm imeacht uait agus filleadh gan a bheith feasta i do chuideachta;


óir cibé áit a rachaidh tusa,

is ann a rachaidh mise,

agus cibé áit a mbainfidh tusa fút,

is ann a bhainfidh mise fúm,

siad do mhuintirse is muintir domsa,

agus is é do Dhia is Dia domsa.


Fód do bháis,

fód mo bháis-se,

agus láthair m'adhlactha.

go ndéana an Tiarna seo agus siúd liom,

agus a thuilleadh fós,

dá scarfadh fiú an bás ó chéile sinn



English Translation:


Do not urge me to leave you and return without ever being in your company


For wherever you go,

that's where I'll go

and where you touch,

that's where I'll touch

They are your family

and my family

and your God is my God


Your death, this is my death

and the place of my burial.

May the Lord do this and that to me

and futher still, if even death do us part.




GAELIC WEDDING BLESSING

Mile failte dhuit le d'bhreid, Fad do re gun robh thu slan. Moran laithean dhuit is sith, Le d'mhaitheas is le d'ni bhi fas. English Translation:

A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage kerchief,

May you be healthy all your days.

May you be blessed with long life and peace,

May you grow old with goodness, and with riches.




IRISH PRAYER


Go n-éirí Dia is bhur bpósadh libh.

Mar gheall air sin, fágfaidh duine a athair agus a mháthair chun bheith go dlúth i bpáirt lena bhean,

agus aon cholainn amháin a bheidh sa bheirt acu.'

Dá réir sin, ní beirt iad feasta ach aon cholainn amháin.

Dá bhrí sin, an ní a cheangail Dia ná scaoileadh duine é

(Marta 19:5-6)


English Translation;


May God and your marriage bring you joy.


For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,

and the two will become one flesh'.

So they are no longer two, but one.

Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.

(Matthew 19:5-6,)




LOVE IS PATIENT (variation)


Bíonn an grá foighneach agus bíonn sé lách.

Ní bhíonn éad air

Ní dhéanann sé maíomh ná mórta

Ní bhíonn sé mímhúinte ná leithleasach, míchéadfach ná agrach

Ní áil leis an éagóir ach is aoibhinn leis an mhaith


English Translation:


Love is patient and beautiful.

He is not jealous

He does not boast or brag

He is not rude or selfish, insensitive or aggressive

He does not love injustice

but delights in good





THE LORD'S PRAYER


Ár nAthair, atá ar neamh, go naomhaítear d'ainm. Go dtaga do ríocht. Go ndéantar do thoil ar an talamh mar a dhéantar ar neamh. Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn inniu agus maith dúinn ar bhfiacha mar a mhaithimidne dár bhfeichiúna féin; agus ná lig sinn i gcathú, ach saor sinn ó olc. Amen


English Translation;


Our Father,

Who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen



A little disclaimer for this post... I'm not an Irish speaker, so please, if you are and there's something here that's not gramatically correct... let me know and I'll fix it!! These are just versions/translations of Readings which past couples have given to me.



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