Faoi Dheireadh Thiar Faoi Dheireadh Thiar – gníomh a do (tuilleadh)
At Long Last (continued)

• 
  MÁIRÍN: An mí-adh mór a stór… ‘Grá mo chroí thú, a Mháirín.’ B’in é an focal deiridh a dúirt sé isteach i mo chluais. Muid ag pógadh a chéile sa gcarr théis a bheith ag damhsa sa Seapoint — ní raibh aon chead a dhul níos faide sul má bheifeá pósta ag an am sin. Muid ag cogarnaíl go [d.l. 61] grámhar i gcluasa a chéile, ag gealladh gur in ascaillí a chéile a chaithfeadh muid an chuid eile dar saol. Ní hé an chaoi ar iarr sé orm an bpósfainn é ach gur shocraigh an bheirt againn le chéile go raibh sé in am againn bualadh faoin saol théis cheithre bliana a chaitheamh ag cuirtéireacht. Éanlaith an aeir a mheabhraigh dhúinn go raibh sé ina bhreacadh lae sul má d’fhág sé slán agam. Bhí sé théis carr nua a cheannacht agus muid ag samhlú go raibh bóthar an tsaoil chomh fada leis an tsíoraiocht amach romhainn, ach ni raibh an tsíoraiocht i bhfad ó bhaile. Bhí cupla deoch ólta aige ach níor mheas mé go raibh stró ar bith air, marar ina chodladh a thit sé. “Grá mo chroí thú, a Mháirín,” an focal deiridh a duirt sé. Maraíodh ar an mbealach abhaile é. Ag casadh Aíll na Caróige. D’imigh sé den bhóthar. Bunoscionn a fritheadh é fhéin is an carr ar maidin.
  

  MÁIRÍN: A great misfortune, my dear… ‘My heart loves you, Máirín.’ It was the last word he said into my ear. We were kissing each other in the car, after dancing in Seapoint — There was no permission to go further than that before you were married at that time. We were whispering lovingly in each other’s ears, promising that we would spend the rest of our lives in each other’s arms. It wasn’t the way he asked me to marry him, but that the two of us agreed together that it was time for us to meet life ogether after spending four years courting. Birds of the air reminded us that it was daybreak before he left me. It was after buying a new car and we imagined that the road of life before us was as long as eternity, but eternity was not far from home. He had a couple of drinks but I don’t think he was stressed at al, if he had not fallen asleep. “You are the love of my heart, Máirín,” the last word he said. He was killed on the way home. Turning the Cliff of the Crow. He went off the road. He and the car were found upside down in the morning.

  cogarnaíl	cogarnach1, f. (gs. -aí). 1.
  grámhar	Loving, tender, affectionate; Lovable, amiable.
  ascaill	armpit	f
  éanlaith	birds, fowl	f
  meabhraigh	Commit to memory; remember; Recall, remind ….
  breacadh an lae	daybreak
  samhlú	Imagination, fancy	m
  síoraíocht	eternity	f
  meas	Estimate, value, judge; deem, consider	v, m
  stór	Store; Stock, provision; Abundance; treasure	m
  stró	Stress, exertion;
  aill	Cliff, precipice	f
  caróg	crow	f gs caróige
  Bunoscionn	Upside down

• 
  JACKIE: Ó, tá sé sin an-bhrónach.
  MÁIRÍN: Ach níor imigh sé ariamh uaim, a Jackie.
  JACKIE: Céard?
  MÁIRÍN: Mothaim le mo thaobh i gcónai é. Cupla bliain théis a bháis bhí chuile dhuine ag rá liom go gcaithfeadh an saol a dhul ar aghaidh, is thosaigh mé ag dul amach le leaid eile, ach chuile uair dá gcuireadh sé a laimh i mo thimpeall mhothainn láimh fhuar eile ag dul eadrainn.
  JACKIE: Jesus!
  [d.l. 62]
  

  JACKIE: Oh, that is very sad.
  MÁIRÍN: But he never left me, Jackie.
  JACKIE: What?
  MÁIRÍN: I always feel him by my side. A couple of years after his death, everyone was telling me that life had to go forward, and I started going out with another lad, but every time he put his arm around me I would feel another cold hand going between us.
  JACKIE: Jesus!

• 
  MÁIRÍN: Go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Nuair a bhím idir mo chodladh is mo dhúiseacht cuireann sé laimh fhuar phréachta i mo thimpeall sa leaba. Fáisceann sé isteach leis mé, do mo dhiurnáil chomh paisiúnta is dá mbeadh sé beo beathach.
  
  JACKIE: Jesus Christ almighty!
  MÁIRÍN: Sin é an fáth gurb iad na seandaoine atá mar ghasúir agamsa.
  JACKIE: Ó, a Mhaighdean! Is an mbíonn sé ag caint leat?
  MÁIRÍN: Ní bhíonn faraor. B’fhéidir gur dhá shamhla a bhím, a Jackie, ach tógann sé ó bhás go beatha mé chuile uair dá dtagann sé chomh fada liom.
  JACKIE: Ach an mbíonn faitíos ort?

  MÁIRÍN: Until today. When I’m between sleep and wakefulness, he puts a perishingly cold hand around me in bed. He squeezes in with me, embracing me as passionately as if he were alive and active.
  JACKIE: Jesus Christ almighty!
  MÁIRÍN: That’s why the old people are like boys to me.
  JACKIE: Oh, Virgin Mary! Is he talking to you?
  MÁIRÍN: There is no regret. Perhaps I am just imagining it, Jackie, but he raises me from death to life every time he comes this close to me.
  
  JACKIE: But are you afraid?

  préach	Perish (with cold)	v, m gs préachta
  fáisc	Squeeze, compress; wring, press
  diurnaigh	Drain, swallow; embrace
  paisiúnta	Passionate; angry, hot-tempered
  beo beathach	alive and active

• 
  MÁIRÍN: Faitíos nach bhfeicfidh mé ar an gcéad saol eile é, an t-aon fhaitios atá orm.
  (Tagann SALLY isteach de sciotán ag baint geite as Jackie. Tá a cuid éadaigh codlata ar Sally chomh maith le cóta daor fionnaidh agus í ag iompar cupla gúna ina baclainn agus ag tarraingt mála beag ina diaidh. Is léir go bhfuil deifir uirthi. Níl dul as ag an mbeirt ach pléascadh amach ag gáire.)
  JACKIE: Dia dár réiteach, what’s wrong, Sally?
  SALLY: I’m rushing to the airport.
  JACKIE: Which airport?
  SALLY: Oh dear … London Heathrow, I think. I’m off for a cruise in the Bahamas.
  JACKIE: Wow! Is cé atá ag dul in éineacht leat?
  SALLY: Oh, my partner.
  MÁIRÍN: Ara, sit down and have a cup of tea first.
  [d.l. 63]
  

  MÁIRÍN: Fear that I won’t see him in the next life, that’s the only fear I have.
  (SALLY comes in suddenly, startling JACKIE. Sally is wearing her night clothes as well as an expensive fur coat, carrying a few dresses in her arms and pulling a small bag behind her. It’s clear she’s in a hurry. The two can only burst out laughing.)
  JACKIE: God bless us, what’s wrong, Sally?
  SALLY: I’m rushing to the airport.
  JACKIE: Which airport?
  SALLY: Oh dear … London Heathrow, I think. I’m off for a cruise in the Bahamas.
  JACKIE: Wow! And who is going with you?
  SALLY: Oh, my partner.
  MÁIRÍN: sit down and have a cup of tea first.

  de sciotán	suddenly
  geit	jump, start, fright	v, f gs geite
  Cóta fionnaidh	fur coat
  baclainn	bent arm	f
  deifir	hurry	f

• 
  SALLY: Oh dear, sorry, my flight leaves in half an hour.
  JACKIE: No no, your flight is delayed for a few hours, Sit down.
  SALLY: O.K, then. I’ll have a cup of tea.
  MÁIRÍN: Déan thusa pota eile tae is coinneoidh mise botheráilte í nó go socróidh sí síos.
  JACKIE: All right.
  MÁIRÍN: Which partner are you bringing along this time?
  SALLY: Oh dear, I get confused. I was married three times.
  JACKIE: (ag imeacht): You won’t die wondering so, as the other one said.
  MÁIRÍN: I think Pat is your favourite.
  SALLY: Pateen? No, Pateen was a Connemara man. Plenty of money but no class.

  SALLY: Oh dear, sorry, my flight leaves in half an hour.
  JACKIE: No no, your flight is delayed for a few hours, Sit down.
  SALLY: O.K, then. I’ll have a cup of tea.
  MÁIRÍN: You make another pot of tea and I’ll keep bothering her until she settles down.
  JACKIE: All right.
  MÁIRÍN: Which partner are you bringing along this time?
  SALLY: Oh dear, I get confused. I was married three times.
  JACKIE: (leaving) You won’t die wondering so, as the other one says. [??]
  MÁIRÍN: I think Pat is your favourite.
  SALLY: Pateen? No, Pateen was a Connemara man. Plenty of money but no class.

• 
  MÁIRÍN: Ara, stiall cam ort, weren’t you born in Connemara as well?
  SALLY: Seanamhach, but that was so long ago. I’m from London now.
  MÁIRÍN: Is cén fath nach labhraionn tú Gaeilge mar sin?
  SALLY: No no no no. That Gaeilge was getting me nowhere.
  MÁIRÍN: Faith, it got you in here, muis, Nuair nach raibh duine ar bith eile ag tabhairt aird ort.
  SALLY: Pateen could hardly speak a word of English when he got over here first. Blatherail Ghaeilge i gcṕnai. But he got to be a big contractor in London all the same.
  MÁIRÍN: Fair play dhó.
  SALLY: I think I loved him for a while. But he got very [d.l. 64] jealous when I started modelling. (Tugann sí taispeántas beag.) Oh, I loved the catwalk. Ach bhí Pateen a cheapadh go raibh mé ag spaint an iomarca de mo chois. (Ag crapadh. Gaire.)

  MÁIRÍN: Ah! you’re a crooked strip, weren’t you born in Connemara as well?
  SALLY: Of old, but that was so long ago. I’m from London now.
  MÁIRÍN: So that is the reason you don’t speak Irish?
  SALLY: No no no no. That Gaeilge was getting me nowhere.
  MÁIRÍN: Faith, it got you in here, indeed when no one at aall was taking care of you.
  SALLY: Pateen could hardly speak a word of English when he got over here first. Blathering Irish always. But he got to be a big contractor in London all the same.
  MÁIRÍN: Fair play for him.
  SALLY: think I loved him for a while. But he got very jealous when I started modelling (She gives a small demonstration.) Oh, I loved the catwalk. But Pateen thought I was showing too much of my legs. (Shrinking, laughter)

  stiall	Cut in strips; rend, tear.	v, f
  cam	bent, crooked
  spáin = taispeáin	show	v

• 
  MÁIRÍN: Sssh! Fág ort a bhfuil ort, maith an bhean.
  SALLY: He divorced me when I posed naked for a magazine.
  MÁIRÍN: Deabhal leath an cheart nach raibh aige marab ort a bhí teaspach ag imeacht.
  SALLY: Ach níor fhág mise bonn bán aige. I hired the best barrister in London and I got a great settlement. A millionairess overnight. (Déanann sí “twirl” agus ligeann sí blao.)
  MEAIG: Cé atá ansin?
  MÁIRÍN: Sssh! Suigh síos, maith an bhean.
  SALLY: My second husband was a_ professional photographer. He loved to see me naked.

  MÁIRÍN: Sssh! Leave on what you have on, good woman.
  SALLY: He divorced me when I posed naked for a magazine.
  MÁIRÍN: The devil was half right, but he didn’t have to unless you were eager to leave.
  SALLY: But I did not leave him a penny. I hired the best barrister in London and I got a great settlement. A millionairess overnight. (She does a “twirl” and lets out a shout.)
  MEAIG: Who is there?
  MÁIRÍN: Sssh! Sit down, good woman.
  SALLY: My second husband was a professional photographer. He loved to see me naked.

  teaspach	Heat, sultriness; hot weather; Ardor, fury
  blao = glao	Call, shout	m

• 
  MEAIG: Cé agaibh atá ansin a deirim?
  MÁIRÍN: Coinnigh síos do ghlór!
  SALLY: Théadh muid ar saoire go dtí nudist colonies. Oh, marvellous. Bare everything and get a tan all over. (Ardaíonn sí a cuid éadaigh suas thar na bloomers. Jackie ar ais le tae.)
  JACKIE: Óra a dheabhail, cén sort striptease é seo?
  MÁIRÍN: Sally atá ag brath gach a bhfuil aici a chur ar display.
  JACKIE: Nár chónai sí.
  SALLY: He shot me from all angles for glossy magazines. We made a pile of money. Oh, life was bliss, until I found out he was mounting someone else behind my back.[d.l. 65]

  MEAIG: Who of you is there, I say?
  MÁIRÍN: Keep your voice down!
  SALLY: We would go on vacation to nudist colonies.Oh, marvellous. Bare everything and get a tan all over. (She lifts her clothes up over the bloomers. Jackie is back with tea.)
  JACKIE: Oh the devil, what sort of striptease is this?
  MÁIRÍN: Sally intends to put everything she has on display.
  JACKIE: Isn’t she always?.
  SALLY: He shot me from all angles for glossy magazines. We made a pile of money. Oh, life was bliss, until I found out he was mounting someone else behind my back.

  brath	Perception, feeling; Spying, betrayal; Expectation, intention	m

• 
  JACKIE: Oh Jaysus, anois céard a déarfá le Gaillimh (Ag tabhairt amach tae.).
  SALLY: But I made him pay through the nose when I filed for divorce.
  MÁIRÍN: Seo, ith ceann acu seo is b’fhéidir go ndúnfadh sé do bhéal.
  SALLY: Oh, thank you. It was love at first sight with my third husband. We met for the first time in a cable car going to the top of Table Mountain in South Africa. Ten minutes later we exchanged marriage vows to the wind on top of the mountain.
  JACKIE: By Jays, chuala mé caint ar shotgun wedding ach ba cheart an ceann sin a bheith sa nGuinness Book of Records
  SALLY: Jeremy. He’s a company director —
  

  JACKIE: Oh Jaysus, Now what would you say to Galway? (Bringing out tea.)
  SALLY: But I made him pay through the nose when I filed for divorce.
  MÁIRÍN: Here, eat one of these and perhaps it will shut your mouth.
  SALLY: Oh, thank you. It was love at first sight with my third husband. We met for the first time in a cable car going to the top of Table Mountain in South Africa. Ten minutes later we exchanged marriage vows to the wind on top of the mountain.
  JACKIE: By Jays, I’ve heard talk of a shotgun wedding but that one should be in the Guinness Book of Records.
  SALLY: Jeremy. He’s a company director.

• 
  MÁIRÍN: Tá a fhios againn. Headquarters in New York, branches in Cape Town, Madrid and London.
  SALLY: Right … How did you know?
  MÁIRÍN: Nach bhfuil sé raite seacht n-uaire chuile lá agat liom ar ndóigh. Níl áit dár fhág sé fingerprint ariamh ort nach bhfuil spelláilte amach don saol agat.
  SALLY: We were both married twice before we met.
  JACKIE: Ní raibh aon chall do cheachtar agaibh na directions a léamh mar sin.
  
  SALLY: Oh, Jeremy! He adores me.
  MÁIRÍN: He does, ach gur fhag sé sa deabhal ansin thú chomh luath is a thainig sifil ort. Finish your tea now. It’s way past your bedtime.
  [d.l. 66]
  

  MÁIRÍN: We know. Headquarters in New York, branches in Cape Town, Madrid and London.
  SALLY: Right … How did you know?
  MÁIRÍN: Haven’t you said it to me seven times every day, of course. There is no place where he has ever left a fingerprint on you that you have not spelled out for the whole world.
  SALLY: We were both married twice before we met.
  JACKIE: So there was no need for either of you to read the directions.
  SALLY: Oh, Jeremy! He adores me.
  MÁIRÍN: He does, but he left you to the devil so fast as soon as silly talk came on you. Finish your tea now. It’s way past your bedtime.

  call	call, need	m
  ceachtar	Either, one or other of two; (with neg.) neithe
  sifil	Silly talker, chatterer	f

• 
  SALLY: Oh, no no! I’m off to Bermuda for a dirty weekend with Jeremy.
  MÁIRÍN: Upsht! Bon voyage then.
  SALLY: Tooraloo, folks! (Ag imeacht.)
  MEAIG: Cé agaibh atá ag sioscadh ansin?
  JACKIE: Is fearr dhom leanacht dhi nó dúiseoidh sí a bhfuil sa teach.
  MÁIRÍN: No, scaoil léi, Tá an glas ar an doras. Déanann sí é sin corruair ach téann sí ar ais ag a seomra nuair atá an scail sin caite aici
  JACKIE: Tá sí bailithe uilig anocht.
  MÁIRÍN: Tá Sally bailithe ó Dhia is on saol. Ach tá sí chomh happy le Larry ina dhiaidh sin
  JACKIE: Honest to God, gan imní uirthi faoi thada ach ag samhlú go bhfuil an high life aici i gcónaí.
  MÁIRÍN: Multimillionaire í sin, ach cén mhaith é gan an tsláinte?

  SALLY: Oh, no no! I’m off to Bermuda for a dirty weekend with Jeremy.
  MÁIRÍN: Upsht! Bon voyage then.
  SALLY: Tooraloo, folks! (leaving}
  MEAIG:Who of you is whispering there?
  JACKIE: Better for me or she will wake everybody in the house.
  MÁIRÍN: No, let her go. There is a lock on the door.
  JACKIE: Sallyh is fed up with everything tonight. But she’s so happy with Larry afterwards.
  MÁIRÍN: Sally is fed up with God and life.
  JACKIE: Honest to God, not worrying about anything but imagining that she always has the high life.
  MÁIRÍN: That’s a multimillionaire, but what good is it without health?

  leanacht = leanúint	Following, pursuit; adherence; continuation
  corruair	Sometimes, occasionally
  scal	Burst, flash, blast	f

• 
  MEAIG: Cé atá ansin a deirim?
  MÁIRÍN:Oh Lord, tá muid ceart mara bhfuil sí seo curtha sna cearca fraoigh aici.
  JACKIE: Ach céard a chas anall go Conamara í?
  MÁIRÍN: Tá teach saoire thiar ar an gClochán aici ach bhíodh sí ag imeacht ar na bóithrí is gan a fhios aici cá raibh sí nó gur chuir na Gardaí isteach anseo í.
  JACKIE: Is meas tú a bhfuil gaolta ar bith aici?
  MÁIRÍN: Á, tá sé complicated. Mar gheall go raibh sí pósta trí bhabhta níl duine ar bith acu ag iarraidh baint ná páirt a bheith acu lei.
  JACKIE: Nó go gcaillfear í is dóigh.
  [d.l.67]
  

  MEAIG: Who is there I say?
  MÁIRÍN: Oh Lord, we are right unless she put herself in the grouse.
  JACKIE: But what turned her to Connemara?
  MÁIRÍN: She has a vacation home west of Clifton but she used to wander off the roads and not know where she was until the Gardaí brought her here.
  JACKIE: Do you think she has any relatives?
  MÁIRÍN: Ah, that is complicated. Because she’s been married three times, none of them want to be involved or have any part in it.
  JACKIE: Probably until she will be dtitfeadh.

  cearc	hen	f npl cearca
  fraoch		m
  anall	Hither, from the far side
  clochán	Stepping-stones, stony ground	m
  babhta	bout; spell, turn; time, occasion	m
  páirt	part, portion	f
  baint	Connection, relationship; relevance	f

• 
  MÁIRÍN: Mar a deir tú, Jackie. Beidh gob ansin orthu nuair atá an chreach le roinnt.
  MEAIG:
  MÁIRÍN: Sssh! Ná habair tada is b’fhéidir go dtitfeadh sí ina codladh aríst.
  MEAIG: Mo chuid tubaiste is anachain na bliana oraibh, a phaca bastardaí! ’Bhfuil tú ansin a Dharach? ..’Dharach! Á, deabhal freagra … Lily? … Lily a leana? Go speire an deabhal thíos ansin sibh le bail a fhágáil ar sheanbhean.
  (Buailtear clog an dorais.)
  JACKIE:
  MÁIRÍN: Meas tú cé a bheadh ansin anois an tráth seo d’oiche?
  JACKIE: B’fhéidir gurb é Darach bréan sin aríst é is é caochta.
  MÁIRÍN: (ag éiri): Ní chuirfinn thairis é
  JACKIE: Ná lig isteach é nó beidh sé ag gaotaireacht anseo go maidin.
  MÁIRÍN: Ní beag duine amháin acu a bheith ag tabhairt a ndúshlán. (Clog an dorais aris. MAIRIN amach.)

  MÁIRÍN: As you say, Jackie. They will then intrude when the plunder[inheritance] is to be divided.
  MEAIG: Are you all deaf that no one would answer? Who is there?
  MÁIRÍN: Sssh! Don’t say anything and perhaps she might fall asleep again.
  MEAIG: My share of disaster and calamity of the year upon you, you pack of bastards! Are you there, Darach? Darach! Ah, devil answer … Lily? … Lily child? Down to the devil’s sky you are leaving an old woman.
  (There is a knock on the door.)
  JACKIE: Oh shit!
  MÁIRÍN: Who do you think would be there now at this time of night?
  JACKIE: Maybe it is rotten Darach again, and he is blind drunk.
  MÁIRÍN: (rising): I wouldn’t put it past him.
  JACKIE: Don’t let him in or he’ll be blathering here until morning.
  MÁIRÍN: Not a few of them are giving their defiance. (The doorbell rings again. MAIRIN exits.)

  gob	beak, bill; Tip, point; projection	m
  creach	Foray, (cattle-) raid; Booty, plunder; prey	f
  bodhar	deaf
  tubaiste	Calamity, disaster, tragedy	f
  anachain	Mischance, calamity, disaster; loss	f
  bail	prosperity; Proper condition; state; treatment	f
  bréan	Foul, putrid, rotten
  gaotaireacht	(Of talk) Wind, vapour; bombast	f
  dúshlán	Challenge, defiance	m

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