Fluent Fiction - Irish: Finding Light in the Winter: A Sister's Journey to Reconnect
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/ga/episode/2024-12-26-08-38-19-ga

Story Transcript:

Ga: Bhí sneachta trom ag titim taobh amuigh den fhuinneog, línte na cathrach sáite faoin gcliabhán bán.
En: Heavy snow was falling outside the window, the city's outlines buried under the white blanket.

Ga: Sa chith sin, thosaigh Aisling ag obair ar maidin i bhforas mór baincéireachta in ardchathair Bhaile Átha Cliath.
En: In that shower, Aisling started her morning work at a large banking institution in the capital city of Baile Átha Cliath.

Ga: Bhí crann Nollag mór fós suite sa lárionad, a réalta órga ag soilsiú i ndorcha an gheimhridh.
En: A large Christmas tree was still standing in the center, its golden star shining in the winter darkness.

Ga: Ba dhóigh le duine go raibh giúmar na réalta ag soilsiú istigh inti freisin, ach bhí imní le brath in intinn Aisling.
En: One might think that the star's mood was shining within her as well, but there was anxiety in Aisling's mind.

Ga: Ag tabhairt aghaidh ar an Deasc Cúnta, rinne sí iarracht díriú ar nathanna agus réitigh faidhbe, rud a bhí de dhualgas uirthi.
En: Facing the Help Desk, she tried to focus on phrases and problem-solving, which were her duties.

Ga: Ach, rith na smaointe faoina deartháir Cian trína hintinn gan staonadh.
En: Yet, thoughts of her brother Cian ran through her mind relentlessly.

Ga: Ag cruinniú an teaghlaigh ag an Nollaig, bhí ráite aige nár thuig sí riamh cén fáth a raibh sé chomh suaimhneach agus nár iarr sé níos mó ón saol.
En: At the family gathering during Christmas, he had said that she never understood why he was so content and never asked for more from life.

Ga: D’fhág an chaint sin marc sa mheon aici.
En: That conversation left a mark on her mindset.

Ga: Le linn sos caife, d’fhéach Aisling trína cúinne oibre tríd an bhfhuinneog, an fhuinneog a d’irísíodh di go n-éiríodh sí nuair a bhí a intinn faoi glas.
En: During her coffee break, Aisling looked through her workspace corner window, the window that allowed her to find her way when her mind was locked.

Ga: D'éirigh sí ina seasamh, ag baint de chasóg a culaith, agus sheas sí ag an margadh aice na cúinne.
En: She stood up, removed the jacket of her suit, and stood by the market near the corner.

Ga: Bhí fís shoiléir aici: an t-am a dhéanamh i gceart chun dul i dteagmháil le Cian.
En: She had a clear vision: to make time to reach out to Cian.

Ga: Bhí plean aici, rud annamh do na chuairteanna mear faoi amanna oibre.
En: She had a plan, unusual for quick visits during work hours.

Ga: Níorbh éasca é, an chosán nach breathnaíonn ar an am, ach b'fhiú go mór í.
En: It wasn’t easy, the path that doesn’t look at the time, but it was well worth it.

Ga: Ba ghearr a bhí sí i gcaife Béal na Cathrach.
En: Soon, she was at a cafe in Béal na Cathrach.

Ga: Shuigh sí ag bord leis féin, áit a raibh béicíl na trácht, siopaí i bhfad, agus cur fíochmhar an bhaile gheimhridh ag déanamh torann bog, socair.
En: She sat at a table by herself, where the shouting of the traffic, distant shops, and the fierce coming of the winter city made a gentle, soothing noise.

Ga: Bhí buíochán fós le sonrú i bpilliúr na mbaile Nollag, i bhfallaí galánta a bhí ag stopadh an fuachta amach.
En: The warmth was still visible in the Christmas homes' pillows, in the elegant walls that kept the cold at bay.

Ga: Chuir sí glaoch ar Cian.
En: She called Cian.

Ga: Bhí amhras ann, ach tar éis cúpla clog, d'fhreagair sé.
En: There was doubt, but after a few rings, he answered.

Ga: "Dia dhuit, Cian," arsa Aisling go congarach.
En: "Hello, Cian," said Aisling softly.

Ga: Bhí strain sa fuaimeadh a hathbhualadh, rud a chúis scáthanna sa guth.
En: There was strain in her voice, causing shadows in the tone.

Ga: "Tá mé ag cuimhneamh ar an Nollaig.
En: "I’ve been thinking about Christmas.

Ga: Ar an rud a dúirt tú.
En: About what you said."

Ga: "D'fhéach sí ar an margadh thart, daoine ag dul thar bráid, le little darkness imithe óna n-éadaí.
En: She looked around the market, people passing by, a little darkness lifted from their clothes.

Ga: D'éist Cian, agus d'éirigh siad ag comhrá go ciúin.
En: Cian listened, and they quietly began to converse.

Ga: Mhínigh Aisling a cuid brú ón obair – ón sprioc agus an ardtaise an tuairimre nua sa todhchaí.
En: Aisling explained her work pressures – the targets and the high expectations for the future.

Ga: Mhothaigh sí an gá le bheith foirfe, le cinntiú nach gcaillfeadh sí focal ná compás i saol an oifig.
En: She felt the need to be perfect, to ensure she didn’t lose track in the office world.

Ga: "Tuigim," a d'fhreagair Cian faoi dheireadh, go caoin.
En: "I understand," Cian finally replied, gently.

Ga: "Ach ní dhéanaim mór shaothar díom féin.
En: "But I don't make a big deal of things myself.

Ga: Is fearr liom éisteacht le soilse an tsaoil.
En: I prefer to listen to the lights of life."

Ga: "D'éirigh an comhrá níos éadroime mar go bhfuil siad ábalta an talamh coiteann a aimsiú.
En: The conversation lightened as they managed to find common ground.

Ga: Aontaithe faoi dheireadh, ghabh said leithscéalta dá chéile.
En: Reconciled in the end, they apologized to each other.

Ga: Léirigh Cian do Aisling nach raibh aon bhaint ag rudaí níos tábhachtaí cosúil le ceangal teaghlaigh le hualach obair.
En: Cian showed Aisling that more important things like family ties had nothing to do with the burden of work.

Ga: Ag imeacht an tráthnóna sin ón gcaife, bhí níos mó éadromaíocht ina gcroí arís.
En: As she left the cafe that afternoon, there was more lightness in their hearts again.

Ga: D’fhág an tsneachta orlach breise a ritheann go réidh anois, ag tabhairt léiriú úr don tsráid.
En: The snow left an extra inch now, running smoothly, giving the street a fresh appearance.

Ga: Tuigithí gur scéal le leanúint agus tógáil ar dhreas diúltach an argoint.
En: They understood it was a story to follow and build upon, dismissing negative arguments.

Ga: Bhí saibhreas ann in éisteacht, sa chomhbheith.
En: There was wealth in listening, in being together.

Ga: D’éirigh leo bealach nua a aimsiú, ainmníodh go n-ilfhéideartha é.
En: They found a new path, named in a myriad of possibilities.


Vocabulary Words:

• anxiety: imní
• relentlessly: gan staonadh
• gathering: cruinniú
• content: suaimhneach
• workspace: cúinne oibre
• vision: fís
• unusual: annamh
• soothing: socair
• doubt: amhras
• strain: strain
• burden: ualach
• reconciled: aontaithe
• dismiss: dreas diúltach
• wealth: saibhreas
• possibilities: ilfhéideartha
• blizzard: cith
• banking: baincéireachta
• outlines: línte
• duities: dualgas
• fierce: fíochmhar
• elegant: galánta
• converse: comhrá
• expectations: ardtaise
• compass: compás
• soothed: socair
• follow: leanúint
• shouting: béicíl
• perfection: foirfe
• shadows: scáthanna
• brother: deartháir