Sheep Swap: A Cliffside Mix-Up Tale

In this episode, we'll explore the charming mix-up between two shepherds along the scenic Cliffs of Moher and discover how a flock of sheep sparked an unexpected friendship.

Ga: Lá breá geal a bhí ann, agus an ghrian ag taitneamh go hard sa spéir.
En: It was a lovely bright day, with the sun shining high in the sky.

Ga: Bhí Niamh, cailín óg bríomhar, i mbun oibre in aice le hAillte an Mhothair, áit a raibh an radharc ag breathnú amach thar na tonnta fiáine.
En: Niamh, a lively young girl, was working near the Cliffs of Moher, where the view looked out over the wild waves.

Ga: Bhí caora uirthi a réiteach a bhí scaipthe ar fud na faiche.
En: She had a flock of sheep to tend to that were scattered all over the field.

Ga: Ar an lá céanna, ní raibh ach cúpla ceann de na haillte uaidh, bhí Cillian, buachaill cróga na gcaorach, ag breathnú i ndiaidh a thréada féin.
En: On the same day, there were only a couple of sheep missing, and Cillian, the brave shepherd of the sheep, was looking for his own flock.

Ga: Bhí gruaig chatach air a shil thar a chluasa, agus súile gorma aige a bhí cosúil leis an spéir.
En: He had tousled hair that fell over his ears, and he had blue eyes that resembled the sky.

Ga: Níor smaoinigh Niamh faoi dhó nuair a chonaic sí na caora ag imeacht léi.
En: Niamh didn't think twice when she saw the sheep coming towards her.

Ga: Cheap sí gur leatha iad.
En: She thought they were hers.

Ga: Chuaigh sí ina ndiaidh agus thosaigh sí ag glaoch orthu, "Tara anois, tara anois!"
En: She went after them and started calling out, "Come here, come here!"

Ga: Ach ní le Niamh a bhí na caora seo, le Cillian a bhí siad!
En: But these sheep didn't belong to Niamh, they belonged to Cillian!

Ga: Thosaigh Niamh ag bualadh isteach sna caora, agus gan fhios aici, bhí sí ag cur isteach ar thriail Chillian.
En: Niamh started herding the sheep without realizing it, she was interfering with Cillian's trial.

Ga: Bhí sé ag iarraidh iad a threorú tríd an ngéagán suaimhneach i dtreo a bhaile.
En: He was trying to guide them through the peaceful path towards his home.

Ga: Bhain Cillian leiscéim siar nuair a chonaic sé an cailín óg ag cur a chuid caorach trí chéile.
En: Cillian looked back when he saw the young girl herding his sheep together.

Ga: Glaoigh sé amach, "A Niamh! Cad atá tú a dhéanamh? Ná bac mo chuid caora!"
En: He called out, "Niamh! What are you doing? Don't disturb my sheep!"

Ga: D'fhéach Niamh timpeall go mearbhall.
En: Niamh looked around bewildered.

Ga: "Nach iad seo mo chuid caora?" ar sise, a ceann ag casadh ó thaobh go taobh.
En: "Aren't these my sheep?" she said, her head turning from side to side.

Ga: Bhí Cillian ag smaoineamh go tapaidh. "Nach bhfeiceann tú?" ar sé.
En: Cillian quickly thought, "Don't you see?" he said.

Ga: "Tá éadan bán ar do chuid caora, ár gcinnne féin, féach, tá nód dearg acu."
En: "Your sheep have white faces, our own have red marks on them."

Ga: Chuaigh Niamh in aithne na caora leis an nód dearg.
En: Niamh recognized the red mark on the sheep.

Ga: Chuir sí láimh lena béal.
En: She put her hand over her mouth.

Ga: "A mhéin! Tá brón orm, a Chillian, shíl mé go raibh siad uaimse!"
En: "Oh! I'm sorry, Cillian, I thought they were mine!"

Ga: Sheas an bheirt acu ansin ag gáire faoin ngréasán mearaí a chruthaigh siad leis na caora trína chéile.
En: The two of them then stood there laughing about the tangled mess they made with the sheep.

Ga: Ansin, le comhoibriú, thosaigh siad ag scaradh na gcaorach go stuama, gach treoir chun a thraenáil féin.
En: Then, with cooperation, they calmly began separating the sheep, each giving direction to train their own.

Ga: Níor mhair an ghrian ach cuid bheag den lá fós agus bhí na caora go léir scartha amach ina dtréada ceart.
En: The sun only lasted a little while longer, and all the sheep were separated into their proper flocks.

Ga: Thug Niamh agus Cillian buíochas dá chéile agus d’fhág siad na hAillte agus an farraige ciúin ina ndiaidh, cairde nua ceangailte le dánaíocht an lae.
En: Niamh and Cillian thanked each other and left the Cliffs and the quiet sea behind them, new friends connected by the adventure of the day.

Ga: Agus chomh luath agus a bhí siad ar ais ina gcroíthe féin, rinne siad gáire arís faoin eachtra.
En: And as soon as they were back in their own hearts, they laughed again about the event.

Ga: Níl aon amhras faoi, ach go mbeidh an scéal seo á insint acu go ceann i bhfad, agus iad ag cuimhneamh siar ar an lá a bhí na caora trí chéile mar gheall ar mhearú simplí a chuir tús le cairdeas nua.
En: There is no doubt, that this story will be told for a long time, as they look back on the day the sheep got mixed up, starting a new friendship.