Fluent Fiction - Irish: Niamh's Balancing Act: A Samhain Story of Family and Freedom
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/ga/episode/2025-11-04-08-38-20-ga

Story Transcript:

Ga: Bhí meanfómhar tagtha go Gaillimh, agus bhí scoil phoiblí lán le gníomhaíocht.
En: Autumn had arrived in Gaillimh, and the public school was full of activity.

Ga: Bhí daltaí agus múinteoirí ag canadh faoi fhéile na Samhna a bhí ag teacht.
En: Students and teachers were singing about the upcoming Samhain festival.

Ga: Bhí dreoilíní ag sciobadh tríd an aer fionnuar, agus bhí an t-uisce beatha uathúil á chraobháil ag na duilleoga rua.
En: Wrens were darting through the cool air, and the whiskey-colored leaves were being tossed about.

Ga: I measc an tuilidh, bhí Niamh, cailín éirimiúil agus dícheallach.
En: Among the crowd was Niamh, an intelligent and diligent girl.

Ga: Bhí Niamh i ngnáthlá atá lán le staidéar agus cainteanna faoi déagóirí eile ag caint ar phleananna don Samhna.
En: Niamh was having a typical day full of study and talking, as other teenagers chatted about plans for Samhain.

Ga: Bhí Niamh ag iarraidh dul lena cairde, Declan agus Aoife, chuig an bhféile bríomhar thraidisiúnta seo.
En: She wanted to go with her friends, Declan and Aoife, to this lively traditional festival.

Ga: Ach bhí ualach mór ar a guaillí.
En: But she had a heavy burden on her shoulders.

Ga: Ba í Niamh an duine ba shine ina chlann agus bhí uirthi aire a thabhairt dá siblíní níos óige gach oíche.
En: Niamh was the eldest in her family and had to take care of her younger siblings every night.

Ga: D'fhéach sí amach ar an bhfuinneog, ag féachaint ar an bhfuadar taobh amuigh.
En: She looked out the window, watching the hustle and bustle outside.

Ga: Ba taibhseach an rud a bhí an chathair i mean-fhómhar.
En: The city was beautiful in mid-autumn.

Ga: Bhí sí idir dhá chomhairle.
En: She was torn.

Ga: Ní raibh sí ag iarraidh an Samhain a chailliúint, ach bhí a fhios aici go raibh a cuid dualgaisí sa bhaile trom uirthi.
En: She didn't want to miss Samhain, but she knew her responsibilities at home were heavy.

Ga: Ba chóir di labhairt lena tuismitheoirí, ach bhí leisce uirthi brostaíl orthu.
En: She should talk to her parents, but she was hesitant to rush them.

Ga: Gach lá, ag am lóin, labhair sí le Declan agus Aoife.
En: Every day, at lunchtime, she talked with Declan and Aoife.

Ga: D'inis iad fuithi a cuid imní agus pléann siad le chéile nócha gcaithfidh sí bheith dáiríre faoi.
En: She told them about her worries, and they discussed together that she needs to be serious about it.

Ga: "Ní féidir leat gach rud a dhéanamh, Niamh," a dúirt Declan.
En: "You can't do everything, Niamh," said Declan.

Ga: "Tá tú iontach, ach is duine thú.
En: "You're amazing, but you're only human."

Ga: "Tháinig lá an cinntí.
En: The day of decision arrived.

Ga: Bhí toradh ann.
En: A result emerged.

Ga: Saol sa bhaile ná cás ar leith de struis.
En: Life at home was a unique case of stress.

Ga: Bhí orainn uair amháin eile clársaíocht a dhéanamh.
En: Once again, planning had to be done.

Ga: Bhí Niamh sásta go ndearna sí cinneadh linnteachas a dhéanamh len a tuismitheoirí.
En: Niamh was happy she made the decision to cooperate with her parents.

Ga: "Is gá do thacaíocht daoibh," a dúirt sí leo, a nguth reatha le imní.
En: "I need your support," she told them, her voice filled with concern.

Ga: Bhí an chumhacht os a cionn.
En: Empowerment was above her.

Ga: Thóg a deartháir amach próiseas álainn a phleanála chun a n-am a réiteach.
En: Her brother came up with a wonderful process to sort out their time.

Ga: Thug a tuismitheoirí éisteacht dá nguth a dóitear ó chaoi a shúile raibh adharcanna sásta, agus thiontaigh isteach.
En: Her parents listened to their heartfelt voices, realizing how her eyes were pleading, and they agreed.

Ga: "D'íosfadh tú go dtí na féile," a dúirt siúd, agus shocraigh cairde mífín na clainne a bheith ag amharc na leanaí.
En: "You should go to the festival," they said, and family friends arranged to watch the children.

Ga: Ba bhristi an bhráid d'ualach le mothú le faoiseamh.
En: The weight of the burden broke with a sense of relief.

Ga: Gáire soiléir insríoch idir shoul is an taibhse.
En: A clear joy radiated between her soul and the spirit.

Ga: Bhí an meas ag aoibh ar agus thosaigh ag cuardach cultacha le Aoife agus Declan, a rinne falafaireacht le hábhair a cuid taithní.
En: There was a grateful smile on her face as she began searching for costumes with Aoife and Declan, who mischievously explored with their creative ideas.

Ga: Ag deireadh na Samhna, shroich an ceiliúradh a bhuaic agus cheiliúr éirín bríomhar an chathair, mar go raibh Niamh bog aige an glactí a bhí aici.
En: At the end of Samhain, the celebration reached its peak, and the vibrant spirit of the city was celebrated, as Niamh felt lightened by the acceptance she had received.

Ga: D'fhoghlaim sí go raibh sé ceart a rún a roinnt, agus bhí grá dá tuismitheoirí níos suntasaí.
En: She learned that it was right to share her secret, and the love for her parents was more significant.

Ga: I mBéarla nua-Aeire, bhí gliondar mar an gaoth ar a croí.
En: In new Éire, happiness was like the wind on her heart.

Ga: Samhain sona daoibh uilig!
En: Happy Samhain to you all!


Vocabulary Words:

• autumn: meanfómhar
• darting: sciobadh
• diligent: dícheallach
• burden: ualach
• siblings: siblíní
• hesitant: leisce
• pleading: adhar
• empowerment: cumhacht
• process: próiseas
• relief: faoiseamh
• spirit: taibhse
• mischievously: falafaireacht
• creative: ábhair
• acceptance: glactí
• festival: féile
• decision: cinntí
• planning: clársaíocht
• support: tacaíocht
• voices: guth
• wonderful: álainn
• heartfelt: dóitear
• grateful: meas
• soul: shoul
• costumes: cultacha
• celebration: ceiliúradh
• vibrant: bríomhar
• lightened: bog
• significant: suntasach
• happiness: gliondar
• wind: gaoth