Fluent Fiction - Irish: A Festive Break: Balancing Books and Friendship in Dublin
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/ga/episode/2024-12-22-08-38-19-ga

Story Transcript:

Ga: Bhí an Nollaig ag druidim linn i mBaile Átha Cliath.
En: Christmas was approaching in Baile Átha Cliath (Dublin).

Ga: Oíche fuar geimhridh a bhí ann agus sneachta á thitim go mall ar champas Choláiste na Tríonóide.
En: It was a cold winter night with snow slowly falling on the campus of Coláiste na Tríonóide (Trinity College).

Ga: Bhí an leabharlann maisithe go hálainn leis na soilse Nollag ag lonradh timpeall na seomraí.
En: The library was beautifully decorated with Christmas lights shining around the rooms.

Ga: Tháinig boladh seacláide te agus mince pióg ón margadh beag cois na leabharlainne.
En: The scent of hot chocolate and mince pies wafted from the small market near the library.

Ga: Sá seomra ciúin staidéir, bhí Aisling ina suí ag deasc lán le leabhair.
En: In the quiet study room, Aisling sat at a desk filled with books.

Ga: Bhí sí ag ullmhú don scrúdú mór deiridh.
En: She was preparing for the big final exam.

Ga: Bhí an brú uirthi mar bhí an Nollaig ag síneadh chuici, agus bhraith sí ciontach nach raibh sí ag glacadh páirt sna féilte.
En: She felt pressured because Christmas was looming, and she felt guilty for not participating in the festivities.

Ga: Is breá le hAisling an Nollaig, ach bhí na scrúduithe níos tábhachtaí aici.
En: Aisling loved Christmas, but the exams were more important to her.

Ga: I ngiorracht di, bhí Eoin, a cara maith.
En: Close by was Eoin, her good friend.

Ga: Bhí sé ag déanamh staidéir chomh maith, ach bhí a ghuthán póca ag iompar nach mór mar ghuthán greannmhar Nollag.
En: He was studying as well, but his cell phone was almost like a funny Christmas phone.

Ga: Bhí sé níos suaimhní, agus níos lú buartha faoin obair.
En: He was more relaxed and less worried about the work.

Ga: "Aisling, rachaimid amach le haghaidh cupán seacláide te?
En: "Aisling, shall we go out for a cup of hot chocolate?"

Ga: " ar sé.
En: he said.

Ga: D'fhéach Aisling air le himní.
En: Aisling looked at him with concern.

Ga: "Tá an-iomarca le déanamh agam, Eoin," d'fhreagair sí.
En: "I have too much to do, Eoin," she replied.

Ga: Ach bhí aoibh gháire cairdiúil le feiceáil ar aghaidh Eoin.
En: But a friendly smile was visible on Eoin's face.

Ga: "Ní thógfaidh sé i bhfad," ar sé.
En: "It won't take long," he said.

Ga: "Féachaimid ar na soilse agus glacaimid sos beag.
En: "Let's look at the lights and take a small break."

Ga: "Bhí Aisling ag comhairle le hí féin.
En: Aisling deliberated with herself.

Ga: Bhí an ceart ag Eoin, b'fhéidir go mba cheart di sos beag a ghlacadh.
En: Eoin was right; perhaps she should take a small break.

Ga: Shocraigh sí dul leis.
En: She decided to go with him.

Ga: Chuir sí a leabhair i leataobh agus d’ardaigh sí a cóta mór.
En: She put her books aside and donned her big coat.

Ga: Tháinig siad amach, agus b'fhionnuar an aer, lán le boladh brea na Nollag.
En: They came out, and the air was cool, filled with the wonderful scent of Christmas.

Ga: Bhí an margadh beag maisithe le soilse daite agus bhí boladh milseog Nollag le brath san aer.
En: The small market was decorated with colorful lights, and there was the aroma of Christmas dessert in the air.

Ga: "Féach, Aisling," a dúirt Eoin," nach bhfuil an Nollaig álainn?
En: "Look, Aisling," said Eoin, "isn't Christmas beautiful?"

Ga: "Bhí aoibh gháire ar aghaidh Aisling anois, agus thosaigh sí ag mothú an spiorad Nollag in ainneoin an struis.
En: Aisling now had a smile on her face, and she started feeling the Christmas spirit despite the stress.

Ga: D’ól siad seacláidí te agus bhí na soilse ag taitneamh go súimhneach timpeall orthu.
En: They drank hot chocolates, and the lights shone peacefully around them.

Ga: Bhí an sneachta ag titim arís, agus bhí sé an-rómánsúil sa bhealach beag sin nach raibh siad ag súil leis.
En: The snow was falling again, and it was very romantic in that little way they didn't expect.

Ga: Bhí an oíche sin breáite idir an grá do staidéir agus taitneamh a bhaint as an saol.
En: That night balanced love for study with enjoying life.

Ga: Thuig Aisling gur féidir obair agus cuimhní dearfacha a bheith i gcothromaíocht.
En: Aisling understood that work and positive memories could be in balance.

Ga: Thóg sí an eispéireas sin leis ar ais go dtí an leabharlann.
En: She carried that experience back with her to the library.

Ga: An lá dár gcionn, chuir sí fios níos dearfaí agus níos suaimhní ar a cuid staidéir.
En: The next day, she approached her studies with a more positive and relaxed mindset.

Ga: Agus bhí Eoin ann, mar chara dílis.
En: And Eoin was there as a loyal friend.

Ga: Fuair Aisling amach go ndearna an chumasc beag sin difríocht mhór.
En: Aisling discovered that this small blend made a big difference.

Ga: Mhothaigh sí nár cheart di taitneamh an Nollag a chailleadh fiú amháin le tascanna troma ar siúl.
En: She felt she shouldn't miss out on the enjoyment of Christmas even with heavy tasks at hand.

Ga: Bhí an t-eispéireas seo le Eoin mar dhaingniú a cairdis leo.
En: This experience with Eoin reinforced their friendship.

Ga: Bhí siad beirt níos gaire le chéile anois, agus rinne an Nollaig ard ar a gcroíthe agus ar a gcairdeas.
En: They both felt closer now, and Christmas lifted their spirits and their friendship.

Ga: Críochnaíodh an scéal leis an mothú dearfach sin faoin iomlán a bhí ag teastáil uathu i gcaitheamh na bliana.
En: The story concluded with that positive feeling that was needed throughout the year.

Ga: Bhí a bpost déanta acu, fuair Aisling a mbuíochas as sos, agus bhí suim níos mó ag Eoin as mar chara maith atá ann.
En: Their work was done, Aisling appreciated the break, and Eoin had an even greater interest in being a good friend.

Ga: Tháinig athrú éadrom isteach i saol Aisling a mhúin di luach an tsosa.
En: A subtle change came into Aisling's life, teaching her the value of taking breaks.


Vocabulary Words:

• approaching: ag druidim
• campus: campas
• decorated: maisithe
• wafted: Tháinig boladh
• quiet: ciúin
• desk: deasc
• filled: lán
• looming: ag síneadh chuici
• festivities: féilte
• guilty: ciontach
• relaxed: suaimhní
• worried: buartha
• concern: imní
• deliberated: ag comhairle
• donned: d’ardaigh
• aroma: boladh
• romantic: rómánsúil
• unexpected: nach raibh siad ag súil leis
• balanced: breáite
• understood: Thuig
• memories: cuimhní
• loyal: dílis
• blend: cumasc
• reinforced: mar dhaingniú
• closer: níos gaire
• spirits: croíthe
• concluded: Críochnaíodh
• subtle: éadrom
• breaks: sosa
• value: luach