The Day Aoife Misteak a Sheep for a Friend

Fluent Fiction – Irish
www.FluentFiction.org/Irish
Story Transcript:
Ga: Lá geal ciúin a bhí ann, lá bréa saoire in Éirinn.
En: It was a bright, peaceful day, a beautiful day off in Ireland.

Ga: Bhí Aoife agus a cairde, Cian agus Siobhán, ar cuairt ag na hAillte Móire, Cliffs of Moher.
En: Aoife and her friends, Cian and Siobhán, were visiting the Cliffs of Moher.

Ga: Bhí an t-aer glan agus an radharc dochreidte.
En: The air was clean, and the view was incredible.

Ga: “Amharcaigí ar an gcuas ansin,” arsa Siobhán agus a méar ag pointeáil i dtreo poll ollmhór sa charraig.
En: “Look over there,” said Siobhán, pointing towards a massive hole in the rock.

Ga: Bhí an trio ag siúl agus ag comhrá faoin tírdhreach álainn.
En: The three walked and chatted about the beautiful landscape.

Ga: D’fhógair Aoife go raibh sí ag iarraidh pictiúr a thógáil.
En: Aoife announced that she wanted to take a picture.

Ga: “Á, fanigí anseo agus feicfidh mé an bhfaighidh mé uillinn mhaith,” ar sise.
En: “Oh, wait here, and I’ll see if I can find a good spot,” she said.

Ga: Shiúil sí ar shiúl óna cairde, agus iad ag magadh is ag gáire ina diaidh.
En: She walked away from her friends, who were joking and laughing behind her.

Ga: Ag lorg an áit foirfe don ghrianghraf, níor thug Aoife faoi deara go raibh sí tar éis scaradh i bhfad óna cairde.
En: Looking for the perfect spot for the photograph, Aoife didn’t notice she had wandered far from her friends.

Ga: Nuair a chas sí thart, chonaic sí cruth clúmhach, díreach cosúil le héadaí Cian ó chian.
En: When she turned around, she saw a fluffy shape, just like Cian’s coat from far away.

Ga: Bhí an cruth ina shuí go ciúin, amhail is go raibh sé ag féachaint amach thar an Aigéan Atlantach.
En: The shape was sitting quietly, as if it was looking out over the Atlantic Ocean.

Ga: “Ó, Cian, nach bhfuil an radharc seo dochreidte?
En: “Oh, Cian, isn’t this view amazing?”

Ga: ” a labhair Aoife go bog, ag creidiúint go raibh sé i gceart aici dul i mbun comhrá.
En: Aoife softly spoke, believing that he was correct to engage in conversation.

Ga: Níor labhair ‘Cian’ ar ais.
En: No response.

Ga: Níor ghluais sé fiú.
En: He didn’t even move.

Ga: “Cian?
En: “Cian?”

Ga: “Thug Aoife cicín beag cairdiúil do ‘Cian’ chun a aird a fháil.
En: Aoife gave a little friendly kick to ‘Cian’ to get his attention.

Ga: Agus ansin chuala sí maaa.
En: And then, she heard a “baaa.”

Ga: Bhain sí siar, agus chonaic sí go soileir anois: bhí caora ann, ní raibh Cian ann ar chor ar bith!
En: She looked back and now clearly saw: it was a sheep, not Cian at all!

Ga: Phléasc gáire timpeall uirthi.
En: Laughter erupted around her.

Ga: Bhí lucht féachana bailithe agus iad ag baint an-sult as an radharc.
En: Onlookers had gathered and were thoroughly enjoying the sight.

Ga: Chuala Aoife gáire ó chúl a cinn.
En: Aoife heard laughter from behind her.

Ga: D’iompaigh sí agus chonaic sí Cian agus Siobhán ag gáire go croíúil.
En: She turned and saw Cian and Siobhán laughing heartily.

Ga: “Ó Aoife,” arsa Cian, “tá tú ró-greannmhar!
En: “Oh Aoife,” said Cian, “you are too funny!”

Ga: “Bhí náire ar Aoife ar dtús ach ansin rinne sí gáire freisin.
En: At first, Aoife was embarrassed but then she laughed as well.

Ga: Bhí siad go léir ag gáire faoin eachtra, a gcroíthe lán de chraic agus spórt.
En: They all laughed about the incident, their hearts full of fun and enjoyment.

Ga: Ní amháin go raibh pictiúr den gcruth álainn ag Aoife, ach bhí ceann de na cuimhní is greannmhaire dara saol acu: an lá a labhair Aoife le caora mar chara.
En: Not only did Aoife have a picture of the beautiful shape, but they also had one of the funniest memories of their lives: the day Aoife talked to a sheep as a friend.

Ga: Sular fhág siad Cliffs of Moher, gheall Aoife di féin go mbeadh súil níos géire aici as seo amach – go háirithe nuair a bheadh cairde nó caoirigh i gceist.
En: Before they left the Cliffs of Moher, Aoife promised herself to be more vigilant from now on – especially when friends or sheep were involved.

Ga: Agus le pictiúir, gáire, agus cuimhní nua iontacha, d’fhág an triúr an áit draíochtúil seo, réidh lena gcéad eachtra eile.
En: With pictures, laughter, and new wonderful memories, the three left this magical place, ready for their next adventure.

Vocabulary Words:
ciúin : bright
ciúin : peaceful
saoire : off
ag cuairt : visiting
glan : clean
ollmhór : massive
poll : hole
dochreidte : incredible
fhógair : announced
pictiúr : picture
uillin : spot
scaradh : wandered
clúmhach : fluffy
caora : sheep
gáire : laughter
eachtra : incident
náire : embarrassed
súil : vigilant
bain : engage
freagra : response
buailte : kicked
aird : attention
maaa : baaa
phléasc : erupted
croíúil : heartily
cuimhní : memories
gheall : promised
go hiomlán : thoroughly
sult : enjoyment
draíochtúil : magical