Róisín Elsafty was born in Ireland to an Palestinian/Egyptian father and an Irish mother. Her mother is Treasa Ní Cheannabháin a sean-nós singer from Connemara and it was Treasa that wrote this song. Below is my rather feeble attempt at a translation from the original Irish into English. The word Síon/Zion in verse 2 has many shades of meaning in Irish, Hebrew and Arabic and is therefore almost impossible to translate into English with accuracy. An F16 is of course a jetfighter/bomber that is supplied to Israeli airforce by the US weapons industry. The Arabic words Hosni alaikum ya Falastin, Hosni alaiki ya Falastin, to the best of my knowledge translate into English as; I am sad for you Palestinians, I am sad for you Palestine.

An Phailistín

Leathchéad bliain faoi riail Iosraelaigh,
Scaipeadh's fann ar na milliúin teaghlaigh,
Brón 's briseadh croí,
Mo bhrón mo Phailistín.

An Phailistín, an Phailistín, mo Phailistín,
Hosni alaikum ya Falastin,
Hosni alaiki ya Falastin.

Lá agus oíche mar a cheile,
Mná ag caoineadh 's paistí ag scréachaíl,
Síon ón F16,
Marú ar gach taobh.

An Phailistín, an Phailistín, mo Phailistín,
Hosni alaikum ya Falastin,
Hosni alaiki ya Falastin.

Dhá bhliain fhada de Intifada,
Caitheadh cloch sa Bhruach Thiar 's i nGaza,
Seasta ar pháirc an áir,
Gan brat ná pas le fáil.

An Phailistín, an Phailistín, mo Phailistín,
Hosni alaikum ya Falastin,
Hosni alaiki ya Falastin.

An talamh naofa shiúil an leanbh Íosa,
Fáithe Abrahám 's Maoise,
Mahamad ó mo bhrón,
Scriosta ag Sharon.

An Phailistín, an Phailistín, mo Phailistín,
Hosni alaikum ya Falastin,
Hosni alaiki ya Falastin.

Iarúsailéim, dúirt Íosa Críost,
Nach bhfágfaidh cloch ar chloch, is fíor,
Tairngreacht ag teacht chun cinn,
Mo bhrón mo Phailistín.

An Phailistín, an Phailistín, mo Phailistín,
Hosni alaikum ya Falastin,
Hosni alaiki ya Falastin.

Palestine

Fifty years under Israeli control,
A million familys now scattered and enfeebled,
Grief striken and heartbroken,
My sorrow, my Palestine.

Palestine, Palestine, my Palestine
I am sad for you, Palestinians,
I am sad for you, Palestine

Day and night it is always the same,
Women weeping, children screeching
Zion from an F16,
Death on every side.

Palestine, Palestine, my Palestine
I am sad for you, Palestinians,
I am sad for you, Palestine

Two long years of Intifada
Stones being thrown in the West Bank and Gaza
Immobilised in field of carnage
Deprived of protection or means of escape.

Palestine, Palestine, my Palestine
I am sad for you, Palestinians,
I am sad for you, Palestine

The holy land that was trodden by the infant Jesus,
By the prophets Abraham, Moses,
And Muhammad, to my sorrow,
Desecrated by Sharon.

Palestine, Palestine, my Palestine
I am sad for you, Palestinians,
I am sad for you, Palestine

It was foretold by Jesus Christ that of Jerusalem
Not a stone upon a stone will remain
A prophecy that is coming to fruition,
My sorrow my Palestine

Palestine, Palestine, my Palestine
I am sad for you, Palestinians,
I am sad for you, Palestine.