Duinnín in Áth na Lachan (tuilleadh)
Dineen in Duckford (continued)
- “Tháinig tú ar an tuiscint sin uait féin, gan leid ó chara léi?”
‘Sceith an bhean bhocht uirthi féin go rialta agus go minic, an té a thuigfeadh. De réir mhuintir Ath na Lachan, Bhíodh sí ag ceartú a mbéasa boird agus a gcuid foghraíochta mar a bheadh bean dá sórt. Ach ní raibh aon dealramh in aon chor leis na nodanna a thugadh sí uaithi. Delias, ambaist, seachas /i>Dahlias! Ar ndóigh is dócha gur thug bean ti éigin uirthi fadó “Tea is served” a rá, seachas “Tay, Missus”, agus gur shíl sí ó shin nar den ghalántacht an ‘a’ leathan. Bhíodh sí ag caoineadh laethanta rachmais, ach is é an siopa a luadh sí, ní hé an teach ná a seoda. Nuair a dheineadh sí tagairt do “Mr. Prunty, my husband”, bhíodh daoine ag magadh faoi aistíl chainte na nDuibhlinneach. Tá’s againn gur nós le daoine bochta i mBaile Atha Cliath an leagan san a úsáid, ach níor den chosmhuintir [d.l. 185] Bella Prunty.’
‘You came to that understanding by yourself, without a hint from a friend?’
‘The poor woman informed on herself regularly and often, to whom would understand. According to the people of Duckford, she would be correcting their table manners and their pronunciation like a woman of her sort. But her appearance did not match at all the hints she gave. Delias indeed, rather than Dahlias. Of course probably some lady told her a long time ago to say “Tea is served”, rather than “Tay, Missus”, and that she had since thought that the broad ‘a’ was elegant. She would be lamenting the days of prosperity, but it is the shop she mentioned, not the house or its jewels/treasures. When she referred to “Mr. Prunty, my husband”, people used to mock the strange speech of the Dubliners. We know that poor people in Dublin used that version, but not the followers of Bella Prunty.leid Hint, inkling; prompt; pointer, clue f sceith vomit, burst forth béas custom, habit, manners m dealramh Sheen, splendour, radiance; Look, appearance; likeness, resemblance m nod hint; abbreviation m ambaist = ambaiste Indeed! Really! seachas Besides, other than, rather than; compared to rachmas Wealth, abundance m luaigh mention, cite v cosmhuintir Hangers-on; followers, dependants; Poor people, proletariat f - Déanfaidh mé liosta amach duit am éigin, ach fágaimis uainn anois é. Is cás liom nar scaoil sibh Fayley saor go fóill. Pete, an mangaire mantach a dhein an marú. ‘Fastaím!’
‘Is féidir liom a insint duit conas mar ar maraíodh Bella Prunty. Beidh ort féin dul sa tóir ar an bhfianaise . .
‘I’ll make a list for you sometime, but let’s leave it for now. I’m concerned you haven’t released Fayley yet. Pete. the gap-toothed peddler, did the killing.’
‘Nonsense!´
‘I can tell you how Bella Prunty was killed. You will have to search for the evidence yourself.’
Fastaím Pastime, amusement; nonsense f tóir Pursuit, chase; hunt, search; pursuing party f - ‘Bhí dúchíos á ghearradh ar an mbean bhocht. Bhíodh uirthi deich scilling a íoc leis gach uair a thagadh sé. An babhta seo, bhí sé scilling is ocht bpingin aici. Is i ngeall ar thrí scilling agus toistiún a fuair sí bás. Tá na figiuiri sin breactha ar bhilleog atá ag Bill de Brún, agus sin an léamh atá agamsa orthu. Bhíodh airgead á chnuasach aici ach ní raibh aon airgead ina diaidh nuair a cailleadh í. Nior chaith sí puinn, fiú ar an ól ~ agus bhí sí tugtha don ól. Bhí rún ag Margie. Agus bhí duine amháin ag teacht chun an tí a d’fhéadfadh sceitheadh uirthi.’
‘The poor woman was being blackmailed. She had to pay him ten shillings every time he came. This round, she had six shillings and eight pence. She died on account three shillings and four pence. Those figures are written on a sheet that Bill de Brún has, and that is my reading of them. She used to have a store of money but there was no money left behind when she died. She did not spend much, even when drinking — and she was prone to drink. Margie had a secret. And there was one person coming to the house that could expose her.’
dúchíos ‘Black’, heavy, rent or tribute; ransom for privilege or immunity m gearradh Cutting, cut m toistiún Fourpenny piece; Fourpence (old money). m geall pledge, security m cnuasaigh Gather food (from woodland, sea-shore); pick (potatoes, etc.); puinn not much [with neg.] tugtha given; Spent, exhausted; given tto, prone to sceitheadh spweing, vomitting; Overflow; eruption m - ‘Tá tú ag cuimhneamh ar Pete, an mangaire mantach. Ní chuirfinn thairis a bheith ag gearradh duchiosa uirthi, ach tuige go maródh sé foinse an airgid?
You remember Pete, the gap-toothed peddler. I wouldn’t put it past him to blackmail her, but understand that it would kill the source of the money?
- ‘Ach, a théagair, ní raibh sé i gceist ag Pete Margie a mharú. Margie Mooney a bhí i ndeireadh feide agus ag seiftiú. B’tfhéidir nár mhór leat féin an áit a bhí aici sa chomhluadar in Ath na Lachan … ach cuimhnigh … bhí áit chónaithe aici, agus a rogha féin de bhia an teaghlaigh. Bhí cead gearáin aici. Bhí comhluadar aici, Nell a thug éisteacht agus omós di. Bhí stádas aici mar bhean uasal a thuig nósmhaireacht an tsaoil móir. Shíl sí Fayley a phósadh. Bhí sí mísciamhach, an bhean bhocht, ach is maith an bréagaire é scáthan mna. Is dócha go raibh áibhirseoirí ann a bhíodh ag cothú na speabhraíde inti le teann diabhlaíochta
But, my dear, Pete didn’t plan to kill Margie. Margie Mooney was at her last gasp and improvising. You may not have understood her place in the community in Duckford… but remember… she had a place to live, and her own choice of household food. She was allowed to complain. She had company. Nell listened to her and respected her. She had the status of a lady who understood the customs of the big world. She thought Fayley would marry her. She was uncomely, the poor woman, but a woman’s mirror is a good liar. Likely there were adversaries who would nourish the fantasies in her with devilish strength.
téagar Substance, stoutness, bulk; Shelter, warmth, comfort; Substantial amount m A théagair! My dear! seiftiú Provision; improvisation, contrivance m comhluadar (social) company m gearán complain ómós Homage; reverence, respect m nósmhaireacht Customariness; Formality; politeness f mísciamhach Ill-favoured, uncomely áibhirseoir adversary, the devil m cothú Nourishment, sustenance; promotion, maintenance m speabhraíd Hallucination; (pl.) illusions, fantasies, ravings f - ‘Ach bhí dhá chonstaic roimpi. D’fhéadfadh Pete sceitheadh [d.l. 186]
uirthi am ar bith. Bhí ráfla sa timpeall go raibh Fayley ag léiriú spéise i mbean éigin as Ceatharlach. Bhí sé in am aici beart a dhéanamh. Agus bhí tri scilling agus ceithre phingin in easnamh uirthi.”
‘Cad a tharla ar an Satharn úd in Ath na Lachan? Eachtraigh dom, a Athair, ón uair go bhfuil an chuma air go raibh tú i lathair,’ arsa Smythe, le teann searbhais.
‘But there were two obstacles before her. Pete could expose her at any time. There was gossip going around that Fayley was showing an interest in some woman from Carlow. It was time for her to make a move. And she had a deficit of three shillings and four pence.’
‘What happened on that Saturday in Duckford? Tell me, Father, since it seems that you were present,’ said Smythe, with strong bitterness.
constaic obstacle f ráfla gossiping, rumor m léirigh Make clear, explain, illustrate easnamh Want, deficiency; shortage, deficit, omission m beart cast, move (in game); bundle, garment m searbhas Bitterness, sourness, acidity m teann Strength, force m - ‘Is dócha go rabhas i lathair, ar bhealach,’ arsa an Duinnineach. ‘Caithim cuid mhór dem shaol ag léamh rudai a scriobh Gaeil nach beo dóibh. Cén t-iontas go mbeinn ar mo shuaimhneas ag léamh nodanna atá breactha ar an saol ag daoine atá imithe leo? … Nach ndéanfadh sibh féin iniúchadh nios géire ar an mangaire, murach gur thug Fayley baránta dó? Tá na botuin chéanna á ndéanamh agaibhse agus a dheineas féin ar dtúis .. .
‘I was probably present, in a way,’ said Dineen. ‘I spend a large part of my life reading things written by Irish people who are not alive [to them]. What wonder that I would be at ease reading hints that written on the life of people who are gone [with them]? … You didn´t take a closer look at the peddler, since you had a warrant for Fayley? …You are making the same mistakes I did in the beginning.’
suaimhneas Peace, tranquillity; quietness, rest m nod hint; abbreviation m iniúchadh scrutiny m - ‘Cuirimis mar seo é: Is fíor gur tháinig an mangaire go tigh Toole nuair a bhí Fayley fillte ón obair agus ag deisiú chró na gcearc ach níl aon chruthú againn gurbh é seo an chéad uair a tháinig sé ann an lá sin. Tháinig sé chun olann dhearg dearnála, a bhí ar ordú ag ‘Bella’ a dhíol léi, a duirt sé le Fayley. Ach ní raibh aon bhall éadaigh dearg sa teach a ndéanfá cliath a chur ann lena leithéid.
‘Let’s put it this way: It is true that the peddler came to Toole’s house when Fayley had returned from work and was repairing the chicken shed but we have no proof that this was the first time he came there that day. It came to red darning wool, which ‘Bella’ had ordered to be sold to her, he said to Fayley. But there was no red article of clothing in the house you would darn with such.
deisiú Repairing, repair cruthú creation; proof, testimony m dearnáil darning - ‘Thug sé a rothar, agus an paca air, suas an lána, de réir Fayley, ach bhí rian sa chlaí thios ar an mbóthar — áit gur leagadh rothar i gcoinne na bhfiailí. Sílim gur fhág sé an rothar thíos sa chlaí an chéad uair gur tháinig sé chun an tí. Ní bheadh aon cheo á cheannach ag Margie. Sheas sé i gcró na mbó ag feitheamh go dtiocfadh sí. Ghlan sé a phíopa agus bhí am aige é a líonadh agus a lasadh. Ansin tháinig Margie. Leag sé uaidh a phíopa ar an slinn . . . Bhí gach rud faoi réir aici. Buille marfach leis an speilín. Turas tapaidh chun an tobair. Ach bhí Pete níos [d.l. 187]
láidre ná í. D’iompaigh sé an cluiche uirthi agus mharaigh sé í. Bhí sluasaid agus barra rotha in aice láimhe, an tobar gar dó. Samhlaím go raibh cual cré, faoi réir, ar phíosa d’iarann rocach láimh leis. Ní thógfadh sé aon fhaid air an cúram a chur de. D’imigh sé leis.
He took his bike, with the pack on, up the lane, according to Fayley, but there was a trace in the fence below the road — a place where a bicycle was laid on the weeds. I think he left the bike under the fence the first time he came to the house. Margie wouldn’t be buying anything. He stood in the cow pen waiting until she would come. He cleaned his pipe and had time to fill it and light it. Then came Margie. He laid his pipe on the tile. Everything was ready for her. A deadly blow with the scythe blade. A quick journey to the well. But Pete was stronger than her. He turned the game on her and killed her. A shovel and a wheelbarrow were nearby, the well close to him. I imagine there was a heap of clay ready, on a piece of corrugated iron at hand. It wouldn’t take him long to take care of it. He left.
rian Course, path m claí Dike, wall; fence m fiaile weed feitheamh Watch, look-out, guard; Wait, expectation m tapaidh = tapa quick cual Faggot; bundle, heap. m rocach Wrinkled, creased; corrugated - ‘Tháinig Fayley abhaile agus chuaigh sé i mbun oibre ar chró na gceare … Ach chuimhnigh an mangaire gur fhag sé a phiopa ar an slinn i gcró na mbé. B’éigean dé filleadh, mar ba gheall le síniú dá chuid, i ndúch fola, ar fhalla an chró, an piopa san. Ach bhí Fayley fillte. Cad a dhéanfadh sé agus Fayley ag casúireacht, idir é agus an cró, ach rothar a bhrú roimhe agus an paca air, agus Bella a iarraidh, mar dhea is go raibh teachtaireacht aige do bhean an ti?…
‘Fayley came home and set to work on the chicken coop … But the peddler remembered that he had left his pipe on the tile in the cowshed. He had to return, because that pipe was the signature of his part, in blood ink. But Fayley returned. What would he do when Fayley was hammering, between him and the shed, but push a bicycle in front of him with the pack on it, asking for Bella, indeed he had a message for the housemaid?…
casúireacht (Act of) hammering f teachtaireacht message, errand f - ‘Scríob sé a lámh le go mbeadh leithscéal aige cuairt a thabhairt ar an gcró. Nó b’fhéidir nach raibh sa scríobadh sin ach ceilt ar stracadh a dhein Bella air, lena hingne . . . Chroch sé leis a phíopa agus Fayley ag lorg líonta dó. ‘Dhírigh sé aird ar an bhfuil ar an urlár le go mbeadh sé ar taifead gur tharla an dúnmharú sular tháinig sé. D’imigh sé ansin agus d’inis Fayley a scéal go macánta duit … agus tá sé faoi choinneáil ó shin, da bharr …’
‘He scratched his hand to have an excuse to visit the shed. Or maybe that scratching was just a cover up for a scratch Bella made on him, with her fingernail… He bent over his pipe as Fayley looked to fill it.
‘He directed his attention to what was on the floor to put on record that the murder hppened before he arrived. He then left and Fayley told you his story honestly… and he has been in detention ever since, as a result…’
scríob scrape, scratch v, f ceilt concealment f stracadh = sracadh pull, tear ionga (finger/toe) nail f pl ingne croch hang taifead record m, v - D’ith an Cigire Smythe pancóg le mil air. ‘Agus tá deis agatsa anois, a James, a léiriú go bhfuil sibhse i gCaisleén Bhaile Atha Cliath chun tosaigh ar bhur gcomhghleacaithe i Scotland Yard…’Leag James Smythe an dara pancóg uaidh agus cluas le héisteacht air.
‘Tá glactha leis i bprionsabal gur féidir duine a aithint ó lorga a mhéar. Is cinnte go bhfuil méarlorga Phete ar na huirlisi a thóg sibh libh as Ath na Lachan.’
Lig James Smythe gaire as: [d.l. 188]
Inspector Smythe ate a pancake with honey on it.
‘And now is your chance, James, to show that you in Dublin Castle are ahead of your colleagues in Scotland Yard…’
James Smythe laid down the second pancake with an ear to listen.
‘It is accepted in principle that a person can be identified from his fingerprints. Pete’s fingerprints are definitely on the tools you took with you from Duckford.’
James Smythe let out a laugh:
comhghleacaí Equal, peer; Fellow, companion m - ‘Dhiúltaigh London Met. Pol. don chóras sin i bhfad ó shin.’ ‘Ach tá athmhachnamh á dhéanamh acu air. Tá comhad á chur le chéile acu anois, bunaithe ar chóras Henry. Nár mhór an gaisce é, James, dá mba iad na leaids agaibhse is túisce a thóg cás chun cúirte, bunaithe ar an eolaíocht nua?’D’ith an Cigire Smythe an dara pancóg. Agus nuair a bhí sé ite aige, ghlan sé a bheola go cúramach leis an naipcin boird.
‘Ná bí chun tosaigh ná chun deiridh ar an gcuid eile,’ ar seisean, go tromchúiseach.
‘London Met. Pol. rejected that system long ago.’
‘But they are rethinking it. They are now putting together a file, based on Henry’s system. The equipment is not much, James, if your lads were the first to take a case to court, based on the new science?’
Inspector Smythe ate the second pancake. And when he had eaten, he cleaned his lips carefully with the table napkin.
‘Don’t be ahead or behind the rest,’ he said gravely.
diúltaigh Deny, refuse; (with do)Renounce, repudiate córas system m athmhachnamh reflection; reconsideration m comhad Cover; protection, keeping; file m gaisce Arms, weapons; martial equipment; Feat (of arms); prowess (in arms); Boasting, bravado; showing off, swank m túisce Sooner, rather; first cúirt court f gs cúirte eolaíocht science f tromchúiseach Grave, important, weighty - Cheil an tAthair Padraig an díomá a bhí air.
‘Ach ón uair go mbeidh do shaineolas teangeolaíoch de dhíth orainn arís, seans, déanfaimid rud ort agus breathnóimid ar na huirlisí sin féachaint an bhfuil méarlorga ar leith orthu. Ní bhunóinn cás ar fhianaise chomh leochailleach le rian allais ar chrann speile . . . ach ar mhaithe le tú shásamh . . .’
Father Padraig hid his disappointment.
‘But since we will need your linguistic expertise again, we’ll do a thing for you and look at those tools to see if they have distinct fingerprints on them. I wouldn’t build a case on evidence as flimsy as a trail of sweat on a scythe handle … but for the sake of your satisfaction. . .’
ceil Conceal; suppress, withhold díomá Disappointment, sorrow f saineolas Expert, special, knowledge m teangeolaíoch Linguistic. díth Loss; deprivation, destruction f leochaileach Frail, fragile, tender, susceptible (to pain, cold, grief). rian Course, path; Mark, trace, track m allas Sweat, perspiration m crann speile scythe handle - ‘Nuair a aimseoidh tú méarlorga an mhangaire ar gach aon uirlis a d’usáid an dúnmharfóir, cuir an fhianaise sin ina láthair. Inis dó gur eol daoibh gur dhein Margie ionsaí air agus nár dhein sé ach é féin a chosaint.”
Chaith an Duinnineach seachtain faoi imní. Dá ndaorfaí Toole i ngeall ar dhúnghaois chaomhach an dlí .
‘When you find the peddler’s fingerprints on every single tool used by the murderer, present the case to him. Tell him you know Margie attacked him and that he only defended himself.’
Dineen spent a week worrying. If Toole were to be convicted on account of the policy of the law.
ionsaí Advance, approach, attack m cosaint Defense, protection f daor convict, condemn; enslave dúnghaois policy f - ‘An tArd-Chigire James Smythe, ón gCaisleán,’ arsa cuintóir leabharlainne,’ i gcogar. Chruinnigh an Duinnineach a nótaí le chéile; bhuail sé air a hata agus mhoilligh sé nóiméad, chun a thoil a chur le toil Dé, nó a mhalairt thart, de réir mar a d’oirfeadh don bhfear thuas.Labhair Smythe ar an aimsir, air seo, siúd agus eile. Ansin ar seisean:
‘Dála an scéil, d’admhaigh an mangaire sin, a raibh spéis agat ina chás, gurbh eisean a thug buille báis do Mhargie Mooney. [d.l. 189]
‘Chief Inspector James Smythe, from the Castle,’ said the librarian in a whisper,
Dineen gathered his notes together, clapped on his hat and delayed for a moment, to put his will with the will of God, or the other way around, according to what would suit the man above.
Smythe talked about the weather, this, that, and the other. Then he said:
‘By the way, the peddler admitted, you were interested in his case, that he was the one who gave Margie Mooney the death blow.’
moilligh delay v malairt destruction; change, alternative; exchange, barter f oir Suit, fit, become - D’úsaideamar teicnící nua-aimseartha. Creidim nár mhiste a rá go rabhamar chun tosaigh ar ár gcomhghleacaithe i Londain sa chás áirithe seo. Chuala tú caint ar úsáid méarlorg mar bhealach chun duine a aithint, a Athair? Ar ndóigh, níorbh fhéidir leis an mangaire cur i gcoinne na heolaíochta. Fuaireamar faoistin uaidh. Féinchosaint a bhí ann. Bhí cloch sa mhuinchille aici dó, ón uair gur mheall sé í agus gur thréig sé í fadó, nuair a bhí an bheirt acu ar aimsir le chéile ..”
We used modern techniques. I believe it matters[??] to say that we were ahead of our colleagues in London in this particular case. You’ve heard talk of using a fingerprint as a way to identify a person, Father. Of course the peddler could not put anything against the science. We got a confession from him. It was self defense. She had it in for him, since he deceived her and abandoned her long ago, when the two of them were together in service.
miste comhghleacaí Equal, peer; Fellow, companion m faoistin confession f muinchille sleeve f Bhí cloch sa mhuinchille aici dó She had it in for him “She had a stone in her sleeve for him” meall Beguile, charm; entice; Delude, deceive; disappoint tréig Abandon, forsake; Fade; fail, fall away - An mhí dar gcionn, fuair an Duinnineach cuireadh chuig pósadh dúbailte i Séipéal Bhaile na gCreabhar. Bheadh an Constábla Bill de Brún ag pósadh Nora — banaltra óg, a raibh glactha léi mar shonuachar súiteabalta do phóilín. (Coiste neamhfhoirmeálta de mhná céile na n-oifigeach sinsearach a thug an bhreith,) Bheadh Feidhlim (nó Fayley mar ab fhearr aithne air) Toole ag pósadh Róisin Ní Dhuibh, Bridewell Lane, Ceatharlach.
he following month, Dineen was invited to a double wedding in Ballynacrebar Church. Constable Bill de Brún would be marrying Nora — a young nurse, who was accepted as a suitable spouse for a policeman. (An informal committee of senior officers’ wives gave the judgement.) Feidhlim (or Fayley as he was better known) Toole would be marrying Róisin Ní Duíbh, Bridewell Lane, Carlow.
sonuachar spouse m coiste jury, committee m sinsearach senior, ancestral - Rinne an Duinnineach meangadh beag gáire agus é ag samhlú na bainise sin, ceol agus spraoi agus ruaille buaille, leanaí, cearca, muca, láir bhán, gabha. Ar ndóigh ní bheadh deis aige dul ann. I bhfad róghnóthach.
Ach ar ball, agus a bholg ar a chúinne le hispíní ~ cócailte go maith an uair seo — agus é céasta athuair ar íorna olna ag Penelope de Brún, níor éirigh leis a chur in iúl go soiléir di nach rachadh sé ann.
[d.l. 190Dineen smiled a little as he imagined that wedding, music and fun and commotion, children, hens, pigs, a white mare, a blacksmith. Of course he wouldn’t have a chance to go there. Much too busy.
But later, and his stomach full of sausages ~ cooked well this time — and he was tormented again on Penelope de Brún’s skein of wool, he did not succeed in clearly informing her that he would not go there.
meangadh smile m samhlú Imagination, fancy; semblance m bainis wedding f ruaille buaille commotion, tumult, rough-and-tumble, ruction céasta tormented; Tormenting; miserable; crucified athuair Again, a second time íorna hank (thread); bundle (fiber); tangled skein iúl knowledge m soiléir Clear, distinct; plain, obvious
| comhoiriúnach go siarghabhálach | backward compatible | |
| Cinedhíothú cultúrtha | Cultural genocide | |
Notaí Faoi Scéalta
| Tá Mia sláintiúil | Mia is healthy | |
| Ní raibh stróc uirthi | ||
| Bhí MRI aici/i> | ||
| Thóg sé tamall mar gheall ar a ionchlannán | It took a while because of her implant | |
| Gan vertigo le déanaí | No vertigo recently | |
| Tá sí ag obair sa siopa agus ina gairdín gan fadhbanna | ||
| She is working at the store and in her garden without problems | ||
| Nuacht eile | ||
| Tá foirnéis nua againn | We have a new furnace | |
| Bhí sé an-daor | It was very expensive | |
| Cheannaigh muid anois é nuair nach raibh gá againn leis | We bought it now when we did not need it | |
| Ní raibh éigeandáil uainn sa gheimhreadh | We did not want an emergency in the winter | |
| Dá bhfaigheadh an tseanfhoirnéis bás ansin, bheadh fadhb mhór ann | If the old furnace died then, that would be a big problem | |
| Nuacht eile arís | ||
| D’éalaigh duine de na cait ón chúlchlós cúpla lá ó shin. | ||
| Ní raibh muid in ann í a fheiceáil in áit ar bith | ||
| Bhí sé sin scanrúil | ||
| Chuamar a chodladh ar ball | ||
| Dúisigh mé timpeall a dó a chlog ar maidin | ||
| Chonaic mé ar an bpóirse cúil í | ||
| D’oscail mé an doras agus tháinig sí isteach | ||
| Bhí an-áthas orm í a fheiceáil | ||
| Bhí an cat eile againn mar sin | ||
From Hilbert Space to Dilbert Space, and beyond 