Fluent Fiction - Irish: From Gaillimh's Shadows to New Zealand's Shores: Niamh's Gamble
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Story Transcript:

Ga: I lár na sráideanna i nGaillimh, bhí néalta dorcha ag bailiú os cionn na cathrach.
En: In the middle of the streets in Gaillimh, dark clouds were gathering over the city.

Ga: Bhí na duilleoga órga ag titim timpeall ar Niamh agus í ag siúl go ciúin, a bróga ag crónán ar an gcarranach fliuch.
En: The golden leaves were falling around Niamh as she walked quietly, her shoes making a sound on the wet pavement.

Ga: Oíche Oíche Shamhna a bhí ann, agus bhí atmaisféar draíochtúil san aer.
En: It was Halloween night, and there was a magical atmosphere in the air.

Ga: Bhí a folt ag séideadh sa ghaoth, Niamh ag smaoineamh ar a brionglóid aisteach dul ar turas mór go dtí an Nua-Shéalainn.
En: Her hair was blowing in the wind, as Niamh thought about her strange dream of going on a great journey to New Zealand.

Ga: Ach bhí airgead gann, agus gan airgead ní bheadh slí éalaithe aici óna saol laethúil.
En: But money was scarce, and without it, she wouldn't have a way to escape her daily life.

Ga: Go tobann, chuala sí torann ar leith ó bhun an bhothar.
En: Suddenly, she heard a distinctive noise at the end of the road.

Ga: Bhí doras beag ceithre thaobh ag bun staighre iarainn.
En: There was a small four-sided door at the bottom of an iron staircase.

Ga: D'oscail sé, ag scaoileadh solas buí isteach ar an mbóthar dorcha.
En: It opened, releasing yellow light onto the dark road.

Ga: Cheap sí gur chuala sí gáire guthanna chomh maith.
En: She thought she heard laughter and voices too.

Ga: Bhí iontas uirthi, ach bhí fiosracht aici.
En: She was surprised, but she was curious.

Ga: Rinne sí a bhealach síos an staighre creathach.
En: She made her way down the creaky stairs.

Ga: Fuair sí í féin i seomra beag le ceithre balla.
En: She found herself in a small room with four walls.

Ga: Bhí boladh ag baint leis an seomra de thoitíní agus d'fhíon.
En: The room smelled of cigarettes and wine.

Ga: Bhí gnáthairde mhórthábla ann, le himreoirí ag seasamh timpeall air ag imirt bothair ard-riosca.
En: There was a regular-sized big table, with players standing around it playing a high-stakes game.

Ga: Bhí anómh do Niamh, Seamus, ag caitheamh a hata mór.
En: Seamus, a friend of Niamh's, was wearing his big hat.

Ga: Bhí Aoife ann freisin, a súile ghéar ag faire gach duine.
En: Aoife was there too, her sharp eyes watching everyone.

Ga: Ach bhí sé le feiceáil go raibh na himreoirí eile ann faoi radair.
En: But it was clear the other players were under the radar.

Ga: Niamh, áfach, bhí rud ar leith aici.
En: However, Niamh had something special.

Ga: Bhí sí fuciúil i léamh gothaí aghaidhe daoine.
En: She was adept at reading people's facial expressions.

Ga: Bhí sin a talann rúnda.
En: That was her secret talent.

Ga: Thóg sí a suíomh ag an tábla gan a bheith buartha.
En: She took her position at the table without worry.

Ga: Dúirt sí léi féin go bhféadfadh sí an cluiche seo a buachan.
En: She told herself she could win this game.

Ga: Agus in ainm Dé, dá bhfaigheadh sí an pota, bheadh sí ar a bealach chun na Nua-Shéalainne.
En: And by God, if she got the pot, she would be on her way to New Zealand.

Ga: Bhí an cluiche dian.
En: The game was intense.

Ga: Bhí a n-aird ins an aer mar chruinnigh na himreoirí scil.
En: Everyone's attention was in the air as the players honed their skill.

Ga: Ach bhí Niamh socair, ag ligint do na gothaí aghaidhe a bheith mar a treoraí.
En: But Niamh was calm, letting the facial expressions be her guide.

Ga: Bhí Seamus ar a hoireann, ag jarraíl tuairimí fásta a rinne na himreoirí eile a mhealladh.
En: Seamus was on her side, throwing out strategic comments that distracted the other players.

Ga: Ach Niamh, d'fhan sí fós.
En: But Niamh remained steadfast.

Ga: Bhí sí ag fulaingt.
En: She was enduring.

Ga: Sa deireadh, tháinig nóiméad criticiúil.
En: In the end, a critical moment came.

Ga: Chuir siad na cártaí amach don babhta deireanach.
En: They laid out the cards for the final round.

Ga: Chun tosaigh, d'fhéach Seamus go dúshlánach ar Niamh.
En: Seamus looked challengingly at Niamh.

Ga: Smaoinigh sé gur léir go raibh lámh láidir aige.
En: He thought it was clear he had a strong hand.

Ga: D'fhéach Niamh isteach ina shúile.
En: Niamh looked into his eyes.

Ga: Bhí focal nach gcaith sí a ligean uirthi féin a úsáideadh le Seamus.
En: There was a word she did not let herself use with Seamus.

Ga: Bhí comhartha beag ann ina gháire, comhartha nach raibh leochaileach ná le feiceáil ag duine ar bith eile.
En: There was a slight sign in his smile, a sign not fragile nor visible to anyone else.

Ga: "Tá mé isteach go hiomlán," a dúirt sí, ag cur a fichille uirthi féin, a lámh ag crith.
En: "I'm all in," she said, going all in herself, her hand trembling.

Ga: Bhí na súile ar an tábla ar an scéal.
En: All eyes at the table were on the situation.

Ga: Thángthas chun solais ainm an bhuaiteora.
En: The winner's name came to light.

Ga: Bhí gealta uirthi, ach ba mhór an staidear an toradh.
En: She was excited, but the result was a great study.

Ga: Míol mór na bpáirtithe sin, Niamh, a bhuaigh.
En: The whale of those parties, Niamh, had won.

Ga: Rinne sí gáire go hóg, brionglóid dá cuid féin á comhlíonadh finally.
En: She laughed young, a dream of hers finally being fulfilled.

Ga: D'fhéach na súile na n-imreoirí uirthi le háthas agus le iontas.
En: The eyes of the players looked at her with happiness and astonishment.

Ga: Bhí sí tar éis a chruthú dóibh agus di féin gur fiú brionglóid a leanúint.
En: She had proven to them and to herself that it is worth following a dream.

Ga: Gan dabht, bhí an lá sin i nGaillimh an chéad chéim i dtreo na slí.
En: Without a doubt, that day in Gaillimh was the first step towards the path.

Ga: Bhí a scileanna í so-bhainte ar bith ach a mhuinín nua iarmhairt cheart chun taisteal a dhéanamh.
En: Her skills were undeniably tangible but her newfound confidence was the right outcome to make travel happen.

Ga: D'fhág Niamh an seomra lán de mhisneach mar bhí a taisteal chun na Nua-Shéalainne anois uirthi.
En: Niamh left the room full of courage as her journey to New Zealand was now before her.

Ga: Agus an samhradh ag druidim chucu féin, bhí an domhan ar fad síos léi.
En: And with the summer drawing near, the whole world was hers to explore.


Vocabulary Words:

• gathering: ag bailiú
• pavement: carranach
• scarce: gann
• distinction: ar leith
• iron: iarainn
• staircase: staighre
• creaky: creathach
• cigarettes: toitíní
• stakes: ard-riosca
• sharp: géar
• radar: radair
• adept: fuciúil
• expression: gothaí
• talent: talann
• hone: cruinnigh
• enduring: ag fulaingt
• fragile: leochaileach
• trembling: ag crith
• astonishment: iontas
• whale: míol mór
• tangible: so-bhainte
• confidence: muinín
• outcome: iarmhairt
• courage: misneach
• near: ag druidim
• explore: scrúdú
• distinctive: ar leith
• curious: fiosracht
• visible: le feiceáil
• fulfilled: comhlíonadh