Scéal na Nollag

Ba é Cirénius, uachtarán na Síre a rinne an t-áireamh seo den chéad uair. Agus chuaigh na daoine go léir go ndéantaí iad a áireamh, gach éinne go dtí a chathair féin. Agus chuaigh Iósaef fosta suas ó Ghalailí, ó chathair na Nazarat, go Iúdáia, go cathair Dháiví, ar a dtugtar Beithil, siocair gurbh de theaghlach agus de shliocht Dháiví é, chun go ndéantaí a áireamh in éineacht le Muire a bhean chéile, a bhí ag iompar clainne. Agus tharla nuair a bhí siad ansin gur tháinig a ham chun an leanbh a thabhairt ar an saol; agus rug sí a céadghin mic agus chuach sí in éadach ceangail é, agus leag sí i mainséar é, mar nach raibh áit ar bith fána gcoinne sa teach ósta. Agus sa cheantar chéanna bhí aoirí ag faire agus ag coinneáil a dtráth oíche ar a dtréada. Agus féach, tháinig aingeal ón Tiarna gur sheas sé in aice leo, agus las solas Dé thart fá dtaobh dóibh agus tháinig eagla mhór orthu. Agus dúirt an t-aingeal leo: ná bíodh eagla oraibh: óir féach, beirim scéala maith daoibh fá lúcháir mhóir atá le teacht chuig na daoine go léir; óir tá Slánaitheoir, is é sin le rá, Críost, an Tiarna, beirthe daoibh i gcathair Dháiví. Agus beidh seo ina chomhartha agaibh: gheobhaidh sibh an leanbh cuachta in éadach ceangail agus agus ina luí i mainséar. Agus i dtobainne bhí i gcuideachta an aingil slua mór de lucht na bhflaitheas ag moladh Dé agus ag rá: Glóir do Dhia in Ard na bhflaitheas, agus ar talamh, síocháin do lucht na deathola.

(Aistriúchán leasaithe ó ‘Leabhar an Aifrinn’ leis an Chanónach Pádraig Mac Giolla Cheara, foilsithe ag Comhaltas Uladh. Le tuilleadh eolais a fháil ar an Chomhaltas agus a iris d’ardchaighdeán, ‘An tUltach’, gabh chuig comhaltas uladh @cnag.ie and twitter@AntUltach. Cad faoi shíntiús bliana mar bronntanas na Nollag do chara de do chuid? Cuimhneofar ar do chinealtas i rith na bliana nuair a thagann ‘An tUltach’ chuige go míosúil tríd an phost.)

Translation

The Christmas Story

At that time an order went out from Caesar Augustus, that everyone should be registered. This census first took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So everyone went to register, each to his own city. Joseph too went from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was a descendent of David, and along with him went Mary, his wife, who was pregnant. While they were there, Mary went into labour and she gave birth to her first born son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger since there was no room for them in the inn. There were shepherds in the area, watching their flocks through the night. And behold, one of the Lord’s angels came and stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone all around them. They were very frightened. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I am bringing you joyful news. To be given to everyone. Today in the City of David there has been born for you a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. And this is how you will know: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger’. An suddenly there appeared with the angel a huge crowd of heavenly creatures praising God and proclaiming, ‘Glory to God in Heaven above and on earth peace to people of good will’.

The Irish text is a modified translation taken from ‘Leabhar an Aifrinn’, by Father Pádraig Mac Giolla Cheara, published by Comhaltas Uladh, the Ulster branch of Conradh na Gaeilge/ the Gaelic League, which publishes the high quality Irish magazine, an tUltach. Why not buy a yearly subscription for a friend? Your generosity will be remembered every month when an tUltach comes to your friend through the post. Further information: comhaltas [email protected] or twitter@AntUltach.