Fluent Fiction - Irish: Cliffs of Laughter: An Irish Friendship Tale
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/cliffs-of-laughter-an-irish-friendship-tale

Story Transcript:

Ga: Lá amháin, i gcroí na hÉireann, bhí triúr cairde ag siúl go sámh.
En: Once upon a time, in the heart of Ireland, there were three friends walking peacefully.

Ga: Seamus, le gruaig chomh dorcha le gual, Caoimhe le súile gorma mar an spéir, agus Fiadh, an pháiste lán le gáire.
En: Seamus, with hair as dark as coal, Caoimhe with eyes as blue as the sky, and Fiadh, the child full of laughter.

Ga: Bhí siad ar a mbealach chuig na hAillte Móra, áit a raibh radharcanna breathnú ar fud an domhain.
En: They were on their way to the Cliffs of Moher, a place with views that looked out over the whole world.

Ga: Agus iad ag siúl, bhí Seamus ag smaoineamh ar phlean chun croí Caoimhe a bhuachan.
En: As they walked, Seamus was thinking of a plan to win Caoimhe's heart.

Ga: Shíl sé go mbeadh sé deas béannacht thraidisiúnta na hÉireann a rá léi.
En: He thought it would be nice to say a traditional Irish blessing to her.

Ga: Mar sin, nuair a shroich siad barr na hAillte, leis an bhfarraige fiáin ag briseadh thíos, d'ardaigh Seamus a ghuth.
En: So, when they reached the top of the cliffs, with the wild sea crashing below, Seamus raised his voice.

Ga: "A Caoimhe," ar sé, ag leagan béim ar gach focal. "Go n-éirí an... toad leat chun ithe!"
En: "Oh Caoimhe," he said, emphasizing every word. "May the... toad rise with you to eat!"

Ga: Bhris Fiadh amach ag gáire, a gáire chomh hard is go raibh éanacha ag eitilt suas óna neadacha leis an scanradh.
En: Fiadh burst out laughing, her laughter so loud that birds flew out of their nests with fright.

Ga: Níor thuig Seamus láithreach a earráid, ach chonaic sé dreach confach Caoimhe agus ansin, chuala sé Fiadh.
En: Seamus didn't immediately understand his mistake, but he saw Caoimhe's puzzled expression, and then he heard Fiadh.

Ga: Bhí Seamus trína chéile, aghaidh dearg le náire. "Ó," ar sé go tapa, "tá brón orm, Caoimhe, rinne mé dearmad ar na focail!"
En: Seamus was flustered, his face red with embarrassment. "Oh," he quickly said, "I'm sorry, Caoimhe, I forgot the words!"

Ga: D'fhéach Caoimhe ar Sheamus le miongháire. "Tá sé ceart go leor, Seamus. Níl gach lá a deir duine go bhfuil siad ag iarraidh go n-itheann toad mé!"
En: Caoimhe looked at Seamus with a smile. "It's all right, Seamus. Not every day does someone say they want toad to eat me!"

Ga: Thug siad faoi gáire le chéile, fiú Seamus a bhí beagáinín faoiseamh anois. Bhí an teannas briste, agus bhraith siad níos gaire dá chéile ná riamh.
En: They laughed together, even Seamus was a bit relieved now. The tension was broken, and they felt closer to each other than ever before.

Ga: Chinn Seamus ansin go ndéanfadh sé suas é le Caoimhe. Nuair a bhí an ghrian ag dul síos, thóg sé a lámh agus thug sé cuireadh di siúl leis feadh na hAillte.
En: Seamus then decided to make it up to Caoimhe. When the sun was going down, he took her hand and invited her to walk with him through the cliffs.

Ga: "Go n-éirí an bóthar leat," ar sé, an uair seo gan botún.
En: "May the road rise with you," he said, this time without mistake.

Ga: Thug Caoimhe squeeze daingean ar a lámh, agus d'amharc siad amach ar an bhfarraige le chéile, an ghrian ag lorg scíth thíos an spéir.
En: Caoimhe gave his hand a firm squeeze, and they looked out to the sea together, the sun seeking rest below the sky.

Ga: Ón lá sin i leith, ba mhinic a chuimhnigh Seamus, Caoimhe, agus Fiadh ar an eachtra sin le gáire. Bhí níos mó ná díreach béannacht bainte amach ag Seamus an lá sin - bhí cairdeas fíor dhearfach fuaite idir an triúr agus sraith cuimhní an-speisialta bainte acu ó na hAillte Móra.
En: From that day on, Seamus often remembered the adventure with laughter. More than just a blessing was achieved by Seamus that day - a truly positive friendship was forged among the three, and they had a series of very special memories from the Cliffs of Moher.


Vocabulary Words:

• peacefully: go sámh
• coal: gual
• laughter: gáire
• blessing: béannacht
• cliffs: na hAillte
• crashing: ag briseadh
• puzzled: dreach confach
• embarrassment: náire
• squeeze: squeeze
• forged: fuaite
• memories: cuimhní
• rest: scíth