Fluent Fiction - Irish: Counting Love at Giant's Causeway
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Story Transcript:

Ga: Lá breá samhraidh a bhí ann agus bhí teannas saor go bhfuil an lá oibre críochnaithe.
En: It was a beautiful summer day and the tension of the workday was gone.

Ga: Bhí Padraig, Siobhan, agus Cian ag siúl ar chósta álainn i dTuaisceart Éireann.
En: Padraig, Siobhan, and Cian were walking on the beautiful coast in Northern Ireland.

Ga: Shroich siad an áit iontach sin ar a dtugtar Clochán an Aifir, nó Giant's Causeway, mar a thugann na turasóirí air.
En: They reached that wonderful place called Giant's Causeway, where tourists flock.

Ga: Bhíodh scéalta mórtha ag seanchaithe na háite faoin fathach Finn McCool a chruthaigh na colúin bhasalt heicseagánacha seo le droichead a thógáil trasna na farraige.
En: Local storytellers had great tales about the giant Finn McCool who built these hexagonal basalt columns to make a bridge across the sea.

Ga: Thosaigh Siobhán ag glacadh pictiúir dá timpeallacht draíochta, ag admháil go raibh an áit seo chomh breátha, go raibh sé deacair a chreidiúint gur chruthaigh an dúlra seo é.
En: Siobhan started taking pictures of its magical surroundings, admitting that this place was so beautiful, it was hard to believe that nature created it.

Ga: Bhí Padraig ag iarraidh tuiscint a fháil ar a áilleacht freisin, ach bhí cúis eile ann, croí Siobhán a bhuachan.
En: Padraig wanted to appreciate its beauty too, but there was another reason: to win Siobhan's heart.

Ga: Go tobann, d'fhógair Padraig go hard: "Tá dúshlán agam!"
En: Suddenly, Padraig exclaimed, "I have a challenge!"

Ga: Chrom sé síos agus thosaigh sé ag comhaireamh na gcolún. "Amharc," a dúirt sé le Siobhán, "tá mé chun gach ceann de na colún heicseagánacha a chomhaireamh!"
En: He knelt down and started counting the columns. "Look," he said to Siobhan, "I'm going to count each of these basalt columns!"

Ga: Bhí Cian ina sheasamh siar, gáire beag ar a aghaidh. "Ná bí amaideach, Pádraig," a mhaslaigh sé, "tá níos mó colún anseo ná réaltaí sa spéir!"
En: Cian stood back, with a little smirk on his face. "Don't be foolish, Padraig," he teased, "there are more columns here than there are stars in the sky!"

Ga: Ach ní raibh Pádraig le corraí. Chrom sé chun an gnó go díograiseach. "A haon, a dó, a trí..." Ach laistigh de nóiméid, bhí sé in abar.
En: But Padraig was undeterred. He earnestly went about the task. "One, two, three..." But within seconds, he was at a loss.

Ga: Táinig Siobhán i ngar dó agus d'fhiafraigh sí, "Conas atá tú ag éirí amach, a Phádraig?"
En: Siobhan came close to him and asked, "How are you failing, Padraig?"

Ga: Chas Padraig a cheann go mall. "Bhuel, chaill mé rian níos luaithe ná mé ag iarraidh a admháil."
En: Padraig hung his head slowly. "Well, I lost count earlier than I'd like to admit."

Ga: Rinne Cian roinnt magaidh air. "Shíl mé mar sin! Éist, ní gá duit na colúin go léir a chomhaireamh. Ní hé sin a thaispeánann do chroí!"
En: Cian made some jokes at his expense. "I thought so! Listen, you don't have to count all the columns. That's not what shows your heart!"

Ga: D'fhéach Siobhán isteach i súile Phádraig agus bhí miongháire binn ar a haghaidh. "An bhfuil a fhios agat, is cuma liom faoi na colún. Is breá liom díreach an am seo a chaitheamh leat."
En: Siobhan looked into Padraig's eyes and a sweet smile played on her face. "You know, I don't care about the columns. I just enjoy spending this time with you."

Ga: Shíl Cian agus mhol sé, "Cad faoi dinnéar deas le chéile anocht in ionad an t-ádh a thriail leis na carraigeacha?"
En: Cian suggested, "How about a nice dinner together tonight instead of trying your luck with the rocks?"

Ga: Agus le sin, ghlac siad leis an moladh, ag fágáil na gclocháin taobh thiar acu.
En: And with that, they agreed to the suggestion, leaving the rocks behind.

Ga: D'fhoghlaim Padraig go raibh croí an duine níos tábhachtaí ná luach saothair áifeiseach, agus bhraith Siobhán meas ar an mbfear a bhí sásta a dhoicheall a dhéanamh di, fiú mura n-oibreodh a phleananna amach.
En: Padraig learned that a person's heart is more important than efficient work, and Siobhan felt respect for the man who was willing to make an effort for her, even if his plans didn't work out.

Ga: Le chéile, d'fhág siad an Clochán an Aifir agus an ghrian ag dul faoi ar an chósta gleoite, an cairdeas eatarthu go láidir, agus an gáire fós ag preabadh leo.
En: Together, they left the Giant's Causeway with the sun setting on the beautiful coast, their friendship strengthened and laughter still with them.


Vocabulary Words:

• effort: iarracht
• earnestly: díograiseach
• hexagonal: heicseagánach
• admiring: ag admháil
• undeterred: gan aon rud ag cur as
• smirk: gáire beag
• counting: ag comhaireamh
• challenging: dúshlánach
• columns: colún
• flock: aicsean
• respect: meas
• teased: mhaslaigh
• heart: croí
• admiring: ag iompar aghaidh
• foolish: bómánta
• beautiful: breá
• tension: teannas
• enjoy: taitneamh
• hexagonal: heicseagán
• expensive: daor
• bridge: droichead
• laughter: gáire
• strongened: láidir
• creating: ag cruthú
• suggestion: moladh
• unwilling: dhoicheall
• admitting: ag admháil
• tales: scéalta
• sunset: fuinneog
• baseline: básline