Mael Ísu Ua Brolcháin


Mael Ísu Ua Brolcháin, Irish churchman and writer.

Bio

A member of a high-class ecclesiastical family in what is now Donegal, "genealogical sources give his father as Máel Brigte and his three brothers as Áed, Diarmait, and Muirecan." .
Besides holding a number of benefices and wielding considerable political influence, he was the author of the poem To an Elderly Virgin. He died as a member of the religious community of Armagh in 1086, recorded as being the chief sage of Ireland.
The surname Ó Brolcháin is now mainly anglicised as Bradley. Members of his lineage served as Bishop of Derry.

Works

His best-known work is a Latin and Irish hymn, Deus Meus Adiuva Me. Here are the modern Irish lyrics. For a translation by Professor Gerard Murphy of this well-loved piece see link below:

Deus meus adiuva me
Tabhair dom do shearch, a Mhic ghil Dé
Tabhair dom do shearch, a Mhic ghil Dé
Deus meus adiuva me.
Domine da quod peto a te,
Tabhair dom go dian a ghrian ghlan ghlé,
Tabhair dom go dian a ghrian ghlan ghlé,
Domine da quod peto a te.
Domine, Domine, exaudi me,
M’anam bheith lán de d’ghrá, a Dhé,
M’anam bheith lán de d’ghrá, a Dhé,
Domine, Domine exaudi me.

For translation see and live