Fluent Fiction - Irish: Aisling's Autumn: Bridging History and Folklore at Trinity
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/ga/episode/2025-10-20-07-38-20-ga

Story Transcript:

Ga: Bhí séasúr na bhFómhar ann, agus bhí na duilleoga ag titim ó na crainn ar champas Choláiste na Tríonóide i mBaile Átha Cliath.
En: It was the autumn season, and the leaves were falling from the trees on the campus of Coláiste na Tríonóide in Baile Átha Cliath.

Ga: Sa Leabharlann cáiliúil, áit fiosrúcháin na staire agus na seanchas, bhí triúr cairde bailithe le chéile arís: Aisling, Cormac, agus Siobhán.
En: In the famous library, a place of historical and folklore inquiry, three friends had gathered again: Aisling, Cormac, and Siobhán.

Ga: Bhí cóiricíní oráiste agus dubha crochta timpeall, ag cuimhneamh do dhaoine go raibh Oíche Shamhna ag teacht aníos.
En: Orange and black streamers were hanging around, reminding people that Oíche Shamhna was approaching.

Ga: Bhí atmaisféar an-leithleach ann, agus bhí fuinneamh saoirseach ag líonadh na leabharlainne ó na cuairteoirí san aer.
En: There was a very relaxed atmosphere, and a free spirited energy filled the library from the visitors in the air.

Ga: Ba mhac léinn dúthrachtach í Aisling, i gcónaí buartha faoin scrúdú ealaín staire a bhí roimpi.
En: Aisling was a diligent student, always worried about the art history exam that lay ahead.

Ga: Thaitin seanchas na hÉireann léi go mór, ach cé go mbíodh sí gafa leis, bhí sí buailte leis an mbrú gan tagairt a dhéanamh dó anseo.
En: She greatly enjoyed Irish folklore, but although she was captivated by it, she was hit by the pressure not to reference it here.

Ga: "Bhuel, cad atá tú ag déanamh Aisling?
En: "Well, what are you up to Aisling?"

Ga: " a d’fhiafraigh Cormac ag gáire, ag iarraidh an scéal a dhéanamh níos éadroime.
En: asked Cormac laughing, trying to lighten the situation.

Ga: "Níl aon seans go mbeimid chomh maith leatsa faoin stair!
En: "There's no chance we'll be as good as you at history!"

Ga: "Bhí a fhios ag Cormac chomh maith gur bhraith Aisling brú air.
En: Cormac also knew that Aisling felt the pressure.

Ga: D'fhéach sé uirthi le súile mímheabhracha, ach faoi bhí a mhisneach féin beagán as alt.
En: He looked at her with teasing eyes, but beneath that, his own courage was a bit out of place.

Ga: "Caithfidh mé díriú ar an stair amháin," a dúirt Aisling go neirbhíseach.
En: "I have to focus on history alone," said Aisling nervously.

Ga: "Ach tá sé deacair gan an seanchas a ghlacadh isteach.
En: "But it's hard not to absorb the folklore."

Ga: "Bhí Siobhán, ar a raibh an-cháil aici ar a cuid acadúla, níos dáiríre.
En: Siobhán, known for her academic prowess, was more serious.

Ga: "Cén fáth a mbeadh Gaeilge ar bith á bhaineann le stair ár staidéir?
En: "Why would any Gaeilge be associated with the history of our studies?"

Ga: " a d'fhiafraigh sí go géarchúiseach.
En: she asked sharply.

Ga: Ach chaith Aisling an dainséar, agus rinne sí cinneadh aiste a scríobh ag tabhairt aghaidh ar na cosúlachtaí idir staire agus seanchas.
En: But Aisling took the plunge, and she decided to write an essay addressing the similarities between history and folklore.

Ga: Thosaigh sí ag míniú go paiseanta.
En: She began to explain passionately.

Ga: "Bhí Leabhar na hÉireann lán de scéalta ó ré na Sean-Ghaeilge," a dúirt sí.
En: "The Leabhar na hÉireann was full of stories from the Old Irish era," she said.

Ga: "Tá nasc idir fianaise stairiúil agus scéalta béaloidis!
En: "There is a link between historical evidence and folklore stories!"

Ga: "Ní fhéadfadh Cormac a bheith i gceann a chuid gáire nuair a thosaigh an díospóireacht.
En: Cormac couldn't keep from laughing when the debate started.

Ga: Bhí an chonspóid spreagúil, fiú Siobhán admhaigh suim sa seanchas go simplí.
En: The controversy was stimulating, and even Siobhán admitted a simple interest in the folklore.

Ga: "B'fhéidir nach bhfuil an seanchas chomh hamaideach sin," a dúirt sí cúramach.
En: "Maybe the folklore isn't that foolish," she said cautiously.

Ga: Tháinig an lá faoinár mbráid nuair a thug Aisling a haiste isteach.
En: The day arrived when Aisling handed in her essay.

Ga: Bhí croí lán áthais uirthi le tiomáint nua.
En: Her heart was full of joy with a new drive.

Ga: Le hiontas Dé, mol an múinteoir í as a cuid cruthaitheacht, agus fuair sí barr feabhais ar a cuid aiste.
En: To her astonishment, the teacher praised her for her creativity, and she excelled in her essay.

Ga: Agus ar deireadh, thuig Aisling go raibh an luachacht ina smaointe féin níos tábhachtaí ná bheith ar aon tuairim seachas a bheith difriúil.
En: In the end, Aisling realized that the value in her own thoughts was more important than being in agreement rather than being different.

Ga: Bhí sí ag seasamh go daingean ar a post féin, ní hamháin i gcúrsaí acadúla, ach sa saol mór freisin.
En: She stood firmly on her own ground, not only in academic matters, but in life in general.

Ga: I measc na bhFómhar, mar an féar aoibhinn, bhí Aisling anois féinmhuiníneach.
En: Among the autumn leaves, like the pleasant grass, Aisling was now confident in herself.


Vocabulary Words:

• autumn: Fómhar
• falling: titim
• diligent: dúthrachtach
• folklore: seanchas
• exam: scrúdú
• gathered: bailithe
• streamers: cóiricíní
• relaxed: leithleach
• courage: misneach
• nervously: neirbhíseach
• academic: acadúla
• sharp: géarchúiseach
• plunge: dainséar
• essay: aiste
• similarities: cosúlachtaí
• historical: stairiúil
• evidence: fianaise
• controversy: conspóid
• astonishment: iontas
• creativity: cruthaitheacht
• excelled: barr feabhais
• agreement: tuairim
• confident: féinmhuiníneach
• teasing: mímheabhracha
• inquiry: fiosrúcháin
• library: leabharlann
• foolish: amaideach
• praise: mol
• drive: tiomáint
• joy: áthais