Well, it probably won’t rhyme, and some nuances will inevitably be lost … but here’s an attempt, anyway (not very literal, but trying to maintain the meaning while keeping a somewhat poetic feel to it):


Dá chúinge an bealach,
dá phionósaí an pár,
is mé máistir mo dháin;
is mé stiúrthóir mo láir.

‘However narrow the path,
however punitive the parchment,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the steersman of my centre’

Lines two and four actually almost rhyme here. Not entirely, but nearly.

(One’s ‘centre’ in Irish is one’s heart and soul)

That's been done before (several times):

http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/tr ... 00271.html

Caoimhín gave (or quoted):

It matters not how strait the gate,
Is cuma cé chomh daingean é an geata

How charged with punishments the scroll.
cé chomh lán é an duilleog le phionós

I am the master of my fate,
Is mise máistir mo chinniúna

Iam the captain of my soul.
Is mise ceannasaí m'anama.