Gone with the Wind: Rescue at the Cliffs

explore a hair-raising selfie mishap turning into a cliffhanging rescue and a lesson in presence

Ga: Lá breá gréine a bhí ann agus bheartaigh Sean go dtógfadh sé grianghraf de féin ag imeall na hAillte i gCeann Boirne.
En: It was a beautiful sunny day and Sean decided to take a photo of himself at the edge of the cliffs in the Burren.

Ga: Bhí an ghaoth ag séideadh go bríomhar, a chuid gruaige á scaipeadh chuile áit.
En: The wind was blowing fiercely, his hair being blown everywhere.

Ga: Bhí Aoife agus Siobhan, a chairde maithe, in éineacht leis.
En: Aoife and Siobhan, his good friends, were with him.

Ga: "Ó, beidh an pictiúr seo foirfe!
En: "Oh, this picture will be perfect!"

Ga: " arsa Sean agus é ag ullmhú a fhón le haghaidh an seilfí.
En: said Sean as he prepared his phone for the selfie.

Ga: Chuir sé a dhá mhéar in airde agus rinne sé aghaidh grinn.
En: He raised his two fingers and made a funny face.

Ga: Ach, go tobann, bhuail ráig gaoithe níos láidre ná a bhí roimhtí.
En: But suddenly, a gust of wind stronger than before hit.

Ga: Bhraith Sean an fhón ag sleamhnú óna láimh.
En: Sean felt the phone slipping from his hand.

Ga: Chaill sé greim air agus amhail éan, d'eitil sé amach as a láimh, síos thar na haillte, agus go báiníoch san aigéan thíos.
En: He lost his grip and like a bird, it flew out of his hand, over the cliffs, and into the deep sea.

Ga: "A Mhuire na trócaire!
En: "Mary, Mother of mercy!"

Ga: " arsa Sean le croí briste.
En: exclaimed Sean with a broken heart.

Ga: Thiontaigh sé go Aoife agus Siobhan, a súile lán le faitíos.
En: He turned to Aoife and Siobhan, his eyes filled with fear.

Ga: "Tá m'fhón póca imithe!
En: "My phone is gone!"

Ga: "Chomh luath agus a thuig siad an scéal, rith Aoife go dtí an siopa cuimhneacháin agus chuir sí alltacht ar an bhfear a bhí ag obair ann.
En: As soon as they understood the situation, Aoife ran to the souvenir shop and amazed the man working there.

Ga: "Tá muid i gcruachás!
En: "We are in trouble!

Ga: An bhféadfá cabhrú linn?
En: Could you help us?"

Ga: "Bhí an t-ádh leo nuair a dúirt an fear go raibh drón aige a bhféadfadh sé a eitilt thar na haillte chun a fháil amach an bhféadfaí an fón a tharrtháil.
En: They were fortunate when the man said he had a drone that could fly over the cliffs to find out if the phone could be retrieved.

Ga: Idir an dá linn, mhothaigh Siobhan trua do Sean, mar gheall ar a bhí chlúiteach ar Instagram agus gan éinne lena shaol a mhíniú a thuilleadh.
En: Meanwhile, Siobhan felt sorry for Sean, because he was famous on Instagram and nobody to explain his absence further bothered him.

Ga: Thóg an fear an drón agus sheol sé thar na haillte é.
En: The man took the drone and sent it over the cliffs.

Ga: Chuaigh sé íseal thar dromchla an aigéin, agus ar deireadh, aimsigh sé an fón clúdaithe le feamainn ag breacadh dromchla an uisce.
En: It went low over the surface of the sea, and finally, he found the phone covered in seaweed breaking the surface of the water.

Ga: D'éirigh leis an bhfear an drón a stiúradh chun greim daingean a fháil ar an bhfón agus é a thabhairt ar ais go talamh.
En: The man managed to steer the drone to get a firm grip on the phone and bring it back to the ground.

Ga: Nuair a fuair Sean a fhón póca ar ais, bhí sé fliuch go craiceann ach, le t-iontas na triúr, obair fós á dhéanamh aige.
En: When Sean got his phone back, it was soaking wet, but to the surprise of the three, he continued to work with it.

Ga: Bhí aoibhgháire ar aghaidh gach duine, agus gáire faoi na gruaige fiáine a bhí ag Séan.
En: Everyone had a smile on their face, and laughter about Sean's wild hair.

Ga: "Seo ceacht é!
En: "This is a lesson!"

Ga: " arsa Sean.
En: said Sean.

Ga: "Uaireanta, is fiú stopadh agus radharc álainn a mheas seachas iarracht a dhéanamh é a ghabháil.
En: "Sometimes, it's worth stopping and appreciating a beautiful view instead of trying to capture it."

Ga: "Ón lá sin i leith, nuair a thugann siad cuairt ar áiteanna áille, is minic a smaoiníonn Sean, Aoife, agus Siobhan ar an eachtra sin ag aillte an Mhothair agus an t-ádh mór a bhí orthu an lá sin.
En: Since that day, when they visit beautiful places, Sean, Aoife, and Siobhan often think of that incident at the Cliffs of Moher and the great luck they had that day.

Ga: Agus ó shin i leith, nuair a bhíonn siad ag glacadh seilfeanna, bíonn ceacht acu gan ligean dóibh sult a bhaint as na nóiméidí beaga, seachas iad a chailleadh i sár-iarracht pictiúr a ghabháil.
En: And since then, when taking selfies, they have a lesson not to deprive themselves of enjoying the small moments, rather than losing them in an excessive effort to take a perfect picture.