1. Ba mhaith le Seán posadh agus chuaidh sé go dtí an sagart chun gach ní a shocrú.
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1. Sean wanted to get married and he went to the priest to arrange everything.
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2. Ag an am sin, bhí an Eaglais ag athrú chun 'Aifreann Nua' a chéiliúreadh ach ní
raibh Seán ró-cinnte de.
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2. At that time, the church was changing to celebrating the 'New Mass' but Sean wasn't too
sure about things.
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3. Dhúirt an sagart leis go raibh dhá rogha aige."Cead agat an 'Sean Aifreann' nó
an 'tAifreann Nua' a glacadh - ach caithfidh mé a rá leat go mbeadh an 'tSean Aifreann' i bhfad níos daoire!".
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3. The priest told him that he had two choices. "You can choose the 'Old Mass' or
the 'New Mass' - but I must tell you that the 'Old Mass' would be much dearer.
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4. "Ó a athair déanfaidh an tAifreann Nua' an gnó maith go leór, a athair."
a dhuirt Seán.
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4. "Oh, father, the 'New Mass' will do nicely," said Sean.
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5. Ar maidin an bhainise, d'fhán Seán ina leaba agus é ina chodladh ró fhada agus nuair a
dhúisigh sé, chonnaic sé go raibh sé beagáinín mall agus léim sé amach, chuir a
chuid éadaigh air féin agus rith sé amach trasna na pairceanna ag tógaint an slí ba giorra
go dtí an tséipéil.
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5. On the morning of the wedding, Sean stayed in bed sleeping too long and when he
woke he saw that he was a little late and he leapt out,
dressed himself and ran out across the fields, taking the shortest way to the chapel.
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6. Toisc go raibh an féar ana flúic an tam sin ar maidin, roll sé a bhríste suas go mbeadh siad tirim.
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6. Because the grass was very wet at that time of the morning,, he rolled up his trousers
so that they would be dry.
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7. Nuair a thainig sé go dtí an tséipéil, chonnaic sé go raibh an poball go léir bailighthe ann
cheanna féin agus ní raibh a bhean chéile ró-shásta chór ar bith agus í ina seasamh ag
bun na h-altóra ag feitheamh air.
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7. When he came to the chapel, he saw that the whole congregation was gathered there
already and his wife, who was standing at the foot of the altar waiting for him.
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8. D'fhéach an sagart air go fearrgach agus dúirt os iseal, "Tóg anuas do bhríste !"...
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8. The priest looked angrily at him and said in a low voice, "Take down your trousers !"...
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9. "Cad é sin a athair ? - Níor chualla mé i gceart thú..." "Tóg
anuas do bhríste !" dhúirt an sagart agus bhí a ghuth níos aoirde an badhta seo. "
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9. "What's that, father ?...I didn't hear you properly..." "Take down your trousers !" said
the priest in a louder voice this time.
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10. Ó! a athair," dúirt Seán agus imní an domhan air."Tógfhaidh mé an tSEAN aifreann...
Is cuma liom cad é an luach !!"
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10. "Oh! father," said Sean," I'll take the OLD mass...It doesn't matter what it costs !"
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This tune which is the background music for the story was revived by Sean O'Riada and was
originally a composition of the blind Derry harpist Rory 'Dall' O'Cathain. He wrote it
while in Scotland, where he had a disagreement with a Lady Eglington. He composed the
tune for her when she apologized.