Fluent Fiction - Irish: Mystery Unraveled: The Maze of Courage
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/mystery-unraveled-the-maze-of-courage

Story Transcript:

Ga: Bhí lá geal earraigh ann nuair a shocraigh Aoife dul go Caisleán na Blarnan.
En: It was a bright spring day when Aoife decided to visit Blarney Castle.

Ga: Cailín óg cróga ab ea í a raibh cónaí uirthi i mBaile Átha Cliath.
En: She was a brave young girl who lived in Dublin.

Ga: Bhí sí ar a saoire agus fonn eachtra uirthi.
En: She was on vacation and eager for adventure.

Ga: Nuair a shroich sí an caisleán, bhí gairdíní áille os a comhair.
En: When she reached the castle, beautiful gardens lay before her.

Ga: I gcroílár na ngairdíní, bhí dorchla aoibhinn de phlandaí - mearaí mórthaibhseach.
En: In the center of the gardens, there was a delightful swirl of plants - a magnificent maze.

Ga: Bhí dúil mhór ag Aoife sa rúndiamhair agus d’fhéach sí air le súile lán de dhúshlán.
En: Aoife was deeply interested in the hidden treasure and looked at it with eyes full of challenge.

Ga: Thug Aoife an chéad chéim isteach sa mearaí agus thosaigh an t-aer ag casadh fuar.
En: Aoife took the first step into the maze and the air started to turn cold.

Ga: Bhí corraíl agus casadh san áit seo.
En: There was twisting and turning in this place.

Ga: Chuaigh na ballaí glasa in airde thar a ceann; chrom sí ar shiúl tríd na cosáin chúnga.
En: The tall green walls went over her head; she walked through the narrow paths.

Ga: Mar a chuaigh an t-am thart, d'airigh Aoife éiginnte.
En: As time passed, Aoife felt disoriented.

Ga: Bhí cuid de na cosáin ag dul i dtreo a chéile agus ag deireadh go tobann.
En: Some of the paths were leading toward each other and eventually ended.

Ga: Bhí Aoife tar éis caillteanas a dhéanamh i lár an mhearaidh.
En: Aoife had lost her way in the middle of the maze.

Ga: Gach uair a d'athraigh sí treo, bhí sé mar an gcéanna - gach casadh eile, taobh muirí nua.
En: Every time she changed direction, it was the same - every other turn, a new dead end.

Ga: Uaireanta, chuala sí gáirí páistí ag imirt fadó, fadó, nó mar sin a shamhlaigh sí.
En: Sometimes, she heard children's laughter playing a long time ago, or so she imagined.

Ga: Ach ní raibh duine ar bith le feiceáil.
En: But there was no one to be seen.

Ga: Bhí Aoife ina haonar, mearaí an chaisleáin ag leathnú timpeall uirthi mar tonnta glasa.
En: Aoife was alone, the castle maze expanding around her like green waves.

Ga: Níor ghabh eagla Aoife, áfach.
En: However, Aoife wasn't afraid.

Ga: Bhí a fhios aici go raibh sé tábhachtach fanacht socair.
En: She knew it was important to stay calm.

Ga: Shuigh sí síos agus d'oscail sí a mála, ag tógáil amach ceapaire agus sú ullmhór.
En: She sat down and opened her bag, taking out a sandwich and a large apple.

Ga: Bhí sos beag aici, agus an ghrian ag sileadh trí na duilleoga.
En: She had a short break, with the sun shining through the leaves.

Ga: Tar éis greim bia, thóg Aoife suas seanchairt a fuair sí i bpóca a cóta.
En: After eating, Aoife took out an old map she found in the pocket of her coat.

Ga: Bhí scéalta faoin mearaí scríofa air agus léarscáil garbh.
En: There were stories about the maze written on it and a rough sketch.

Ga: Le fiosracht ina súile, rinne Aoife iarracht an léarscáil a leanúint.
En: With curiosity in her eyes, Aoife attempted to follow the map.

Ga: Le gach céim, bhain sí úsáid as na comharthaí beaga ar an léarscáil go dtí go bhfaca sí solas ag deireadh an chosáin.
En: With each step, she used the small marks on the map until she saw light at the end of the path.

Ga: Nuair a shroich sí an solas, bhí sí ar ais ag bealach isteach an mhearaidh.
En: When she reached the light, she was back at the entrance to the maze.

Ga: Le croí lán de lúcháire, d'fhág Aoife an mearaí taobh thiar di.
En: With a heart full of joy, Aoife left the maze behind her.

Ga: D'fhoghlaim sí ceacht an lae - go dtiocfadh deireadh le gach casadh agus lúbadh má fhanann tú socair agus cróga.
En: She had learned a lesson that day - that every twist and turn eventually comes to an end if you remain calm and brave.

Ga: Ansin, chuaigh sí ar ais chuig a hóstán i mBaile Átha Cliath, a spiorad lán de scéal le hinsint - scéal an chailín a bhí caillte i mearaí Caisleán na Blarnan, ach a fuair a bealach amach trí chroí agus cinniúint.
En: Then, she returned to her hotel in Dublin, her spirit full of a story to tell - the story of the girl who was lost in the Blarney Castle maze, but found her way out through courage and determination.


Vocabulary Words:

• vacation: saoire
• maze: mearaí
• challenge: dúshlán
• delightful: aoibhinn
• disoriented: éiginnte
• curiosity: fiosracht
• sandwich: ceapaire
• sketch: léarscáil
• courage: crógacht
• determination: cinnteachas