Duinnín in Áth na Lachan (tuilleadh)
Dineen in Duckford (continued)
- Niorbh fhada go raibh an Duinníneach agus an Constábla de Brún ar a mbealach go teach Fayley Toole in Áth na Lachan mar ar tharla an marú coicís roimhe sin. Lár mhí Iúil a bhí ann. Bhí an lá ag scarbháil i ndiaidh báisti, rith maith uisce sna claiseanna ar thaobh an bhóthair agus na loganna lán báistí. Talamh cothrom, feirmeacha beaga, bó ag féachaint thar chlaí anseo, asal ag grágaíl ansiúd. ‘Dein cur síos dom ar do chara Fayley Toole, a Bhill,’ arsa an Duinníneach.
Bhí a ghairm maite aige do Bhill agus é éirithe cairdiúil leis.[d.l. 153]
It wasn’t long before Dineen and Constable de Brún were on their way to Fayley Toole’s house in Duckford where the killing had taken place a fortnight before. It was the middle of July. The day was drying after rain, there was a good run of water in the gullies on the side of the road and the hollows were full of rain. Flat land, small farms, a cow looking over a fence here, a donkey braying there.
‘Describe your friend Fayley Toole to me, Bill’ said Dineen.
He had forgiven Bill his profession and had become friendly with him.
scarbháil Hardening, drying, crustation f clais channel; gully, ditch. f pl claiseanna log place, hollow m cothrom Level; balance; Equal, equable, measure. m claí Dike, wall; fence m grágaíl (Act of) cawing, croaking; braying; cackling; squawking f gairm call f - ‘Baintreach fir é Fayley. Cailleadh a bhean chéile, den eitinn, cúig bliana ó shin. Tá triúir clainne aige, an cailín is sine dhá bhliain déag d’aois. Oibri foraoise é, nó dob ea gur gabhadh é. Tuigeann tú, a Athair, go bhfuil riail ann nach bhfuil cead ag foraoiseoir oibriú in aon áit atá nios cóngarai ná cúig mhíle dá áit chónaithe? D’fhág san go mbíodh Fayley ó bhaile don chuid is mó den lá, gach lá…
Fayley is a widower. His wife died of tuberculosis five years ago. He has three children, the oldest girl is twelve years old. He is a forest worker, or was until he was arrested. You do understand, Father, that there is a rule that a forester is not allowed to work anywhere closer than five miles to his residence? It follows from that that Fayley was away from home for most of the day, every day…
eitinn Consumption, tuberculosis f foraois Forest; Retreat, recess; lair, den. f gs foraoise dob = b’, ba cóngar Nearness, proximity; vicinity m - ‘I ndiaidh dá bhean bás a fhail, thriáil sé bealaí éagsúla chun aire a thabhairt dá leanai. Tháinig a dheirfiúr i gcabhair air go ceann cúpla mí, ach tá sise pósta agus bhí uirthi filleadh ar a clan féin i mBré. Chuir sé Taimín atá ceithre bliana d’aois, agus ábhairin fiáin, chun cónaithe le col ceathar leis ata pósta in Ath Cliath ach bhí Taimín míshuaimhneach agus bhí sé féin agus an bheirt eile uaigneach. Tháinig Taimín abhaile. Lorg sé bean tí ar tuarastal.
After his wife died, he tried various ways to take care of his children. His sister came to help him for a few months, but she is married and had to return to her own family in Bray. He sent Taimín who is four years old, and somewhat wild, to live with his married cousin in Dublin but Taimín was restless and he and the other two were lonely. Taimin came home. He looked for a paid housekeeper.
éagsúil Unlike, dissimilar; Different, various, diverse míshuaimhneach Uneasy, restless, perturbed uaigneach lonely - ‘Tháinig bean a d’fhan seachtain, bean a d’fhan mí. Nuair nach mbíodh éinne ar fail, dheineadh Dora Doyle cúram de na leanaí. Rachaimid thar theach mhuintir Doyle go luath. Tá gaol i bhfad amach ag Dora leis na Tooles óga, ar thaobh na máthar. Firinne an scéil né nach raibh dóthain airgid ag Fayley chun bean tí a íoc agus clan a chothú.
A woman came who stayed a week, a woman who stayed a month. When no one was available, Dora Doyle took care of the children. We will go past the Doyle family home soon. Dora is distantly related to the young Tooles, on their mother’s side. The truth of the matter is that Fayley did not have enough money to pay a housekeeper and feed a family.’
cúram Care, responsibility m gaol Relationship, kinship m cothú Nourishment, sustenance; promotion, maintenance m - ‘Ní raibh teacht isteach eile aige, seachas pá sclábhaí coille?’
‘Tá paiste maith talún aige ach ní raibh rath air mar fheirmeoir. Carthannacht na gcomharsan a choinnigh prátai agus cabáiste agus bainne leis an teach.’
‘He had no other income, besides the wages of a forest laborer?’
‘He has a good patch of land but was not successful as a farmer. Charity of the neighbors kept potatoes and cabbage and milk in the house.pá pay, wages m paiste patch m rath Bestowal, grant; grace, favour; gift, bounty; Abundance; Usefulness, good m Carthannach = Carthanach Charitable; loving, kind; friendly comharsa neighbor f - ‘Nach raibh sé abhairin contráilte a bheith ag iarraidh duine a fhostú gan airgead aige chuige?’
‘Bhíodh scéimeanna déanta airgid aige i gcónaí. Níor éirigh le ceann ar bith acu, ach bhí sé riamh dóchasach. Bíonn sé ag seinm fidile ag bainiseacha agus tórraimh agus céilithe – aon áit go mbeadh pinginí le tuilleamh ag fidléir, Ach, mar is eol duit, [d.l. 154] bionn ar an bhfidléir a bheith fial leis na daoine a bhionn fial leis.’
‘Wasn’t it somewhat crazy to want to hire someone without having money for it?’
‘He always had money making schemes. None of them succeeded, but he was always hopeful. He plays the fiddle at weddings and wakes and ceilis – anywhere a fiddler would earn pennies. But, as you know, the fiddler must be generous to those who are generous to him.’
ábhairín somewhat contráilte contrary, wrong fostú Catching, entanglement; Engagement, hire, employment m dóchasach Hopeful; confident, optimistic tórramh wake m tuilleamh earning; earnings, wages m fial Seemly, proper; noble; Generous, hospitable - ‘Fear óil é?’
‘Níor ó1 sé agus níor chaith sé. Bhí an t-airgead róghann chuige. Ansin tháinig Mrs. Prunty. Baintreach mheasúil ab ea í. Theip ar ghnó a fir — bhí siopa haberdashery acu i Sráid Thomáis i mBaile Atha Cliath. Fágadh Bella Prunty ar an ngannchuid nuair cailleadh a fear. Bhí duine amhain clainne acu, mac, ach cailleadh go hóg é. Bhí áit chónaithe uaithi. Choinnigh sí na Tooles óga glan agus choinnigh sí bia leo.’
‘Is he a drinker?’
‘He didn’t drink and he didn’t smoke. The money was too scarce for it. Then Mrs. Prunty came. She was a respectable widow. Her husband’s business failed — they had a haberdashery shop on Thomas Street in Dublin. Bella Prunty was left destitute when her husband died. They had only one child, a son, but he died young. She needed a place to live. She kept the young Tooles clean and kept them supplied with food.’gann Scarce; sparse, thin; meagre, scanty measúil Estimable, esteemed; respectable gannchuid Slight portion, scarcity, penury f - ‘Ar éirigh libh teacht ar ghaolta léi?’
‘Ní mhaireann aon ghaolta léi, de reir dealraimh. Bhí a teastas pósta, grianghraf da céile agus grianghraf den mhac a cailleadh, cois leapan.’
‘Dein cur síos uirthi.’
‘Did you succeed in finding her relatives?’
‘Apparently no relatives survive her. Her marriage certificate, a photograph of her husband and a photograph of her lost son, were by her bed.’
‘Describe her.’tr>
De réir dealraimh apparently teasta testimony; Testimonial, certificate; Report, reputation m - ‘Bhi sí ag druidim le caoga bliain d’aois, i deich mbliana nios sine ná Toole … Bhí sí caol tanaí scrogallach agus aghaidh chomh fada lena bhfaca tú riamh uirthi, liopaí mar a bheadh ar asal, ach fós féin gan iad a bheith mór go leor chun na starrfhiacla a cheilt…
‘She was approaching fifty years of age, ten years older than Toole… She was slender, thin, long-necked with as long a face as you ever saw, lips like those of a donkey, but they were still not big enough to conceal the buck teeth….’
tanaí thin scrogallach long-necked starrfhiacail Prominent tooth; fang, tusk f ceilt concealment; withholding, denial f - ‘An bhean bhocht! Shíl d’aintín í a bheith dóighiúil ach, ar ndóigh, chonaic Penelope í agus i smidithe, cóirithe, sona, faoi sheodra. Is é an duine an t-éadach, a deirtear … agus sa chás seo…”
‘The poor woman! Your aunt thought she was good-looking but, of course, Penelope saw her when she was made up, dressed, happy, with jewels. The person is the clothes, it is said, and in this case…’
dóighiúil Good-looking, beautiful; Generous; decent, respectable smidte Excellent, neat cóirigh Arrange, dress; mend, repair - ‘Cosa agus lamha móra garbha uirthi agus i taodach. Níor chuir éinne rún collaí i leith Fayley nuair a tháinig sí chun cónaithe sa teach agus b’shin an t-iontas, má chuimhníonn tú ar lucht cúlchainte agus béadáin an bhaile seo! Ach, nuair a d’fhan sí in Ath na Lachan, thosaigh daoine á rá, go mioscaiseach, go raibh rún aici Fayley Toole a phósadh. Cad eile a choinneodh ansin í trí bliana as a chéile agus gan ach seachtain pá in
[d.l. 155] aghaidh na míosa á fhail aici da bhfaigheadh sí sin féin.
‘She has big, rough legs and arms and is impulsive/quick-tempered. No one accused Fayley of sexual intent when she came to live in the house and that was the surprise, if you remember the backbiters and the gossipers of this town! But, when she stayed in Duckford, people began to say, maliciously, that she had the intention to marry Fayley Toole. What else would keep her there three years in a row with only a week’s pay a the month if she herself would receive that[??].’
taodach = taghdach Fitful, impulsive, quick-tempered; changeable, capricious collaí Carnal, sexual cúlchaint (Act of) backbiting f gs cúlchainte béadáin Gossip; slander m gs béadáin mioscaiseach Spiteful, malicious; trouble-making - Mí ó shin leath scéala ar fud an bhaile go raibh Fayley Toole ag siúl amach le bean óg alainn as Ceatharlach. Dúradh gur chas sé Iéi nuair a bhí sé ag seinm, ag céili i Rath Daingean. Ón uair nár den áit seo í, níorbh fhéidir aon tuairisc a fhail uirthi agus dúirt daoine áirithe nach raibh sa scéal ach cumadóireacht. Shil daoine eile go raibh bunús leis. Bhí mná an bhaile ar bís féachaint céard a tharlódh thuas in Ath na Lachan. Dúradar nach n-imeodh Bella Prunty go héasca ~ tuarastal tri bliana a bheadh uaithi agus gan cianóg ag Toole. B’é tuairim na coitiantachta gur dócha go raibh ceangal breise ag Mrs. Prunty ar Toole le hais cheangal an airgid. Bhí siad ag rá go mbionn na hoícheanta fuar agus dorcha in Ath na Lachan, nach buaine mísciamhacht na solas, gur liath gach cat istoiche . . . a leithéid sin…
‘A month ago the story around town was that Fayley Toole was going out with a beautiful young woman from Carlow. It was said that he met her when he was playing at a ceili in Rath Daingean. Since she was not of this place, no information could be found about her, certain people said the story was just a fabrication. Other people thought there was a basis to it. The women of the town were in suspense to see what would happen up in Duckford. They said that Bella Prunty would not go away easily ~ she would want three years’ salary and Toole did not have a penny. The common opinion was that Mrs. Prunty had an increased hold on Toole with the back pay connection of the money [???]. They were saying that the nights are cold and dark in Duckford, the ugliness of the light is not permanent, that every cat is gray at night … something like that…’
Ón uair Since áirithe Certainty, surety; Certain quantity; Allotment, portion f cumadóireacht (Act of) inventing, making up a story; Composition, invention; fiction; Simulation. f bunús origin; basis; foundation, settlement;
Substance, essence; Substance, wealth;
Greater portion, majoritym bís Vice; screw; spiral f ar bís in suspense éasca Swift, nimble; free, fluent, easy; ready, prompt tuarastal Hire; salary, wages. cianóg Small coin, mite f coitiantacht Commonalty, common people; the general run of things f gs coitiantachta ceangal tie, binding breis increase, addition f gs breise buaine Permanence, durability; longevity f mísciamhach Ill-favored, uncomely sciamhacht Beauteousness f - ‘Nach grádiauil an dream iad muintir na hEireann, mar sin fein!’
‘Ta croí rómánsúil ag Fayley. Sheinneadh sé “Mal Dubh an Ghleanna” agus deora leis i gcuimhne a chéile a cailleadh.’
‘Nil sé i ngrá le bean óg álainn as Ceatharlach, mar sin?”
‘Le Róisin? Dúnta i ngrá léi. Ach rud eile é sin; bheith i ngrá. Ni dhéanfadh sé collaíocht le Mrs. Prunty gan a bheith i ngrá lei.’
‘Aren’t the people of Ireland charitable, just like that!’
‘Fayley has a romantic heart. He played “Black Mal of the Glen” and shed tears in memory of his lost mate.’
‘He’s not in love with a beautiful young woman from Carlow, then?’
‘With Rosin? Closed to love with her. But that’s another thing; to be in love. He would not be sexually involved with Mrs. Prunty if he were not love with her.’grádiaúil Charitable dream Body of people; group, tribe, set; some m Mal [name?] collaíocht Carnality, sexuality f - ‘Agus bhí sí róchríonna, róscrogallach le go dtitfeadh sé i ngra léi siúd? Grian fear Eireann é féin, is dócha?”
‘Ní raibh aon chroí inti. Ní raibh cion aici ar na leanai. Ní dhéanadh sí stróc oibre ach í ag goradh na loirgne cois tine agus na leanaí amuigh ag bailiú brosna . . . Mar dhia is go mba bhean uasal í, go raibh s{ ag cur comaoine orthu nuair a d’fhan sí sa teach leo. Ba choirnéal in Arm na Breataine san Ind a hathair. B’ísliú gradaim di Prunty a phósadh agus ba mhíle measa léi a [d.l. 156]
bheith ar aimsir ag Fayley Toole, í de shíor ag caoineadh a siopa, an trua gur dhiol “Mr. Prunty, my husband” é.
‘And she was too old, too long-necked for him to fall in love with her? Paragon of Ireland himself, probably?’
‘There was no heart in her. She had no love for the children. She would only do a stroke of work while she was warming her shins by the fire while the children were outside gathering kindling. Pretending that she was a lady, she put them under an obligation when she was staying in their house. Her father was a colonel in the British Army in India. Marrying Prunty would have lowered her prestige and it was a thousand times worse for her to be in service at Fayley Toole’s, she is constantly crying about her shop, the pity that “Mr. Prunty, my husband” sold it.[???}’críonna Wise, prudent; Grown-up, mature scrogallach long-necked cion Love, affection m stróic stroke f goradh heating, warming m lorga Staff, stick; club, cudgel; shin; Shank, shaft, stem f brosna Decayed twigs, kindling m comaoin favor, obligation f gs comaoine ísliú Lowering, depression, subsidence; descent, decline; abasement m gradam Esteem; mark of honour, distinction; respect, regar m síor Eternal, perpetual; continual - Faoin am seo bhí crosaire bainte amach acu mar a raibh tabhairne agus siopa in aon fhoirgneamh amháin ann, tithe beaga cruinnithe thart air.
‘Seo Sceichín an Rince,’ arsa Bill. ‘Sin teach Bhatty Byrne mar a ndéanadh Mrs. Prunty a cuid siopaddireachta.’
‘Buailimis isteach ann,’ arsa an Duinníneach.
‘Téimis isteach sa bheár,’ arsa an Constabla.
‘Leanfaimid lorg Mrs. Prunty,’ arsa an Duinníneach, doras ar clé á oscailt aige agus é ag brú isteach sa siopa.
By this time they had reached a crossroads where there was a tavern and a shop in one building, small houses gathered around it.
‘This is Skeheenaranky,’ said Bill. ‘That’s Batty Byrne’s house where Mrs. Prunty does her shopping.’
‘Let’s proceed in there,’ said Dineen.
‘Let’s go into the bar,’ said the Constable.
‘We will follow the track of Mrs. Prunty,’ said Dineen, opening a door on the left as he pushed into the shop.sceach whitethorn, hawthorn; Thorn-bush f - Bhi an áit dorcha, an fhuinneog lan de stuif an tsiopa, na fallaí faoina gcuid seilfeanna lan d’earraí, cuntar mór adhmaid a raibh snas air ó shíorchuimilt mhuinchillí. Bhí mar a bheadh bosca faoistine i dtóin an tsiopa. Chuir an Constabla an tAthair Padraig in aithne do Mrs. Batty Byrne a bhí taobh thiar den chuntar.
D’fhéach siad ar a chéile.
The place was dark, the window full of shop stuff, the walls beneath their shelves full of goods, a large wooden counter that was polished from the constant rubbing of sleeves. It was as if there was a confession box in the backside of the shop. The Constable introduced Father Padraig to Mrs. Batty Byrne who was behind the counter.
They looked at each other.snas Finish, polish, gloss, good appearance m síorchuimilt perpetual rubbing f muinchille sleeve f faoistin confession f gs faoistine - ‘Déarfainn gur bean mhaith ghnó thú,’ arsa an Duinníneach.
“Déan cúram de na feoirlingí agus ní call duit a bheith ag imní i dtaobh na bpunt,’ ar sise go meidhreach.Rinne an Duinníneach gnúsachtach.
‘Cad é an uair dheireanach go raibh Mrs. Prunty sa siopa?’
‘An Satharn ar maraiodh í. Tháinig sí fá choinne mine[g?].’
‘Ar íoc sí as le hairgead tirim?’
‘I would say you are a good business woman,’ said Dineen.
‘Take care of the farthings and you need not worry about the pounds,’ she said merrily.
‘When was the last time Mrs. Prunty was in the store?’
‘The Saturday she was killed. She came for small things.’
‘Did she pay with ready cash?’feoirling farthing f meidhreach Mirthful, merry, gay; frisky, sportive gnúsachtach (Act of) grunting f coinne Tryst, appointment; expectation (of meeting). mine Smallness, minuteness f - ‘Níor íoc. Chuirti rudaí sa leabhar. D’iocadh sí an cuntas tráthnóna Aoine nuair a thagadh Fayley abhaile lena phá.’
‘Taispeáin dom an leabhar.’
Thug sí dó é.
Bágún, gallúnach, cáis, tae, siúicre, coinnle, tae, min, cipirs, gallúnach, min, plúr, gallúnach
[d.l. 157]
‘She did not pay. Things were [used to be] put in the book. She paid the account on Friday evening when Fayley came home with his wages.’
‘Show me the book’
She gave it to him.
Bacon, soap, cheese, tea, sugar, candles, tea, meal, kippers, soap, meal, flour, soap…
Notaí Faoi Scéalta
| Thiomáin mé timpeall tríocha míle tríd an sneachta inniu. | ||
| Gan timpiste, ach bhí faitíos orm | ||
| Anois tá exhausion orm, | ||
| Bhí an-imní orm faoin toghchán, Ach ní raibh sé go dona, go háirithe anseo i Minnesota. | ||
| Chuamar a chodladh an oíche sin nuair a fuaireamar amach go raibh an bua ag Gobharnóir Walz. | ||
| Chuamar chuig dinnéar ag ár n-eaglais | ||
| Thiomáin muid go Lombard, bruachbhaile thiar de Chicago, níos luaithe an mhí seo. | ||
| Coinbhinsiún ficsean eolaíochta eile a bhí ann | ||
| Mar is gnáth, chonaiceamar go leor seanchairde ag am gcoinbinsiún | ||
| Bhí go leor plé maith | ||
| D’fhoghlaim mé go leor | ||
| Bhí an dá choinbhinsiún deiridh againn i lár na cathrach. | ||
| Bhí sé seo difriúil. | ||
| Sa chathair d’íoc muid go leor chun ár gcarr a pháirceáil. | ||
| Ní fadhb i Lombard | ||
| Mar sin féin, tá an chathair i bhfad níos suimiúla dúinn | ||
| Is daoine cathrach muid | ||
| Tá cónaí orainn i Roseville anois, ach ba mhaith linn bogadh go Saint Paul. | ||
From Hilbert Space to Dilbert Space, and beyond 