SEACHT nDÓLÁS NA MAIGHDINE MUIRE
(Seven Sorrows of Mary)

An chéad dólás do bhí ar an Mhaighdean
Nuair a tóiríodh a Leanbh
Caipíní dubha air, 's na Giúdaigh á ghreadadh

Luinneóg (refrain):
       Ailliliú, o Iosa, ailliliú is tú mo Leanbh
       Ailliliú ó Iosa, is tú Rí geal na bhFlaitheas

An dara dólás do bhí ar an Mhaighdean nuiar a tóiríodh a Leanbh
Léine gárbh róin air, 's a chraiceann a stracadh.
Ailliliú …

An triú dólás do bhí ar an Mhaighdean
Nuair a tóiríodh a Leanbh
Á ar an gcrois chéasta, 's na tairní géara á ghearradh
Ailliliú …

An ceathru dólás do bhí ar an Mhaighdean
Nuair a tóiríodh a Leanbh
É ar chrann* na croise ag fáil na ngrásta dár n-anam
Ailliliú …

An cúigiú dólás do bhí ar an Mhaighdean
Nuair a tóiríodh a Leanbh
A cheann ar bharr spíce ag tabhairt a chuid fola
Ailliliú …

An séú dólás do bhí ar an Mhaighdean
Nuair a tóiríodh a Leanbh
É 'na hucht gléigeal 's é sínte fuar marbh
Ailliliú …

An seachtú dólás do bhí ar an Mhaighdean
Nuair a tóiríodh a Leanbh
É sínte san uaigh 's na leaca air trasna.
Ailliliú …

(*Ní Riain has "cheann", but "chrann" makes sense)
From Nóirin Ní Riain,Stór Amhrán. Cork: Mercier, 1988
Tune is included in the book and Nóirin Ní Riain is also one of the singers who has made sound recordings of this song.

"tóiríodh a leanbh" means when her child was chased or hunted, Ní Riain translates this as "when her Child was falsely accused"; other than that Brían's translation fine, but incomplete (as were the Irish verses)

"The first sorrow that was on the Virgin when her Child was falsely accused
Black caps on him and the Jews beating him"

Ailliliú o Jesus, allelujah you are my child
Ailliliú Jesus, you are the Bright King of Heaven

second sorrow the Virgin had –A rough shirt of horsehair on him and his skin being torn (because of the word "róin", I would have translated this as a rough sealskin shirt)

3rd sorrow He on the cross of torture And the sharp nails cutting him

fourth sorrow the Virgin had … He on the Tree of the Cross obtaining graces for our souls

fifth sorrow …his head on the point of a spike, pouring out its blood

The sixth sorrow the Virgin had … he being on her beautiful bright lap (Brian's "bosom" would be okay also) laid out cold and dead.

The seventh sorrow …he lying in the grave and the flagstones laid across him