Fluent Fiction - Irish: Kiss of Cunning at Blarney Castle
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Story Transcript:

Ga: Lá fuar geimhridh a bhí ann, agus bhí scamall mór liath os cionn Chaisleán na Blarnan.
En: It was a cold winter day, and a big gray cloud was over Blarney Castle.

Ga: Bhí Siobhán agus Seán ag siúl go mall suas an cnoc, agus iad ag breathnú thart ar na crainn lom agus an caisleán ársa ina seasamh bródúil os a gcomhair.
En: Siobhán and Seán were slowly walking up the hill, looking around at the bare trees and the ancient castle standing proudly in front of them.

Ga: Bhí Seán beagáinín neirbhíseach, agus é ag féachaint suas ar an gcarraig mór.
En: Seán was a little nervous as he looked up at the big rock.

Ga: Níl mé cinnte faoin seo, Siobhán,
En: I'm not sure about this, Siobhán,

Ga: ar sé le bréag-ghean.
En: he said jokingly.

Ga: Tá siad ag rá má phógann tú an cloch, go mbeidh tú líofa!
En: They say if you kiss the stone, you'll be eloquent!

Ga: Siobhán, a bhí glic agus cleasach, gáire go ciúin.
En: Siobhán, who was smart and playful, quietly laughed.

Ga: Ach Seán, smaoinigh ar an spraoi! Beidh tú in ann caint mar bhallóid!
En: Oh Seán, think of the fun! You'll be able to talk like a politician!

Ga: Bhí sí ag iarraidh a cara a mhealladh.
En: She was trying to coax her friend.

Ga: Ó, ní fheicim cén dochar,
En: Oh, I don't see any harm,

Ga: arsa Seán go mall, agus é ag bogadh níos gaire don chloch cháiliúil.
En: Seán said slowly, moving closer to the famous stone.

Ga: Nuair a bhí Seán ag díriú a aird ar iarracht a bheith cróga agus a dhóthain misnigh a bhailiú chun póg a thabhairt don Chloch, bhí Siobhán ag faire go géar.
En: As Seán focused on his attempt to be brave and gather enough courage to kiss the Stone, Siobhán was watching closely.

Ga: Bhí plan aici.
En: She had a plan.

Ga: Bhí sí ag iarraidh an sparán a ghoid ó phóca cúil Seán nuair a bheadh sé sínte amach chun póg a thabhairt don chloch.
En: She wanted to steal the purse from Seán's back pocket when he would be leaning out to kiss the stone.

Ga: Níor thóg sé ach soicind - bhí lámh Siobhán chomh héadrom le cleite - agus d'éirigh le Siobhán an sparán a sciobadh gan Seán a thabhairt faoi deara.
En: It only took a second - Siobhán's hand was as light as a feather - and she managed to snatch the purse without Seán noticing.

Ga: Chuir Seán a bheola ar an gcloch agus d'éirigh sé ina sheasamh, ag spalpadh agus ag taispeáint fiacla i miongháire náireach.
En: Seán put his mouth on the stone and stood up, grinning and showing embarrassed half-smile.

Ga: Anois,
En: Now,

Ga: ar sé.
En: he said.

Ga: Sílim go raibh mé cróga go leor!
En: I think I was brave enough!

Ga: Siobhán, a bhí anois ag siúl ar ais anuas an cnoc agus í ag féachaint ar cheirdeanna an Chaisleáin, d'oscail sí go réidh sparán Seán, spéaclaí ina súile.
En: Siobhán, now walking back down the hill and looking at the Castle's craftsmanship, smoothly opened Seán's purse, glasses in her eyes.

Ga: Ach áit a fháil an t-airgead, fuair sí nóta beag.
En: But to her surprise, when she found the money, she found a small note.

Ga: A Shíobhán,
En: Oh Siobhán,

Ga: a léigh sí.
En: she read.

Ga: Shíl mé go bhféadfá iarracht rud éigin mar seo a dhéanamh. Ach tá tú ró-dhéanach! Tá mo sparán fálraithe i gceart agam.
En: I thought you could try something like this. But you're too late! I have my purse securely tucked away.

Ga: Bhí iontas ar Shíobhán, agus í ag faire ar Shéan ag síneadh síos chun póg eile a thabhairt don Chloch.
En: Siobhán was surprised, and while looking at Seán stretching down to give another kiss to the Stone, she laughed, putting the note back.

Ga: Nuair a tháinig Seán ar ais anuas an cnoc, rinne sé gáire freisin.
En: When Seán came back down the hill, he laughed too.

Ga: An gcabhraíonn an Chloch le slí beatha a bheith agat mar ghadaí?
En: Does the Stone help you have a livelihood as a thief?

Ga: ar sé.
En: he asked.

Ga: Siobhán, a bhí ag smaoineamh go trom, d'admhaigh go hoscailte,
En: Siobhán, thinking hard, openly admitted,

Ga: Tá mé buíoch díot as an gceacht, a chara.
En: I'm grateful to you for the lesson, my friend.

Ga: Agus mise,
En: And I,

Ga: arsa Seán,
En: said Seán,

Ga: tá mé buíoch as an gcara atá agam a thabharfaidh an chomhairle is fearr dom, an gadaí mór!
En: am grateful for the friend who'll give me the best advice, the great thief!

Ga: Gháireadar le chéile, Seán lena sparán slán, agus Siobhán le píosa eagna níos mó: nach nglaofar ort a bheith ina chara mura bhfuil tú sásta glacadh leis na páirteanna maithe agus olc atá ag gach duine.
En: They laughed together, Seán with his safe purse, and Siobhán with a bit more wisdom: that you won’t be called a friend unless you're willing to accept the good and bad parts of everyone.


Vocabulary Words:

• cold: fuar
• winter: geimhreadh
• big: mór
• gray: liath
• cloud: scamall
• castle: caisleán
• hill: cnoc
• bare: lom
• trees: crainn
• ancient: ársa
• proudly: bródúil
• nervous: neirbhíseach
• rock: carraig
• sure: cinnte
• eloquent: liofa
• smart: glic
• playful: cleasach
• laughed: gáire
• fun: spraoi
• politician: ballóid
• harm: dochar
• attempt: iarracht
• brave: cróga
• courage: misneach
• steal: ghoid
• purse: sparán
• pocket: póca
• notice: deara
• mouth: bheola
• craftsmanship: cheirdeanna