Irish Translation Forum

I wrote a poem for best Irish friend. I'd like to have it translated so I can print it and frame it for his birthday. Please help me.

(Untitled #318)

How do I tell you that I thank you for honesty?
How can I show you my humble appreciation of knowing you?
How do I thank you, for all those times you were there for me?
How can I give you, all you’ve given me in encouragement?

How do I tell you that I thank you for being you?
How can I show you my humble appreciation of your kindness?
How do I thank you, for always listening to me?
How can I give you, all you given me, by also hearing me?

How do I tell you that I thank you for loving me, in spite of me?
How can I show you my humble appreciation for your generosity?
How do I thank you, for that hug when I needed it most?
How can I give you, all you’ve given me when you didn’t have to?

Sometimes it’s easier to go buy a gift, as a gift.
Sometimes it’s easier to take the easy way out of our emotions.
I won’t do that today, because of all you’ve done for me.
I want to give you more today, for all you’ve done for me.

So I will give you this piece of my soul, for your honesty.
And I will give you my thankfulness for knowing you.
I am you my words to read when I can’t be there for you.
I am giving you the most precious title I can.

I will call you friend.


Rey Rose
© 2010

Do you want a literal translation, or would you like it to be "poetic"? The former will be easier but will have less meaning in Irish. The latter will be very hard.

Man he is my best friend in the world and this is for his 40th birthday. We have been friends since first grade. The poetic meaning in Gaelic would be completely the best, if that is what you meant because it is the words that are spoken, more than the Gaelic, that is just the icing on the cake. Thank you so much for any assistance you can provide

DReyRose, just to let you know, that's a bit on the long side for a volunteer forum like this, especially at our busiest time of year. Fortunately, it doesn't have a rhyme or meter we need to try to preserve, so that makes it a little easier. But I know this means a lot to you, so I want you to be prepared: From my past experience on the forum, the most likely scenario is that an enthusiastic learner will attempt a long translation for practice, and someone else might point out a mistake or two, but the few people who have sufficient knowledge to find and correct all the grammar mistakes just won't have time to get involved because their input is needed on every other request.

It is a tough one.

Well, heck, I can give him the English version for his birthday and the Gaelic version for Christmas? I do appreciate the honesty any efforts do not go unappreciated for sure. Even if it just goes two lines interpreted in order per week, I guess that wouldn't be too bad, right?

"Conas ab fhéidir liom a rá leat go bhfuil mé an-bhuíoch duit i gcomhair do mhacántacht?"
How could I tell you that I am very thankful for your honesty?

Hmmm "humble appreciation" is a tough one. I'll leave that line out for someone who is more knowledgeable.

"Conas ab fhéidir liom a rá go bhfuilim an-bhuíoch duit, i gcomhair na hamanna ar fad a raibh tú ann dom?
How could I tell you that I'm very grateful, for all the times that you were there for me?

"Conas ab fhéidir liom tabhairt ar ais duit, an spreaga ar fad a thug tú dom?"
How could I give you back, all the encouragement that you gave me?

OK that's three of the four lines of the first stanza. I'm not the most fluent Irish speaker on the site. Hopefully another member can correct me or give you a better translation. As this is poetry, it is possible to have many interpretations of the same line. Hope I helped

I can't tell you how excited as to just seeing this come to life. I'm tempted to just wait for the whole translation and let him think I forgot about a gift. This already looks amazing in the right font. I'm getting all emotional now just thinking of how he is going to react when he sees it. Wow! Thank you for your assistance. SOOOooo.. much. If any of you want to use this poem that help on, please do so, I would be honored to give back to you, I only have words but as the poem says, my words are my soul and my gratefulness comes from my heart....

Here's a translation with a bit of a Donegal (dialect) touch:

Cén dóigh a ndeirim leat gur mór mo mheas ar do chuid ionracais?
Cén dóigh ar féidir liom taispeáin duit mo dhea-mheas umhal go bhfuil aithne agam ort?
Cén dóigh a ngabhaim buíochas leat as na hamanna sin uilig dá raibh tú ann domh?
Cén dóigh ar féidir liom tabhairt ar ais duit an méid spreagaidh a thug tú domh?

Cén dóigh a ndeirim leat go dtugaim buíochas leat as tú a bheith ann?
Cén dóigh ar féidir liom taispeáin duit mo dhea-mheas umhal ar do chuid cineáltais?
Cén dóigh a ngabhaim buíochas leat as an éisteacht a thugann tú i gcónaí domh?
Cén dóigh ar féidir liom tabhairt ar ais duit dár dtug tú domh mo chluinstin fósta?

Cén dóigh a ndeirim leat go dtugaim buíochas leat as do ghrá a thabhairt domh de m'ainneoin?
Cén dóigh ar féidir liom taispeáin duit mo dhea-mheas umhal ar do chuid móraigeantachta?
Cén dóigh a ngabhaim buíochas leat as an bharróg sin nuair is mó a bhí sí uaim?
Cén dóigh ar féidir liom tabhairt ar ais duit dár dtug tú domh nuair nach raibh sé de dhualgas ort?

Uaireanta is furasta imeacht agus bronntanas a cheannach, mar thabhartas.
Uaireanta is furasta an bealach is fusa amach ónár gcuid mothúchán a ghlacadh .
Ní dhéanfaidh mé é sin inniu, mar gheall ar an mhéid a ndearna tú domh.
Is mian liom níos mó a thabhairt duit mar gheall ar an mhéid a ndearna tú domh.

Mar sin, tabharfaidh mé duit an píosa seo de m'anam, mar gheall ar do chuid ionracais.
Agus, tabharfaidh mé duit mo bhuíochas mar gheall ar an aithne atá agam ort.
Tá mé ag tabhairt duit mo chuid focal le léamh nuair nach féidir liom bheith ansin duit.
Tá mé ag tabhairt duit an teideal is luachmhaire is féidir liom.

Béarfaidh mé 'cara' ort
Béarfaidh mé 'mo chara is fearr' ort.

OMG!!! Are you serious? It is done? I can't believe it, there is now way!!! You guys are the best, please accept my most gratitudious gratitude for this. I even just invented the word gratitudious just for you! I can't tell you how excited I am and ecstatic for this. Next, is going to be to font it and frame it and I promise I'll post a pic of the completed project that I owe you all so much thanks for!

With Warm Regards and Sincerity