I've tried an archives search but so far have not succeeded in finding the old thread requesting an Irish version of Will the Circle be Unbroken. I mentioned a recently-composed song in Irish which is set to the tune of Will the Circle be Unbroken but is not a translation. Big Mick asked me for the lyrics and it has taken me a few years to get all the verses; I had taken some down from hearing the song on the radio but now I have found the lyrics in a book.

The lyrics are published in Ciarán Ó Fáthartha, Amhráin, edited by Síle Denvir,
Cló Iar-Chonnachta ( http://www.cic.ie), 2008

Verse 2 says " if you have plenty of Gaelic but don't speak it any more, don't waste time listening to this song. It isn't directed at you; it won't change your mind." Yet the lapsed Irish speaker seems to be exactly who the song is directed at apart from verse 4 which criticises people "in charge of this country" who didn't support the language and caused Irish-speakers to emigrate (presumably by not supporting economic development in Gaeltacht regions).

The last two lines (is Irish at the end of its , as people are always saying. I don't understand this very well, but it's a pity if true) may be used as a chorus.

AMHRÁN NA GAEILGE - Ciarán Ó Fáthartha

An bhfuil an Ghaeilge i ndeireadh a réime, mar atá daoine i gcónaí ag rá?
Ní go rómhaith go dtuigim fhéin é, ach sé an trua é má tá,
Ó, ní hiontas mór ar bhealach í bheith ag dul in isle brí,
Mar tá daoine a tógadh léi nach labharaíonn níos mó í.

Más duine thú a bhfuil neart Gaeilge a't ach nach labharaíonn í níos mó,
Ná bí ag éisteacht leis an amhrán seo, ná cuir do chuid ama amú
Níl sé dírithe ort ar aon chaoi, ná an dream mar thú ata ann,
Mar ní athróidh sé bhur n-intinn, ná an dearchadh atá i bhur gceann.

Más duine thú a gcuireann Gaeilge cineál drochbhlas i do bhéal,
Is olc an mhaise dhuit é ar bhealach, is dona thú mar Ghael,
Mar nach dtuigeann tú an tábhacht le go mairfidh sí go deo,
Is gur céasadh sliocht ár sinsear is iad ag iarraidh í a choinneáil beo.

An dream a bhí i mbhun na tire nó i gceannas le bhur linn,
A thug droim láimhe uilig dá dteanga, a chuir an Béarla amach chun cinn,
Ó, dhíbhir siad ár nGaeilgeoirí go dtí tíortha i bhfad i gcéin,
Agus d'fhágadar an náisiún seo fíoghann ina dteanga fhéin

Ta daoine i ngach baile , is Béarla a labhraíonn siad,
Ó, d'aiothneoinn de bharr bheith ag éisteach leo gur le Gaeilge a tógadh iad.
Ní breith ar bith é seo orthu; níl ann ach cineál foghairt,
Ach má tógadh iad le Gaeilge ba choir dhóibh í a labhairt.

Mar sí teanga bhreá ár sinsear í is coinneoidh muid í beo,
Ó, labhair í an fhad is a mhairfeas tú, dhá mairfeadh tú go deo,
Ó, réitigh amach dhi cásanna, na céadta million cás,
Mar níor choir dhuit cara a thréigint ar an leaba is í ag fail bháis.

An bhfuil an Ghaeilge i ndeireadh a réime, mar atá daoine i gcónaí ag rá?
Ní go rómhaith go dtuigim fhéin é, ach sé an trua é má tá.