It’s an oidhche ro Nollaig… And on the night before Christmas, what could be better than a wee Gaelic story?
Taing dhuibh uile a ghabh pàirt. Tha sinn fada nur comainn. A huge thank you to everyone who took part – we are very grateful!
This wee film was made in partnership with the wonderful Screen Argyll and made possible by funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig. It’s an original translation and the text can be found below. It’s under this Creative Commons license. You are welcome to use it for non-commercial purposes. Credit should be given to Urras Thiriodh. It was written by Rhoda Meek and edited by Professor Donald Meek.
So without futher ado we hope you enjoy An Oidhche Ro Nollaig!
(Use the CC option at the bottom of the player to switch subtitles on and off.)
A’ Chiad Sealladh
The premiere was in An Talla in Tiree on Dec 23rd 2024, at a wee community cèilidh with mulled wine and mince pies!
An Oidhche ro Nollaig
An oidhche ron Nollaig, ’s air feadh an taigh
Cha robh creutair a’ gluasad, fiù ’s luch a-staigh,
Na stocainnean crochte faisg air an teine,
Is Bodach na Nollaig a’ dèanamh a shlighe.
A’ chlann uile sàbhailt’ blàth dèanamh srann,
Bruadaran mu sweeties a’ dannsa nan ceann,
Mamaidh na gùn oidhche ’s mise nam ad,
’S sinn suidhe sìos son norrag mhath fhad’.
Abair straigilich a chualas a-mach anns a’ ghàrradh!
Leum mi an àird – an robh stoirm air fàire?
Tarsainn na h-uinneig chaidh mi sa mhionaid
Thug mi sùil tron ghlainne – gu dè bha cho àraid?
A’ ghealach a’ sealltainn air sneachda ùr geal
Gach nì cho soilleir – cho brèagha ’s cho glan,
Dè chunna mi an uairsin, cha chreideadh tu dè
Ach carbad beag èibhinn is ochdnar de fhèidh!
Le seann bhodach mar dhraibhear cho luath is cho fit,
Bha fhiosam dha rìreabh gur esan St Nick,
Chan fhada gus ’n tigeadh gach fiadh na chois,
Rinn e fead, rinn e èigheachd is bhuail e a bhois.
Trobhad Dasher! Trobhad Dancer! Thigibh Prancer is Vixen!
Siuthad, Comet! Siuthad Cupid le Donder ’s Blitzen!
Rachaibh suas air a’ phoirdse, dèan air a’ bhalla!
Nise bheir ort, bheir ort, siùthdaibh is thalla!
Mar dhuilleagan craoibhe a’ togail sa ghèil,
Chaidh iad air iteig, suas anns an speur
Suas gu mullach an taighe, gun stad, gun dàil,
Chaidh Santa sa charbad, làn de gach càil.
Chuala mi an uairsin fuaim air a’ mhullach,
Croibhean nam fiadh a’ dannsa ’s a’ leum
Thàinig mi staigh, a’ dùnadh na h-uinneig,
Is sìos an similear nochd am bodach e fhèin.
Èideadh bian dearg, beagan de ghlas…
Bha sùith ri fhaicinn bho cheann gu cas!
Pocan de dhèideagan aige na làmh –
Saoil an ann dhuinne bha e fosgladh a mhàil?
A shùilean cho coibhneil, gun ghreann air no fearg,
A ghruagan, a shròn, nach iad a bha dearg!
Gàire snog, blàth, cho tuigseach is ceart,
Is fiasag air mar chòmhdach de shneachd’
Gun facal a ràdh chaidh e dh’ obair gun dàil,
Lìon e na stocainnean suas gu am bàrr,
Corrag ri shròin, chrom e a cheann,
Suas leis san t-simileir – an robh e riamh ann?
Suidhe sa charbad rinn e fead ris na fèidh
Thog iad orra don speur nan aon loidhne rèidh,
Stad esan mionaid, ’s rud aige ri ràdh –
Nollaig chridheil dhuibh uile, is oidhche mhath leibh an-dràsd!
(Air a sgrìobhadh le Rhoda Meek. Air a dheasachadh leis an t-Ollamh Dòmhnall Meek. Credit: Urras Thiriodh)
