Fluent Fiction - Irish: The Riddle Of Blarney Castle
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Story Transcript:

Ga: Lá breá gréine a bhí ann agus bhí Saoirse, Cian, agus Fiachra ar thuras go Caisleán na Blarnan.
En: It was a beautiful sunny day as Saoirse, Cian, and Fiachra set off on a journey to Blarney Castle.

Ga: Bhí áthas an domhain ar an triúr ógánaigh, agus iad ag siúl tríd na gairdíní áille agus ag éisteacht leis na scéalta draíochta a bhain leis an gcáil a bhí ar an gCaisleán.
En: The three young adventurers were overjoyed as they walked through the beautiful gardens, listening to the magical tales associated with the famous castle.

Ga: Nuair a shroich siad an Caisleán féin, bhí neart scéalta cloiste acu faoin gCloch Cáiliúla - An Blarney Stone.
En: When they reached the castle itself, they heard plenty of stories about the Famous Stone - the Blarney Stone.

Ga: Deirtear má phógann tú an chloch, go mbeadh an chumhacht cainte agus peirsil álainn agat.
En: It is said that if you kiss the stone, you would gain the gift of eloquence and beautiful persuasion.

Ga: Bhí Saoirse cróga agus theastaigh uaithi triail a bhaint as.
En: Saoirse was brave and decided she wanted to give it a try.

Ga: Ach níor mhaith léi gnáth-phóg a thabhairt don chloch; bhí sí ag iarraidh rud éigin speisialta a dhéanamh.
En: But she didn't want to give the stone a regular kiss; she wanted to do something special.

Ga: D'fhógair sí go raibh sí chun pógadh an chloch bunoscionn!
En: She announced that she was going to kiss the stone upside down!

Ga: Chabhraigh Cian agus Fiachra léi, iad ag coinneáil a cosa go daingean agus í crochta thar an mballa.
En: Cian and Fiachra helped her, holding her firmly as she leaned over the wall.

Ga: Phóg Saoirse an chloch go fonnmhar ach, a luaithe a d'éirigh sí ina seasamh arís, mhothaigh sí rud éigin aisteach.
En: Saoirse kissed the stone enthusiastically, but as soon as she stood up again, she felt something strange.

Ga: Nuair a labhair sí, ní raibh a cuid cainte soiléir mar a bhíodh - bhí sí ag labhairt i dtóimhseacha!
En: When she spoke, her speech was not as clear as it used to be - she was speaking in riddles!

Ga: D’fhéach Cian agus Fiachra uirthi le mearbhall. "Cén fáth go bhfuil an lá go geal?" arsa Saoirse agus frost le gáire.
En: Cian and Fiachra looked at her in confusion. "Why is the day so bright?" Saoirse said with a chuckle.

Ga: Ní raibh cuma na cainte sin ar bith mar a bhíodh. Bhí na freagraí a thug sí don bheirt eile gan chiall agus gan réasún.
En: Her speech didn't make any sense as it used to. The answers she gave to the others were nonsensical and irrational.

Ga: Chuaigh an lá ar aghaidh, agus iarracht i ndiaidh iarrachta acu, theip ar Chian agus ar Fhiachra réiteach a fháil ar thóimhseacha Saoirse.
En: As the day went on, despite their repeated efforts, Cian and Fiachra couldn't find a solution to Saoirse's riddles.

Ga: Chaith siad an lá ag fánaíocht timpeall an chaisleáin, áit a raibh Saoirse ag cur isteach go mór ar chuairteoirí eile le ceisteanna agus freagraí casta.
En: They spent the day wandering around the castle, where Saoirse greatly irritated other visitors with her complex questions and answers.

Ga: Mar a tháinig deireadh leis an lá, bhraith Saoirse an chumhacht aisteach ag imeacht uaithi.
En: As the day came to an end, Saoirse felt the strange power leaving her.

Ga: Fuair siad amach go mbeadh sí ar ais go gnáth tar éis meán oíche a bheith ann.
En: They found out that she would be back to normal after midnight.

Ga: Go dtí sin, bhí siad fós sa tóir ar an réiteach.
En: Until then, they were still in pursuit of the solution.

Ga: Agus iad suite cois tine i dteach beag tábhairne gar don Caisleán, osclaíodh doras ar réiteach dóibh.
En: And as they sat by the fire in a small tavern near the castle, a solution presented itself to them.

Ga: Tháinig seanfhear críonna isteach agus labhair sé le Saoirse.
En: An old wise man entered and spoke to Saoirse.

Ga: "Is í an eochair chun do theanga a chasadh ná freagra a thabhairt go macánta ar do cheist féin," a dúirt sé go ciúin.
En: "The key to turn your tongue is to answer your own question honestly," he said quietly.

Ga: D'fhiafraigh Saoirse dí féin ansin, "Cén fáth go bhfuil an lá go geal?" agus d'fhreagair sí go simplí, "Toisc go dtugann an ghrian solas dúinn." Agus leis sin, d'fhill cumas na cainte gnáth ar ais chuici.
En: Saoirse then asked herself, "Why is the day so bright?" and she simply answered, "Because the sun gives us light." With that, her usual speaking ability returned to her.

Ga: Rinne Fiachra agus Cian gáire faoisimh agus Saoirse freisin.
En: Fiachra and Cian laughed with relief, and Saoirse too.

Ga: Thuig siad brí an tseanfhocail: uaireanta bíonn an simplíocht i bhfad níos cumhachtaí ná aon chleas draíochta.
En: They understood the meaning of the old saying: sometimes simplicity is far more powerful than any magical trick.

Ga: Ag siúl abhaile faoi sholas na gealaí, bhí Saoirse sásta, í ag caint go soiléir arís, agus a cuid cairde ag gáire lena thaobh.
En: Walking home in the moonlight, Saoirse was content, speaking clearly again, with her friends laughing by her side.

Ga: Slán agus beannacht le Caisleán na Blarnan agus leis an oíche draíochta a bhí acu, le hiontas agus grá don teanga a bhí acu anois níos mó ná riamh.
En: Goodbye and blessings to Blarney Castle and to their magical night, with wonder and love for the language they now cherished more than ever.


Vocabulary Words:

• eloquence: cumhacht cainte
• persuasion: peirsil
• upside down: bunoscionn
• riddles: tóimhseacha
• irrational: gan réasún
• confusion: mearbhall
• chuckle: frost
• nonsensical: gan chiall
• solution: réiteach
• firmly: go daingean
• irritated: ag cur isteach
• pursuit: tóir
• blessings: beannacht
• power: cumhacht
• simplicity: simplíocht
• magical trick: cleas draíochta
• content: sásta
• wandering: fánaíocht
• moonlight: solas na gealaí
• answers: freagraí
• wise man: seanfhear críonna
• key: eochair
• tongue: teanga
• truth: macánta
• laughter: gáire
• meaning: bhrí
• night: oíche
• wonder: iontas
• cherished: tugadh faoi deara
• repeated efforts: iarrachtaí i ndiaidh