Gaelic verse 1:
Ciùin an oidhch’, naomh an oidhch’
Saoghal sèimh, balbh gun soills’
Moire ‘us Eòsaph, a’ chàraid gaoil,
Caithris an naoidhean bheannaichte, chaomh
Suaint’ ann am fois tha bho Nèamh,
Suaint’ ann am fois tha bho Nèamh.

Literal translation to English:
Quiet the night, holy the night
Calm world, silent without light
Mary and Joseph, the lovely family (or couple; “caraid” has varying meanings)
Watch over the blessed, loved child
Surrounded in peace that’s from heaven,
Surrounded in peace that’s from heaven.

Gaelic verse 2:
Ciùin an oidhch’, naomh an oidhch’,
Nochd an reul a b’ àillte soills’
Do na cìobairean shuas air a’ bheinn
‘S chualas ainglean le aobhneas a’ seinn:
Crìosd ar Fear-saoraidh a th’ ann;
Crìosd ar Fear-saoraidh a th’ ann.

Literal translation to English:
Quiet the night, holy the night
Night of the star that was shining bright
To the shepherds up on the hill
And heard angels singing with joy
Christ our Redeemer is here, (literally “Free-er Man”)
Christ our Redeemer is here.

Gaelic verse 3:
Ciùin an oidhch, naomh an oidhch’,
Aoin Mhic Dhè ‘us àille leinn,
Gràdh a’ dòrtadh oirrn bho Do ghnùis,
Aoibhneach an uair is Tu còmhnaidh rinn dlùth:
Fàilte do ‘r Slànaighear caoin;
Fàilte do ‘r Slànaighear caoin.

Literal translation to English:
Quiet the night, holy the night,
Only Son of God and our delight,
Love shining on us from Your face,
Joyous when You are close with us
Welcome to our beloved Saviour,
Welcome to our beloved Saviour.

You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QcgwT16DPo.

Obviously it’s not as close to the German as, for example, the English is, but German and English are much more similar than German and Gaelic. Some of the places where it’s very different, it has the sort of imagery that’s very common to Gaelic Christmas songs (there’s always a mention of shepherds on hills). I think whoever translated it might have referred to both German and English and taken whatever is easier – for example, in the second verse, “Criosd ar Fear-saoraidh a th’ ann” is more like “Christ der Retter ist da”, “… is here” than the English “… is born”.

Oh, and that’s Scottish Gaelic, by the way. Not Irish. The words to the Irish translation can be found here – http://www.omniglot.com/songs/multilingual/silentnight/irish.php – and are an independent translation. They still resemble the German words, but any resemblance to the Gaelic lyrics are only incidental to being translated from the same source. That’s interesting – sometimes with those two languages (which are mutually intelligible), there’s only one translation from another language, and then it’s just sort of re-spelt for the other, and sometimes they translate things independently and end up with similar-but-quite-different things, like this time. And actually, although I’ve given here the lyrics I know, Omniglot offers a second translation, as well – http://www.omniglot.com/songs/multilingual/silentnight/gaelic.php – which is a bit different again. But all are closer to the original German lyrics than the Italian one is!

I also sing it in Gaelic, and the translation for that is also fairly close to the German. Closer to the German than to the English, actually. In fact, the only recording I know if it in Gaelic sings the first verse in German (with a bit of a thick Gaelic accent!). It would be interesting to compare it to other translations…

Rachel, I’m glad we share the same memory – although what you say about the translation is sad, as the texts are quite similar. Especially if you compare the Italian adaptation that, of course, couldn’t follow German or English…