The text originated as an Old Irish poem called “Rop tú mo Baile” (Be Thou my Vision), attributed to the 6th-century Irish Christian poet Dallán Forgaill, though some scholars debate this attribution. For centuries, it existed as a traditional Irish monastic prayer. The poem was translated from Old Irish to English by Mary Elizabeth Byrne in 1905, and later versified by Eleanor Hull in 1912, creating the hymn text that is widely known today. The melody, known as “Slane,” is a traditional Irish folk tune named after the Hill of Slane where, according to legend, St. Patrick defied a royal edict by lighting an Easter fire in 433 AD. The hymn gained widespread popularity in the English-speaking world during the early 20th century through various hymnals and has since become a staple in Christian worship across denominations, beloved for its poetic expression of spiritual devotion and its distinctive Celtic musical character.