Amen a Íosa

WORDS & MUSIC: Tomás Ó Canainn
SYNTHESIZER &
MANDOCELLO: Garry O'Briain.

This beautiful hymn forms a trilogy with, 'Amhrán na Páise' and 'A Íosa', from my two previous albums. It was composed by Tomás Ó Canainn as a choral piece for the choir of St. Mary's, Pope's Quay, Cork and was recorded as a solo piece by him on the album, 'With Pipe and Song', on the Outlet record label.
It uses some verses of the first poem from Tadhg Gaelach Ó Súilleabháin's, 'Pious Miscellany'.

Amen, a Íosa do cheannaigh go daor mé ar an gcrann Dé h-Aoine
Is do nahmaid i do thraochadh 's tú i bfhad ó do ghaolta.

Is do bhanaltra taobh leat go cathach ad' chaoineadh
Agus mise go millteach ó tháinig brí ionam.

Ad' chéasadh ar mo dhícheall is mo chumha céad míle
Do chéadaibh sceimhle - nó bé sin mo dhíol duit.

A Íosa ghil aoibhinn is athair an Uain,
Do chíonn sinn cuibhrithe ceangailte i ngruaim,
A Rí mhilis dhaoineachtaigh freagair mo dhuain
Dírigh is díbir an mhallaíocht uainn.