Fluent Fiction - Irish: A Winter's Respite: Finding Light in a Psychiatric Hospital
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/ga/episode/2026-01-02-23-34-02-ga

Story Transcript:

Ga: Bhí an gheimhreadh ag teacht go trom ar an gclós lasmuigh den ospidéal síciatrach.
En: Winter was descending heavily on the yard outside the psychiatric hospital.

Ga: Bhí solas éadrom na gealaí geimhridh ag scinneadh faoi na fuinneoga iarainn ar an urlár.
En: The pale light of the winter moon was glimmering beneath the iron windows on the floor.

Ga: Bhí Siobhán, altra chomhbhách, ina seasamh ag an deasc le cúram faoi na hothair óna Nollaig féin.
En: Siobhán, a compassionate nurse, was standing at the desk with care for her patients instead of focusing on her own Christmas.

Ga: Bhí bratacha na hAthbhliana ag crochadh ar fud na seomraí, iarracht bheag chun an áit a théamh.
En: New Year’s decorations were hanging throughout the rooms, a small attempt to warm the place.

Ga: Is beag an fhoireann a bhí ann inniu toisc an lá saoire.
En: There was little staff today due to the holiday.

Ga: Bhí an méid oibre ag cur brú ar Siobhán, ach bhí fonn uirthi sólás a thabhairt dá hothair.
En: The amount of work was putting pressure on Siobhán, but she was eager to offer comfort to her patients.

Ga: Bhí sí ar a coimeád aici féin freisin, brón síoraí diúltaithe ag dul i bhfeidhm uirthi le míonna anuas.
En: She was also keeping an eye on herself, as an eternal sorrow of rejection had been affecting her for months.

Ga: Chinn Siobhán rud difriúil a dhéanamh.
En: Siobhán decided to do something different.

Ga: Thug sí na hothair le chéile le chéile chun gníomhaíocht spraíúil a dhéanamh.
En: She gathered the patients together to engage in a fun activity.

Ga: "Déanfaimid cártaí na hAthbhliana," ar sí leo, ag iarraidh suim a bhaint astu.
En: "Let’s make New Year’s cards," she said to them, trying to pique their interest.

Ga: Chuir sé brón uirthi roinnt nanáthar a bheith uaigneach ar lá mar seo.
En: It saddened her that some of them were lonely on a day like this.

Ga: Fionn, othar a raibh fadhbanna móra aige, bhí ina shuí ar thaobh an seomra.
En: Fionn, a patient who had significant issues, was sitting on the side of the room.

Ga: Go minic, b'fhéidir go rabhais go róchiúin, ach bhí maon dobhrónach air inniu.
En: Often, he might have been too quiet, but today he had a brooding expression.

Ga: Thosaigh sé ag tarraingt línte le peann luaidhe ar chupán páipéir.
En: He started drawing lines with a pencil on a paper cup.

Ga: Le himeacht aimsire, thosaigh sé ag labhairt le cúramach leis an ngrúpa.
En: Over time, he began to speak cautiously with the group.

Ga: "Tá mo bhlianta caite i gruaim," a mhaigh sé, a ghlór bog go hiontach.
En: "I have spent my years in gloom," he claimed, his voice surprisingly gentle.

Ga: "Ach tú, Siobhán, tá tú go maith liom."
En: "But you, Siobhán, you are kind to me."

Ga: Agus ansin, go tobann, bhí an seomra líonta le geasa bréagsúnúla.
En: And then, suddenly, the room was filled with sparks of unexpected magic.

Ga: Bhí cuidiú thar a bheith simplí ag obair ina míorúilt.
En: A simple act of helping was working wonders.

Ga: Fonn éadrom ag cur ar Siobhán, bronn sé áthas uirthi.
En: A light-hearted feeling arose in Siobhán, bestowing joy upon her.

Ga: Bhain an sos beag teolaí din a mbraitheann na hothair amach mar ghearradh isteach íona duit.
En: The warm little break allowed the patients to feel as if they were cutting through the isolation.

Ga: Bhí foireann ann arís le barróg sóláis.
En: The staff was embraced by comfort once again.

Ga: Tar éis an chruinniú, chonaic Siobhán litir bheag ó Aisling, comhghleacaí aici.
En: After the meeting, Siobhán noticed a small note from Aisling, a colleague.

Ga: “Más maith leat teacht chugainn tar éis an tseal,” a bhí scríofa, “chun béile beag a roinnt in éineacht.
En: "If you’d like to come to us after your shift," it read, "to share a small meal together.

Ga: Ní féidir le daoine caoin mar thú a bheith gan chomhluadar."
En: Kind people like you shouldn’t be without company."

Ga: Sa nóiméad sin, thuig Siobhán go raibh sí cneasta agus nach raibh aonair.
En: In that moment, Siobhán realized she was kind and not alone.

Ga: Bhí a cuid bróin ag tuileadh amach mar eas, agus í á théamh le grá nua-shásta agus cairdeas dothine.
En: Her sorrows were pouring out like a waterfall, warming her with newfound love and enduring friendship.

Ga: Bhí an Geimhreadh fós cruaibuí, ach bhí teannas solais a bhí cóirithe ag siúl isteach sa saol.
En: Winter was still harsh, but a gentle light was gradually walking into life.


Vocabulary Words:

• descend: teacht
• gleam: scinneadh
• pale: éadrom
• compassionate: chomhbhách
• pressure: brú
• sorrow: brón
• engage: gníomhacht
• brooding: dobhrónach
• cautiously: cúramach
• gloom: gruaim
• gentle: bog
• unexpected: tobann
• magic: geasa
• wonders: míorúilt
• light-hearted: éadrom
• bestow: bronn
• isolation: uaigneach
• embrace: barróg
• endure: dothine
• pour: tuileadh
• enduring: dothine
• gradually: de réir a chéile
• harsh: cruaibuí
• gather: chruin
• attempt: iarracht
• gather: chruinniú
• spark: splanc
• comfort: sólás
• warmth: teolaí
• nurture: altracht