Here is a hymn I learned on a gaeltacht weekeend years ago. I posted a question in a thread about the Hymn Be Thou My Vision acouple of weeks ago.

I think there is some relationship between the two hymns, because the seem very similar. The melody to The Breastplate of Patrick is Bunessan which is the same melody as the modern hymn, Morning Has Broken. Thre is also an Anglican version of The Breastplate of Patrick to the melody Gartan. The melody to the hymn Be Thou My Vision is Slane.

Bells went off in my head when I found out that Slane is a place which is important in the legend of Saint Patrick, being the place he lit the Paschal fire that supposedly signaled the close(?) of the pagan era in Ireland. I think there is no accident that that melody was chosen for the hymn Be Thou My Vision, although I don't have any proof.

I am wondering if anyone knows any other hyms or songs to the melody Bunessan aside from Morning Has Broken. I would also like to know if anyone has any idea how old The gaelic versions of The Breastplate of Patrick or Be Thou My Vision are.

LÚIREACH PHÁDRAIG

Críost ar gach taobh díom;
Críost amach romham;
Críost taobh thiar díom;
Mo dhidean sa ghá.
Críost i mo chroí istigh,
Críost fúm is tharam;
Críost do mo thacu,
Mo neart os cionn cách.

Críost ar mo dheasláimh,
Críost ar mo chlé dom/
Críost i mo thimpeall,
Mo sciath is mo scáth.
Críost i mo luí dom,
Críost i mo shuí dom,
Críost liom ar m'éirí,
á adhradh gach lá.

Críost i ngach éinne
a mbímse 'na intinn;
Críost i ngach béal bhíonn
ag labhairt liom nó fúm.
Críost isna súile
dhearcann im' éadan;
Críost isna cluasa
a éisteann lem' rún.

I'm sorry, that's all I have time for now. I'll post the english words later.

Slán go fóill,

Brían

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