Fluent Fiction - Irish: Reviving Lost Bridges: A Childhood Tale of Restoration
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/ga/episode/2025-09-03-22-34-02-ga

Story Transcript:

Ga: I lár an tsamhraidh, nuair a bhí an ghrian ag dul faoi agus an spéir líonta le dathanna órga agus corcra, tháinig Siobhán síos an cosán caol a d’airigh mar chuid di féin.
En: In the middle of summer, when the sun was setting and the sky was filled with golden and purple colors, Siobhán came down the narrow path that felt like a part of her.

Ga: Bhí an t-aer lán le boladh milis na bláthanna fiáine agus fuaim mhín na sruthán bheagal a bhí ag sileadh faoina cosa.
En: The air was full of the sweet scent of wildflowers and the gentle sound of small streams flowing beneath her feet.

Ga: Ag deireadh an chosáin, sheas an sean-droichead cloiche.
En: At the end of the path stood the old stone bridge.

Ga: Droichead a raibh oiread sin eachtraí agus cuimhní aige.
En: A bridge that had so many adventures and memories.

Ga: Ach anois, bhí sé ag titim as a chéile, á clúdach ag caonach, a chloch bréan le hinniúin an ama.
En: But now, it was falling apart, covered with moss, its stones weathered by the passage of time.

Ga: Ar a taobh eile den Droichead, bhí Eamon, ag déanamh a bhealach faoin tír.
En: On the other side of the bridge was Eamon, making his way through the countryside.

Ga: Bhí a mhála droma mór agus é ag iniúchadh an áit ar ar chónaigh sé mar thachrán.
En: His large backpack was packed as he explored the place where he had lived as a child.

Ga: Bhí línte an ama le feiceáil ina ghnúis, ach bhí a shúile fós lán d’áthas.
En: The lines of time were visible on his face, but his eyes were still full of joy.

Ga: "Siobhán," arsa Eamon, a ghuth lán den iontas agus den ghrá ag feiceáil a chara d’aoise óige.
En: "Siobhán," said Eamon, his voice full of wonder and love at the sight of his childhood friend.

Ga: D’fheicfeá iad, ina seasamh ar dhá thaobh an droichid, amuigh faoin spéir oscailte.
En: You could see them, standing on either side of the bridge, under the open sky.

Ga: Tháinig meabhair chucu de laetha óige, idir gleo agus gáire, ag rith anonn is anall ar an droichead céanna seo.
En: Memories of youthful days came back to them, between noise and laughter, running back and forth on this very bridge.

Ga: "Tá sé fós anseo, fiú má tá sé ag titim as a chéile," arsa Siobhán ag pointeáil i dtreo an droichid, a cúlóigeanna lán le brionglóidí caillte agus seans nua.
En: "It’s still here, even if it's falling apart," said Siobhán, pointing toward the bridge, her eyes full of lost dreams and new chances.

Ga: Bhí Eamon brónach a fheiceáil cé chomh beag a d’athraigh an áit seo.
En: Eamon was sad to see how little this place had changed.

Ga: Ach bhí rud éigin sa seandacht a tharraing a aird.
En: But there was something about its old age that caught his attention.

Ga: Seans b’fhéidir.
En: Perhaps an opportunity.

Ga: Foinse a raibh uathúil ann.
En: A unique source.

Ga: "Céard atá tú a dhéanamh anseo anois, Siobhán?
En: "What are you doing here now, Siobhán?"

Ga: " a d’iarr Eamon.
En: Eamon asked.

Ga: "Is múinteoir mé anois," a mhínigh Siobhán.
En: "I'm a teacher now," Siobhán explained.

Ga: "Ach tá paisean agam don stair áitiúil.
En: "But I have a passion for local history.

Ga: Tá an oiread sin á chailliúint.
En: So much is being lost.

Ga: Tá cairde ag imigh agus caointe sean-scéalta.
En: Friends have left, and old stories have faded."

Ga: "Thaispeáin siad a gcaidreamh a bhí chomh domhain leis an droichead a sheas roimh iad.
En: They shared a bond as deep as the bridge that stood before them.

Ga: "An gcabhairfeá liom an droichead seo a athmhaisiú?
En: "Would you help me restore this bridge?

Ga: Ní amháin gur droichead é, ach iarsma de na chuimhní go léir atá againn," a d’fhiafraigh Siobhán.
En: It’s not just a bridge but a relic of all the memories we have," Siobhán asked.

Ga: Bhí Eamon ag streachailt leis.
En: Eamon was torn.

Ga: Bhí an saol mór aige le taistil agus tairiscintí móra ag glaoch air.
En: He had a world to travel and lucrative offers calling him.

Ga: Ach, chomh fada agus sheas sé ansin ar an droichead, d’fhill cuimhní a linbh.
En: But, as long as he stood there on the bridge, childhood memories returned.

Ga: "Ní féidir liom glacadh leis an méid atá á chailleadh.
En: "I can’t accept the amount of loss.

Ga: Ar chóir dom tréimhse a thógáil agus oibriú anseo?
En: Should I take some time and work here?"

Ga: " a d’fhiafraigh Eamon dó féin os ard.
En: Eamon asked himself aloud.

Ga: Chuir Siobhán a lámh ar a lámh.
En: Siobhán placed her hand on his hand.

Ga: "Tá gach rud luachmhar anseo, rud nach féidir á chailleadh go héasca," a dúirt sí go díograiseach.
En: "Everything valuable is here, something that can't be easily lost," she said passionately.

Ga: Bhí an ceart aici.
En: She was right.

Ga: Bhí sliocht na ngléasanna áirithe dá gcuid féin.
En: The remains of particular instruments belonged to them.

Ga: Rinne Eamon gconaí d’aon seó.
En: Eamon made a decision for one show.

Ga: "Tabharfaidh mé mo chinneadh anseo," a dúirt sé os ard.
En: "I'll make my decision here," he said aloud.

Ga: Chuir sé glao ar a leanúna.
En: He called his followers.

Ga: Shocraigh sé briseadh a thógáil, níos mó a fhiosrú faoin bplean caomhnaithe.
En: He decided to take a break and explore the conservation plan in more detail.

Ga: "Beidh muid ag obair air seo le chéile," a dúirt sé, ag leanúint Siobhán ar ais síos an cosán.
En: "We will work on this together," he said, following Siobhán back down the path.

Ga: Bhí grian an tráthnóna ag soilsigh orthu agus bláthanna ag tnúth le slí le himeacht an lae.
En: The evening sun was shining on them, and the flowers were looking forward to the passing of the day.

Ga: Bhí bealach nua tosaithe.
En: A new journey had begun.

Ga: Le chéile, bhí siad chun an droichead sin a thabhairt ar ais go saol, leis an cheardaíocht agus an grá céanna a bhí imithe i léig.
En: Together, they were going to bring that bridge back to life, with the same craft and love that had faded away.


Vocabulary Words:

• setting: ag dul faoi
• narrow: caol
• adventures: eachtraí
• weathered: bréan
• countryside: faoin tír
• wonder: iontas
• youthful: óige
• opportunity: seans
• source: foinse
• passion: paisean
• faded: á chailliúint
• bond: caidreamh
• restore: athmhaisiú
• relie: iarsma
• lucrative: tairiscintí móra
• torn: streachailt leis
• valuable: luachmhar
• remains: sliocht
• conservation: caomhnaithe
• explore: iniúchadh
• craft: cheardaíocht
• path: cosán
• stream: sruthán
• instrument: ngléasanna
• teacher: múinteoir
• history: stair
• bridge: droichead
• dreams: brionglóidí
• memories: cuimhní
• open sky: spéir oscailte