An Beo
The Living

• Bhí an mháthair ina luí ar chlár a droma, a súile dunta agus a lámha sinte amach os cionn an éadaigh leapan. Bhí sí ag oibrid a cuid méar gan sos. Bhí a corp ar fad cloíte ag mórobair an bheirthe. Ansan do scread an leanbh. D’oscail sí a súile chomh luath agus chuala sí an glór. Rug sí greim cruaidh ar an éadach. D’ardaigh sí a ceann agus bhreathnaigh sí go fiáin ar an tseanmháthair ag a raibh an leanbh á chóiriú thall le cois na tine.
  

  The mother was lying on flat on her back, her eyes closed and her hands stretched out above the bedclothes. She was working her fingers without a break. Her entire body was exhausted from the great labor of childbirth. Then the baby screamed. She opened her eyes as soon as she heard the voice. She gripped the cloth firmly. She raised her head and looked wildly at the grandmother who was dressing the baby over by the fireside.

  cloíte	Subdued, exhausted
  fiáin	Wild
  cóiriú	Arrangement, dressing

• 
  Thug an tseanmháthair faoi deara an drochaghaidh seo agus chuir sí scairt gháiri aisti.

  “Arson Dé!” adeir sí leis an mbeirt bhan chomharsanta bhi ag cuidiú léi. “Féachaigi uirthi féin agus í chomh onórach le maighdean. Ba dhóigh le duine gurbh é seo an chéad pháiste aici i leaba an chinn deireannaigh. Sea anois!”
  

  The grandmother noticed this sour face and laughed loudly.

  “For God’s sake!” she said to the two neighbor women who are helping her. “Look at her as honorable as a virgin. It seemed to one that this was the first child she had in the bed of the last one. Yes now!”

  scairt gháirí	loud laugh, shout of laughter
  onórach	Honourable, upright; honoured, esteemed
  maighdean	Maiden, virgin	f

• 
  Rug sí greim cos ar an leanbh, chroch sí suas é agus tharraing sí buille láidir air sa tóin.

  “Béic anois, in ainm Dé,” adeir si, “ agus cuir an diabhal as do chorp.”

  Phreab an leanbh faoi phian an bhuille. Lig sé scread eile. Anois bhí spreac ina ghlór. [d.l. 37]
  

  She grabbed the child by the leg, She hung him up and gave him a strong blow on the backside.

  “Scream now, in the name of God,” she said, “and cast the devil out of your body.”

  The child jumped in pain from the blow. He let out another scream. Now there was urgency[??] in his voice.

  Béic	Yell, shout	v, f
  spreag

• 
  “M’anam gur féidir léi bheith onórach,” adeir duine den bheirt bhan chomharsanta. “Ní fhaca mé riamh naíonán níos dathúla ná é seo.”

  Chaith sí smugairle ar an gcolainn bheag bhándearg.

  “Fireannach breá, bail ó Dhia air,“ adeir an bhean eile, ag déanamh comhartha na Croise idir i féin agus an leanbh. “Tá cuma an ghaisce cheana féin air.”
  

  ”My soul if she could be honorable,” said one of the two neighbor women. “I have never seen a more beautiful baby than this.”

  She spit at the little pink body.

  “A fine man, God bless him,” the other woman said, making the sign of the Cross between herself and the child “He already looks like a hero.”

  smugairle	Thick spittle	m
  colainn	body	f
  bail	prosperity	f
  gaisce	Arms, weapons; martial equipment; Feat (of arms); prowess (in arms); Boasting, bravado; showing off, swank

• 
  Bhuail dúbhrón an mháthair nuair a chuala sí an tseanbhean ag rá gurbh é an leanbh seo craitheadh an tsacháin. Bhí sí trí bliana agus dá fhichid . Bhí lasair gheal na haoise ag leathnú ina gruaig. Bhí fios maith aici nach dtabharfadh sí an beo go brách arís as snáth a coirp, trí chumhacht míorúilteach Dé. Ceithre huaire déag bhí sin déanta anois aici. Cé is moite den chéad am, nuair a bhí mearbhall an ghrá go láidir fós ina fuil, bhí bheag an sólás a bhain sí as an nginiúint. Do réir mar mhéadaigh an síol beannaithe faoi dhíon an tí, mhéadaigh an drochrath agus an ganntan. Ina dhiaidh sin, ba doiligh 1éi anois fios a bheith aici go mbeadh a broinn feasta gan toradh. Dhún sí a súile, rinne sí cros ar a brollach lena dhá láimh agus thosnaigh sí ag guidhe le Dia, ag iarraidh cabhrach in aghaidh an tsaoil bhí roimpi.
  

  A dark sorrow struck the mother when she heard the old woman say that this child would be the last-born of the family. She was forty-three years old. The bright flame of age was widening in her hair. She knew full well that she would never again give life from the thread of her body, through the miraculous power of God. She had done that fourteen times now. Except for the first time, when the confusion of love was still strong in her blood, she got little comfort from the birth. As the blessed offspring multiplied under the roof of the house, the misfortune and scarcity increased. After that, it was difficult for her to know that her womb would henceforth be without offspring. She closed her eyes, crossed herself on her chest with both hands and began to pray to God, requesting help against the world that was before her.

  croitheadh	shake; sprinkle, scattering; waving	m
  sacán	Little sack	m
  Croitheadh an tsacáin	the last-born of the family	sacán
  leathnú	Widening, expansion, extension	m
  snáth	thread, yarn; web	m
  míorúilteach	Miraculous
  Cé is moite (de)	except (for)
  mearbhall	Bewilderment, confusion, wandering	m
  sólás	Solace, consolation; comfort, joy	m
  giniúint	Procreation; conception; birth	f
  méadaigh	Increase, multiply; enlarge, augment; grow bigger.
  síol	seed; Offspring, progeny, descendants; race	m
  drochrath	Ill luck, misfortune	m
  ganntanas	Shortage; scarcity, want	m
  doiligh	Hard, difficult
  broinn	womb	f
  feasta	From now on, henceforth
  toradh	Fruit; product, yield; result	m
  guide = guí	prayer	f

• 
  Nuair a bhí an páiste agus an mhathair cóirithe, tháinig an t-athair isteach sa seomra. Fear díreach láidir fós é, cé go raibh sé ag bruachaireacht le leathchéad bliain agus formhór a shaoil caite faoi thromobair saothrú na talún. Nochtaigh sé a cheann nuair a shroich sé an leanbh.

  “Go gcuire Dia rath air !” adeir sé. [d.l. 38]
  

  When the child and mother were dressed, the father came into the room. He was still a strong, upright man, even though he had been a farmer about for fifty years and most of his life was spent in the hard work of cultivating the land. He uncovered his head when he reached the child.

  “God prosper him!” he said.

  cóirigh	Arrange, dress
  bruachaireacht	(Act of) lounging, hanging about; Brinkmanship	f
  formhór	Greater part, majority	m
  tromobair	Heavy work	f
  saothrú	Cultivation	m
  nocht	Bare, strip, uncover
  rath	Bestowal, grant; grace, favour; gift, bounty	m

• 
  Chuaigh sé sall go dti an leaba ansin.

  “Buíochas le Dia!” adeir sé lena mhnaoi. “Tá an méid sin thart.”

  Rinne sí meangadh beag gáire leis.

  ”Ta áthas orm,” adeir si, “ gur mac a thugas duit as craitheadh mo shacain.”

  “Go méada Dia thú!” adeir sé.

  Thug an tseanbhean an leanbh go dtí an leaba agus leag sí ar bhrollach na máthar é.
  

  He then went over to tke bed.

  “Thank God!” he said to his wife. “That’s over.”

  She smiled faintly at him.

  “I am glad,” she said, “that I gave you a son as the last-born of the family.°

  “God bless you!” he said.

  The old woman took the baby to the bed and laid it on the mother’s chest.

  sall	To the far side, over, across
  Croitheadh an tsacáin	the last-born of the family	sacán
  méadaigh	Increase, multiply; enlarge, augment; grow bigger

• 
  “Seo agat anois,” adeir sí, “an seoidín is nuaidhe i do theach.”

  D’imigh an brón den máthair nuair chuir sí a lamh timpeall ar cholainn bheag an naíonáin. Tháinig lúcháir uirthi nuair chuala sí an croí nua ag bualadh. Bhris deor faoina súil agus tháinig ceangal ina scornach.

  “Buíochas le Dia na Glóire!” adeir sí go dúthrachtach.

  Thosnaigh an coileach ag glaoch amuigh sa gcúlteach. D’éirigh a ghlór go hard aerach os cionn na gaoithe Samhna a bhí ag stracadh na spéire.
  

  “You have this now,” she said, “the newest jewel in your house.”

  The mother’s sadness disappeared when she put her arm around the infant’s small body.

  “Thanks be to the God of glory!” she said earnestly.

  The rooster began crowing outside in the backyard. His voice rose high and airy above the November wind that was tearing the sky.

  seoid	Jewel; precious object; Jot, whit, tittle	f
  colainn	body	f
  glóir	glory	f
  dúthrachtach	Devoted, fervent; earnest, zealous; diligent
  coileach	Cock; Rooster	m
  aerach	airy
  stracadh = sracadh	Pull, jerk; Drag, haul	m

• 
  “Cumhdach Dé ar mo leanbh!” adeir an mhathair.

  D’fhreagair coiligh an bhaile an coileach. Is gearr go rabhdar uile ar aon ghlór amháin ag beannú don mhaidneachan. I bhfad ar siúl bhí an fharraige le cloisint agus í ag lascadh na haille móire.

  “Slán ó thinneas,” do ghuidh an mháthair, “slán ón easpa, slán ón donas agus ón tubaiste, slán in anam agus corp!”

  Tar éis tamaill ligeadh do na páisti eile teacht isteach sa seomra, le aithne a chur ar an deartháirín ba óige [d.l. 39] acu. Ní raibh láithreach ach seachtar clainne, idir nua agus sean. Bhí ceathrar caillte agus triúir eile imithe amach faoin domhan ag soláthar a mbeatha. Bhí gach a raibh fágtha idir na trí agus na cúig bliana déag. Chuir an t-iontas ag caint iad nuair a chonaiceadar an naíonán. Sheasadar timpeall ar an leaba, greim láimhe acu ar a chéile agus a mbéil oscailte.
  

  “God protect my child!”

  The roosters of the town answered the rooster. Soon they were all in one voice greeting the dawn. In the distance, the sea could be heard lashing the great cliff.

  “Safe from illness,” the mother prayed, “safe from want, safe from misfortune and disaster, safe in soul and body!”

  After a while the other children were allowed to come into the room, to get to know their youngest brother. There were only seven children present, both new and old. Four were lost and three others had gone into the world to make a living. All that were left were between the ages of three and fifteen. The wonder made them speak when they saw the baby. They stood around the bed, holding each other’s hands and their mouths open.

  cumhdach	Cover, protection	m
  rabhdar = raibh [?]
  beannú	blessing, greeting	m
  maidneachan	(Act of) dawning; dawn	m
  ar siúl	going on, in progress
  lascadh	Lashing, whipping, flogging
  aill	Cliff, precipice	f
  easpa	Lack, want; loss, absence; deficiency, defect	f
  donas	Ill-luck, misfortune; affliction, misery; deuce, mischief	m
  tubaiste	Calamity, disaster, tragedy	f
  láithreach	Present, immediate	a
  soláthar	Collection, procurement; supply, provision	m

• 
  Ligeadh isteach an seanfhear ansin. Maidir leisean! Bhí neart cainte aige. Chomh luath agus leag sé súile ar mhac a mhic, thosnaigh sé ag cur dhe go tréan; ag clamhsán mar ba gnáthach leis :

  “Aie! Aie!” adeir sé. “Tá chuile rud níos buaine ná an duine. Aie! Go ndéana an Mhaighdean Bheannaithe trócaire orm! Breathnaigh orm anois agus gan ionam ach ciomach . Bhí mé lá, ina dhiaidh sin, chomh maith le aon fhear…”
  

  The old man was then let in. As for him! He had plenty to say. As soon as he laid eyes on his son’s son, he began to pour forth intensely; complaining as was usual with him:

  “Hey! Hey!” he said. “Everything is more permanent than a person. Hey! May the Blessed Virgin have mercy on me! Look at me now and I’m just a rag. I was a day, after that, as good as any man…”

  maidir le	As for, as regards
  neart	Strength; force, power; plenty	m gs nirt
  tréan	Strong, powerful; intense, violent
  cuir de	Put off; remove from; emit
  clamhsán	Grumble, complaint	m
  buaine	Permanence, durability; longevity.
  trócaire	Mercy; clemency, leniency, compassion	f
  ciomach = ceamach	Rag, clout; Ragged person; slattern, slut; Rustic, lout

• 
  Bhí sé an-tsean ar fad. Cúpla bliain roimhe sin ghoill an ghrian air agus é ina chodladh ar mhóinín féarach, lá go raibh teas mór ann. Ba suarach é ó shoin . Bhí úsáid a chos beagnach caillte aige . Bhí seafóid air . Bhí a chorp ag cailleadh meáchain gach uile lá. Déarfá gur chrobhnasc a bhí air, le chomh cromtha agus bhí a cheann. Bhí maide i ngach láimh aige. A Thiarna! Bhi a chonablach bocht ag craitheadh ar nós an duilliúir.
  

  He was very old indeed. A few years earlier, the sun had hurt him while he was sleeping on a grassy patch, on a very hot day. He was mean [??? ó shoin] since then. He had almost lost the use of his legs [gpl]. He was talking[??] nonsense. His body was losing weight every day. You would say he was tethered ???? [crochnasc], with how bent his head was. He had a stick in each hand. Oh Lord! His poor carcass was shaking like leaves.

  goill	Grieve, pain; afflict, distress; vex, hurt	v
  móinín	Grassy patch (in bog)	m
  suarach	Paltry, petty, insignificant; mean, contemptible
  son	sound; Happiness, well-being, prosperity
  meáchan	weight	m
  crobh	Hand; clawed foot, paw; talons	m
  nasc	Tie; tether, chain; link, clasp, bond	m
  cromtha	bent
  maide	stick, bar, beam	m
  conablach	Carcass; remains, remnants	m
  duilliúr	Leaves, foliage

• 
  “Aie! Aie!” adeir sé go cráite. “Bhi mé lá agus ní raibh aon fhaitíos orm roimh an bhfear ab fhearr san áit . Bhí mé i ndon ag aon fhear a bhuail bleid orm ag soláthar troda, soir nó siar, ar aon am den 1ó, dallta ar meisce nó gan deor i mo ghoile . Bhí fios [d.l. 40] ag an té a tháinig trasna orm…
  

  “Hey! Hey!” he said in bitterly agony. I was a day[???] and I had no fear of the best man in the place. I was ??? any man who would accost me for a fight, east or west, at any time of the day, blinded by drunkenness or without a drop in my stomach. The person who came across me knew…

  cráite	Agonized, tormented, grieved
  soláthar	Collection, procurement; supply, provision	m
  troid	Fight, quarrel	f gs troda
  dall	blind (person)	v,a, m
  goile	Stomach	m

• 
  B’éigean don tseanmhnaoi breith air agus é a chrochadh léi.

  “Téanam uait síos as seo,” adeir sí, “agus ná bí ag cur múisím ar na daoine le do chuid seafóide.”

  “Go bhfóire Dia orainn!” adeir duine de na mná comharsanta. “Is gairid é an t-aistear is faide ón mbroinn go dtí an fód.”
  

  The old woman had to catch him and carry him up with her.

  “Come down from here,****” she said “and don’t upset people with your nonsense.”

  “God save us!”said one of the neighboring women. “The longest journey from the womb to tomb is short.”

  Téana	Come, go
  múisiam	Upset; Mental disturbance; Peevishness, pique; Heaviness, dullness, drowsiness	m
  fóir	Help, succour, relieve, save
  gairid	short
  aistear	journey	m
  broinn	womb	f
  fód	sod	m

• 
  Nuair a chuir an leanbh faoi sa gcliabhán le cois an teallaigh, bhí sé mar bheadh rí ar an teach. Rinne an mhuirín ar fad freastal air go toilteanach ; cé gurbh í sin an tseirbhís gan cúiteamh. Níorbh eol don leanbh go rabhthas ag cur comaoine dá laghad air. Níorbh eol dé faic na ngrást ach an t-aon dualgas amháin a thug sé leis ón mbroinn. B’é sin an beo do bhí ina chorp a choimeád agus a neartú. Ar dhúiseacht dó, bhéic sé go barbartha, nó gur tugadh greim sine dhó ar chíoch a mháthar. Ansin do bhí láithreach ina thost. Lig sé osna sámhach agus d’fháisc sé a charbad maol ar an sine lán. Chreathnaigh a chraiceann le macnas nuair a mhothaigh sé an chéad steall den bhainne teolaí ar a theanga. Bhí sé ag diúl go santach nó go raibh sé sách. Ansin arís thit codladh air. Scread sé go borb uair ar bith a bhuail sprocht é, de bharr doigh bhoilg nó goilliúint éigin eile. B’éigean dóibh bheith ag bogadh an chliabháin agus ag gabhail fhoinn dhó nó gur ghlac sé suaimhneas.
  

  When the baby was put down in the cradle by the fireplace, it was as if he would kind of the house. The entire family willingly served him; although that service was without compensation. The child did not know that he was being given the least favor. He knew nothing of the graces except the one due he had brought with him from the womb. That was to maintain and strengthen the life that was in his body. When he woke up, he cried out coarsely, until he was given a grip on the nipple of his mother’s breast. Then there was immediate silence. He let out a peaceful sigh and pressed his bare gum onto the full nipple. His skin trembled with playfulness when he felt the first splash of warm milk on his tongue. He was sucking greedily until he was full. Then he fell asleep again. He screamed fiercely whenever sadness hit him, as a result of a stomach ache or some other affliction. They had to be rocking the crib and singing songs to him until he calmed down.

  cliabhán	cradle	m
  teallach	Fire-place, hearth	m
  muirín	family
  freastal	Attendance, service	m
  toilteanach	Willing, voluntary
  cúiteamh	Requital; recompense, compensation	m
  comaoine	favor, obligation	f
  grásta	grace; favor, mercy	m
  dualgas	Natural right, due; customary fee or reward	m
  faic	whack; nothing (w. neg.)	m
  barbartha	Barbarous;(Of speech) Outlandish, coarse
  láithreach	Present, immediate
  sámhach	Peaceful, tranquil
  fáisc	Squeeze, compress; wring, press
  carball	(Hard) palate; Gum; Jaw; Boulder	m
  creathnaigh	Tremble (with fear), quake; take fright, flinch
  macnas	playfulness, sportiveness, dalliance; act of playing, frolicking; …
  steall	splash	f, v
  diúl	suck, sucking	v, m
  santach	greedy
  sách	Full, sated, satisfied
  borb	Fierce, violent; rude
  sprocht	Sadness, dejection	m
  de bharr	as a result of, because of
  doigh = daigh	Flame, fire; Stabbing pain; pang, twinge

• 
  “O! Mo linbh! Mo linbh! Mo linbh !” adeiridís agus iad ag gabháil fhoinn dhó. “O! Mo linbh ! Is tú grá geal mo chroí.”
  

  “Oh! My child! My child! My child!” they would say as they sang songs to him. “Oh! My child! You are the bright love of my heart.”

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