Fluent Fiction - Irish: Conquering Heights: Cillian's Courageous Climb
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/ga/episode/2025-09-23-22-34-02-ga

Story Transcript:

Ga: Bhí an ghaoth ag séideadh go láidir ar Mhuir nIocht.
En: The wind was blowing strongly on the Muir nIocht.

Ga: Bhí fuacht an fhómhair le brath ar bhruach na Loinge Dingle.
En: The autumn cold was palpable on the deck of the Loinge Dingle.

Ga: Bhí dathanna an nádúir ag athrú.
En: The colors of nature were changing.

Ga: Sáfaí comhchruchán na míolta mara le feiceáil sa spéir thuas.
En: The quilted patterns of the marine skies were visible above.

Ga: Bhí Cillian, Siobhán agus Niamh ag tabhairt aghaidh ar an mbealach cúil suas sliabh dúshlánach an Léana ar an gClochán.
En: Cillian, Siobhán, and Niamh were making their way towards the back route up the challenging sliabh of Léana on an gClochán.

Ga: Bhí radharc álainn i ngach treo.
En: There was a beautiful view in every direction.

Ga: Bhí bheith ag dul ag siúl sa Phenínsula Dhinge ina eachtraíocht a raibh an triúr ag tnúth go mór leis.
En: Going for a hike on the Península Dhinge was an adventure the three were eagerly anticipating.

Ga: “Tá an t-aer chomh úr anseo,” a dúirt Siobhán agus í ag análú go domhain.
En: “The air is so fresh here,” Siobhán said, breathing deeply.

Ga: Bhí grá aici don talamh glas, na sléibhte móra agus an bhfarraige san fhadthrá.
En: She loved the green land, the great mountains, and the sea at low tide.

Ga: Ach bhí dúshlán os comhair Cillian nár labhair sé leis an mbeirt faoi: bhí eagla air roimh airde.
En: But Cillian had a challenge he hadn't mentioned to the others: he had a fear of heights.

Ga: Nuair a shroich siad ball an chnoic a bhí géar agus ard, thosaigh a chroí ag preabadh ina bhrollach.
En: When they reached a steep and high part of the hill, his heart began to pound in his chest.

Ga: “An bhfuil tú ceart go leor, a Chillian?” a d’fhiafraigh Niamh de, ag tabhairt faoi deara go raibh sé rud beag ciúin.
En: “Are you okay, Cillian?” Niamh asked, noticing he was a bit quiet.

Ga: Bhí fhios aici go raibh laochas ag dreapadh uirthi.
En: She knew a heroism was climbing within her.

Ga: “Níl mé cinnte,” a d’admhaigh sé go macánta.
En: “I’m not sure,” he admitted honestly.

Ga: “Tá mo chroí ag dul go tapaidh agus tá an fhraoch seo chomh hard.”
En: “My heart is racing, and this heath is so high.”

Ga: “An mbeidh muid leat,” a dúirt Siobhán go séimh, “tógfaidh muid é go mall.”
En: “We're with you,” Siobhán said gently, “we’ll take it slow.”

Ga: Bhí cinneadh de dhíth air.
En: He needed to make a decision.

Ga: Lean nó cas ar ais?
En: Continue or turn back?

Ga: Breathnaigh sé ar aghaidh agus chonaic sé an bealach a bhí ró-ghéar.
En: He looked ahead and saw the path was too steep.

Ga: Ach ansin chuir sé aithne ar na camaráide is tacaíocht na cairde leis.
En: But then he realized the camaraderie and support of his friends.

Ga: Le scáthán beaga bídeacha, d’fhéach Cillian as an gcreig síos thíos.
En: With small mirrors, Cillian looked from the cliff down below.

Ga: Cuireadh an eagla go géar ina chroí, ach d’fhan na focail tacaithe de Siobhán agus Niamh ina intinn.
En: Fear gripped his heart fiercely, but the supportive words of Siobhán and Niamh stayed in his mind.

Ga: “Tá muid anseo leat, tar éis gach cuid,” a mhisnigh siad é.
En: “We're here with you, every step,” they encouraged him.

Ga: Thóg Cillian anáil dhomhain.
En: Cillian took a deep breath.

Ga: Bheartaigh sé leanúint ar aghaidh.
En: He decided to carry on.

Ga: Le céim ar chéim, shiúil sé níos faide agus d’éirigh leis an airde an chnoic.
En: Step by step, he walked further and managed the hill’s height.

Ga: Nuair a shroich siad barr na sléibhe, bhí an radharc os cionn foirfe.
En: When they reached the mountain’s summit, the view was perfectly breathtaking.

Ga: Bhí Dingle faoi uacht i bhfad faoina dhromchla agus an fharraige scáthchlúdach.
En: Dingle lay far below in its serene surface, and the sea in shadowy embrace.

Ga: “Rinne tú é, a Chillian!” arsa Niamh le gliondar.
En: “You did it, Cillian!” said Niamh joyously.

Ga: Bhí Cillian ag miongháire go fairsing.
En: Cillian was smiling broadly.

Ga: Bhí a chroí lán le muinín nua aimseartha.
En: His heart was filled with newfound confidence.

Ga: D’fhoghlaim sé luach na tacaíochta ó chairde.
En: He had learned the value of support from friends.

Ga: D’fhéadfadh sé tús a chur le dúshláin nua ar nós na sléibhte sa todhchaí.
En: He could begin to take on new challenges like the mountains in the future.

Ga: Bhí sé fós i measc dhathanna an fhómhair, an ghaineogaoith ghoirt ag druidim finoiciúil thíos.
En: He was still amidst the colors of autumn, the salty hedgerow winding stealthily below.

Ga: Ag tabhairt clabhsúr don turas, shiúil an triúr ar ais go síochánta, ábalta, sásta.
En: Bringing the journey to a conclusion, the three walked back peacefully, capably, contentedly.

Ga: Bhí muintearas nach dtabharfadh an scanrún éasca scaoilte go deo.
En: There was a companionship that a mere fright could never loosen.


Vocabulary Words:

• palpable: le brath
• quilted: comhchruchán
• anticipating: tnúth go mór
• heroism: laochas
• camaraderie: camaráide
• stealthily: finoiciúil
• breathtaking: os cionn foirfe
• serene: faoi uacht
• companion: muintearas
• fright: scanrún
• heath: fraoch
• gleeful: gliondar
• steep: géar
• encouraged: mhisnigh
• panorama: radharc
• broadly: fairsing
• chalets: sáfaí
• fiercely: go géar
• hike: ag siúl
• conclusion: clabhsúr
• mirrors: scáthán
• capably: ábala
• amongst: i measc
• summit: barr
• decision: cinneadh
• awaiting: ag fanacht
• nurturing: tacaíocht
• descent: ag druidim
• calm: síochánta
• novel: nua aimseartha