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HOW TO SAY

Ár nAthair: Our Father – The Lord’s Prayer in Irish (VIDEO)

You’ll find the words with phonetic pronunciation below for Ár nAthair, or The Lord’s Prayer (Our Farther) below, in the Irish language (Gaeilge).

Religion in Ireland goes hand in hand with Irish traditions and the Irish language. Some people say that the number of religious Irishmen is declining, but we should take that with a grain of salt. Even if they’re not openly declaring that they’re religious, they still keep religious traditions and have strong beliefs.

The Irish constitution doesn’t endorse any particular religion and guarantees its freedom. With almost 80% of Irishmen still declaring themselves as being Catholic, we can say for sure that there will be a big number of religious people in Ireland for many centuries from now on.

If you wanted to know more about Ireland’s religion and practice your Irish language skills, the following pronunciation videos is going to help. Our language assistant will help you learn an Irish prayer – Ár nAthair: Our Father – The Lord’s Prayer. You’ll be able to watch and listen to the full prayer from top to bottom and, after that, you can listen and learn the pronunciation of each phrase.

How to say the Lord’s Prayer in Irish

Ár nAthair, atá ar neamh,
/Awr n-yah-her, ah-taw air nyav/
Go naofar d’ainm,
/guh nay-fer dan-im/
Go dtaga do ríocht,
/guh dog-uh duh ree-okht/
Go ndéantar do thoil ar an talamh,
/guh nyay-an-tur duh hell air on tah-lu/
Mar a dhéantar ar neamh.
/mar uh yay-an-tar air nyav/

Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn inniu;
/Awr nuh-rawn lay-hoole choor doon in-nyov/
Agus maith dúinn ár bhfiacha,
/ah-gus mah doon awr via-khah/
Mar a mhaithimidne dár bhféichiúna féin.
/mar uh wah-hi-midge-ne dawr vey-koo-nah fayn/
Agus ná lig sinn i gcathú,
/ah-gus naw lig shin ih gah-hoo/
Ach saor sinn ó olc.
/okh seer shin oh ulk/

Áiméan.
/Aw-mayn/

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52 thoughts on “Ár nAthair: Our Father – The Lord’s Prayer in Irish (VIDEO)”

  2. Cara L. T. Murphy

    Thank you for your lovely recitations. I love your site.
    Could you, perhaps, consider leading us through the traditional Celtic prayer of blessing below? Thank you!
    May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever he may send you.
    May he guide you through the wilderness and protect you through the storm.
    May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
    May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
    In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
    Amen.

    Reply
      3. Veronica

        Eamon,
        You must have been hurt in some way from the Catholic Church or the Catholic Clergy. As a Catholic, I must say that I am sorry for your pain and disappointment. May God forgive whoever has hurt you.,

        Reply
        1. Mag

          Thank you so much. Had forgotten little bits of the prayers from when I was in primary school. When you live away it’s lovely to keep little bits of Ireland with you. Thanks again

          Reply
      5. Veronica

        Why are you so bitter? I am praying for your healing and for justice for you And if justice is served I pray for the conversion of any priest who has hurt you

        Reply
  3. Margaret Coughlin

    Á fhéile Seosamh sona dhuit!

    In the transcription above, the pronunciation of dúinn is the same:

    Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn (pronounced doon) inniu

    Agus maith dúinn (pronounced doon) ar bhfiacha

    But in the actual video and the transcription on the video the pronunciation is different:

    Ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dúinn (pronounced doon) inniu

    Agus maith dúinn (pronounced hoon) ar bhfiacha

    I wonder if the h sound from maith just elides into the second dúinne.

    Go raibh maith agat!
    Máiréad

    Reply
    1. Emma Bitesize

      Dia dhuit, Máiréad.
      In Connaught and Munster Irish it would be lenited due to the slender ending of ‘maith’.
      Another common example is ‘Dia duit’, in Ulster Irish it would be said without a lenition/séimhiú but in Munster and Connaught it would be pronounced as ‘dhuit’.

      Le beannacht
      Emma

      Reply
  5. Maire O'callaghan

    Hi
    In looking at the Ár nAthair, I noticed that the spelling of bhféichúina should be bhféichiùna.
    Grmma
    Máire

    Reply
  6. Christopher Kennedy

    Hello

    I am enjoying learning “The Lord’s Prayer” by closely following your very clear rendition. Thank you very much.

    May I suggest for newcomers the short prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep …”

    With thanks

    Reply
  9. Dorothea McShane Kelly

    Just discovered your site and I so appreciate your blog esp videos and pronunciation wh is so important in learning our language. Would you be so kind and give me my name in Irish. Many thanksí
    Dorothea Kelly nee McShane

    Reply
  12. Sean Keaveney

    Hi, Perhaps you could do some Celtic blessings & St. Patrick’s Breastplate? It would be greatly appreciated. These are two I’ve heard often and would love to know in Gaelic:

    May the blessings of light be upon you,
    Light without and light within.
    The blessed sunlight shine on you
    and warm your heart
    till it glows like a great peat fire.

    Also, St. Patrick’s Breastplate (I arise today…)

    Reply
    2. Siobhán at Bitesize

      Hi Seán,

      Thank you for your comment.

      Thank you also for your suggestions. I will add St. Patrick’s Breastplate to the list of future videos and any other similar prayers that I find in Irish.

      Le meas,
      Siobhán

      Reply
  18. Terry Sue Satta

    Thank you so much for giving us the Lord’s prayer in gaelic I’ve wanted for a long time to hear the prayer in the language of my great grandparents

    Reply
  19. Lori Lowden

    Go raibh maith agat Siobhán! My grandmother taught me this as a child but i realize i need a tune-up re pronunciation 🙂

    A lesson on the Hail Mary would be great!

    Reply
  21. Russ Courtney

    Thanks very much for that.

    Could I also suggest the Hail Mary and the Glory Be? That would enable me to take part in the Rosary where it’s done in Irish

    Slan go foill

    Reply
    3. Siomon-Mairtin-Antoin

      Excellent work could you help on the pronunciation of my Name -Siomon-Mairtin-Antoin O Marcachain

      Reply

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