Trasna na dTonnta

"Trasna na dTonnta" ("Across the Waves") is a traditional Irish song often taught to primary school children. It has the same tune as the 20th century Scottish song "Westering Home".

The upbeat song is a narration of a rower who is returning to Ireland following his travels abroad. The song originates from the Gaoth Dobhair area of County Donegal.

Lyrics

 * Trasna na dtonnta, dul siar, dul siar,
 * Slán leis an uaigneas ‘is slán leis an gcian;
 * Geal é mo chroí, agus geal í an ghrian,
 * Geal bheith ag filleadh go hÉirinn!


 * Chonaic mo dhóthain de Thíortha i gcéin,
 * Ór agus airgead, saibhreas an tsaoil,
 * Éiríonn an croí ‘nam le breacadh gach lae
 * ‘S mé druidim le dúthaigh mo mhuintir!


 * Ar mo thriall siar ó éirigh mo chroí
 * An aimsir go hálainn is tonnta deas réidh
 * Stiúradh go díreach go dúthaigh mo chliabh
 * ‘S bheidh mé in Éirinn amárach!


 * Muintir an Iarthair ‘siad cairde mo chroí,
 * Fáilte ‘is féile bheidh romham ar gach taobh.
 * Ar fhágaint an tsaoil seo, sé ghuidhim ar an Rí
 * Gur leosan a shinfear i gcill mé.


 * Over the waves, returning, returning!
 * Good-bye to loneliness and to the distant remoteness;
 * Bright is my heart and bright is the sun,
 * Happy to be returning to Ireland!


 * I saw my fill of countries abroad,
 * Gold and silver, the wealth of the world,
 * My heart rises in me with the break of each day,
 * As I draw closer to the land of my people!


 * On my journey - oh! my heart rises!
 * The weather is beautiful and the waves are settled
 * Steering directly to land of my bosom
 * And I'll be in Ireland tomorrow!


 * People of the West, they're the friends of my heart,
 * Welcome and celebration awaits me on every side.
 * Leaving this life I pray to the Lord
 * That it's with them I'll be stretched in the graveyard!