An Buille
The Blow

• 
  Nuair a stad an carr amach ar aghaidh na feirme sráide, dúirt a athair le Neidín an geata mor iarainn d’oscailt.

  “Deifir,” adeir sé go borb leis an ngasúr, a bhí ag déanamh a bhealaigh go cúthail faiteach amach as an gcarr. “Cé an fáth an diabhail nach féidir leat thú féin a chorrú go misniúil mar dhéanfadh gasúr breá santach? Nĺl ionat ach slíomadóir.”
  

  When the car stopped in front of the farm street, his father told Neidín to open the big iron gate.

  “Hurry,” he says harshly to the boy, who was making his way shyly and timidly out of the car. “Why the devil can’t you bestir yourself cheerfully, like a fine, eager lad would? You’re nothing but a flatterer.”

  borb	Fierce, violent; rude; harsh
  cúthail	Bashful, shy
  faiteach	Fearful, apprehensive; timid, shy
  corraigh	Move, stir
  misniúil	Courageous; Hopeful, cheerful
  santach	Covetous, avaricious; Intensely eager
  slíomadóir	Smooth, flattering, hypocritically friendly, person	m

• 
  Fear mór ramhar fiáin deargéadanach é an t-athair, Éamonn Ó Floinn. Bhí teach ósta réasúnta mór aige, scathamh beag ar siúl i mbaile cuain, áit a mbíodh go leor fámairí as Sasana ag tarraingt ó tháinig deireadh leis an gcogadh, mar gheall ar chomh gann agus bhí bia ina dtír féin. Bhíodh sé ag beathú muc leis an bhfuílleach d’fhág an dream sin ar bord. Le bainbh a cheannach sea tháinig sé go dtí an fheirm oiliúna seo agus a mhac le cois aige. Duine amplach a bhí ann ó nádúir, gan caoimhneas ná mórán tuiscint. Rinne an t-uafás airgid a bhí sé ag saothrú le gairid amhas críochnaithe den bhfear bocht, idir anam agua corp. Bhí fíbín dearg air, ó mhaidin go hoíche, ag cur tuillead saibhris agus tuilleadh fós i dteannta an charnáin a bhí ina chuntas bainc.[d.l. 66]
  

  The father, Éamonn Ó Floinn, is a large, fat, wild, red-faced man. He had a reasonably large inn, walking for a short while in a harbor town, a place that many tourists from England had been drawn to since the war ended, because food was so scarce in their own country. He used to feed pigs with the leftovers that those people left on the table. He came to this training farm to buy piglets, bringing his son along with him. He was a greedy man by nature, without kindness or much understanding. The vast amount of money he had been earning recently made the poor man a bully, both soul and body. He had a raw urge, from morning till night, adding further wealth—and even more—to the pile that was his bank account.

  fiáin	wild
  scathamh = scaitheamh	Space of time, while, spell	m
  cuan	harbor	m
  fámaire	Seaside, summer, visitor; sightseer, tourist; Stroller, idler	m
  gann	Scarce; sparse, thin; meagre, scanty
  beathú	Feeding, nourishment	m
  fuílleach	Remains, leavings; remainder, residue; balance, surplus	m
  dream	body of people; group, tribe, set; some	m
  banbh	piglet	m
  oiliúint	Nutrition, nourishment; Nurture, upbringing, fostering care; Training, coaching	f gs oiliúna
  le cois	along with
  amplach	Hungry; Greedy
  caoimhneas	Pleasantness, affability	m
  tuiscint	Understanding; wisdom, discernment; thoughtfulness, consideration	f
  uafás	Horror, terror; Vast, astonishing, number or amount	m
  gairid	Short. (a) (Of extent, space, duration)
  amhas	Hireling, servant;Hired soldier, mercenary; Hooligan
  saibhreas	riches, wealth	m gs saibhris
  i dteannta	along with, in addition to
  carnán	(Small) heap, mound	m

• 
  “Déan deabhadh,” adeir sé arís, nuair a bhí an gasúr ag tarraingt go righin ar an ngeata. “O! A Thiarna! Is minic a cheapaim nach liom thú ar chor ar bith. Cuir dhíot, a dhuine. Leag ort go mear. Ní ag déanamh aeir atá muid anseo ach ag obair.”
  

  “Make haste,” he says again, as the boy pulled slowly at the gate. “Oh! Lord! I often think that you are not mine at all. Do it, man. Hurry up. We’re not here to enjoy ourselves; we’re here to work. ”

  deabhadh	haste, hurry	m
  righin	Tough; tenacious; unyielding, stubborn; Slow, deliberate; lingering, tardy
  mear	Quick, fast, nimble, lively, spirited

• 
  Is é an chaoi a chuir an bhagairt agus an maslú seo lagar an eagla ar Neidín i leaba é a bhrostú chun deifre. Rinne sé ar an ngeata mar bheadh primpeállánloitithe, ag sleamhnú leis go mall míchothrom agus boinn a chos ag cimilt i lár céime le barr talún. Go deimhin, ní morán nárbh é sin a mhodh siúil coitianta, gan rud ar bith ag cur múisiúim ar a chroí. Cheapfá gur ag déanamh a bhealaigh thar thalamh scalprach a bhíodh sé i gconaí. Cé go raibh sé aon bhliain déag, ní raíbh eitir[??] feiliúnach ann ar son na haoisc sin. Bhí sé sách ard ceart go leor, ach ní raibh minseog ghabhair níos caoile. Ní raibh sciolltar feola ar a spreangaí, a bhí nochtaithe suas thar a ghlúine. …
  

  This is the reason this threat and abuse paralysed Neidin and did not urge him to hurry[??]. He headed for the gate like a wounded [beetle??], sliding slowly and unsteadily, the soles of his feet brushing against the ground with every step. Indeed, that was very much his usual way of walking—without anything heavy on his heart. You would think that he was always making his way across broken ground. Although he was eleven years old, there was not the vigor [??] suitable for that age. He was tall enough, certainly, but a kid goat could not have been any thinner. There was not a shred of flesh on his Spindle-legs, which were exposed up above his knees.

  bagairt	threat
  maslaigh	Insult, affront, abuse
  lagar	Weakness, faintness; fainting fit	m
  brostaigh	Hasten, urge
  sleamhnú	Slide, slip, slither	m
  míchothrom	Uneven, unbalanced; Unequal, unfair
  cimilt = cuimilt	Rubbing; stroking, fondling, wiping; friction	f
  coitianta	common
  eitir	???
  feiliúnach	Suitable; fitting, fit, becoming
  minseach	She-goat, nanny-goat	f
  spreanglachán	Spindle-legged person.	m

• 
  … Níor theastaigh uaidh ach cúpla orlach de chrios lena bhríste giortach a choinneáil fostaithe faoina lár. Bhl cumraíocht a chnámh le feiscint trína gheansaí gorm agus gach cíor uilleann beagnach chomh géar le barr gorúin seanchrupaigh. Malrach taitneamhach a bhí ann, ina dhiaidh sin, mar gheall ar áilleacht a chláir éadain. Bhí a shnua mín cineálta agus bhí creathú beag bídeach ag gabháil thart timpeall ar bhruacha a bhéil le teann mothú; mar bheadh creatnú blátha mhionúnfairt an aeir. Ba furasta aithint ar a shúile móra gorma gurbh í a intleacht a bhí ag borradh i leaba a choirp. Cheana féin bhí tuiscint iontu i bhfad nios doimhne ná i súile a athar; [d.l. 67] tuiscint agus iontas agus goilliúint.
  

  He only needed a couple of inches of belt to keep his short trousers held in place around his waist. The shape of his bones was visible through his blue sweater and every joint of each elbow was almost as sharp as the hip of an old shrunken person. He was likeable young lad, after that, because of the beauty of his forehead. His smooth, kind appearance had a small tremor around the edge of his mouth from strong feelings; as if flowers were trembling in the small rolling of the air. It was easy to see in his big blue eyes that it was intellect that was growing instead of his body. Already, there was an understanding in them much deeper than in his father’s eyes; understanding and wonder and sensitivity.

  giortach	Short, skimpy; low-sized, stumpy
  fostaigh	Catch, hold fast, grip	v
  cumraíocht	Shape, form	f
  cíor	comb; crest	f
  uillinn	elbow	f gs gpl uilleann
  gorún	haunch; hip	m gs npl gorúin
  Malrach	Young lad, youngster.
  taitneamhach	right, shining; Pleasing, likeable, enjoyable
  snua	Complexion; colour, appearance	m
  mín	Smooth; Having even, level, surface
  cineálta	kind
  bídeach	tiny
  bruach	Bank, brink; Swollen edge	m
  teann	Tight, taut; Firm, strong, solid
  mothú	Feeling, perception; sensation, consciousness	m
  creathnaigh	Tremble (with fear), quake; take fright, flinch
  únfairt	(Act of) wallowing; (act of) rolling, tossing; (Act of) puddling, messing;
  borradh	Swelling, growth	m
  i leaba	in place of, instead of
  goilliúnacht	Sensitiveness, sensitivity; touchiness	f

• 
  Nuair a bhí na boltaí troma bainte aige agus é ag brath ar leathchliath an gheata a tharraingt amach, thug sé faoi deara go raibh éiníní óga ag glaoch ar bís go truamhéileach i nead os a chionn. Gan bhuíochas den eagla a bhí air, stad sé agus bhreathnaigh sé ar an tom mór eidhinn a bhí ag fás ar cheartlár ursa cloiche, suas amach os cionn an gheata. Istigh san eidheann a bhí an nead. Bhí clog mór meirgeach, lena raibh giora de théad lofa ag sliobarnaigh, crochta as an ursa le slabhra. Bhí eidheann ag fás ar an slabhra freisin agus ar bharr an chloig, a bhí as úsáid le fada.
  

  When he had removed the heavy bolts and and was intending to pull out one side of the gate, he noticed that young birds were calling out, excitedly yet plaintively, from a nest above his head. In spite of the fear he felt, he stopped and looked at the large clump of ivy growing in the very center of a stone door-post, up above the gate. Inside the ivy was the nest. A large, rusty bell, with a piece of rotten rope dangling from it, hung from the doorframe by a chain. Ivy was growing on the chain as well, and on top of the bell, which had long been out of use.

  trom	heavy
  brath	Perception, feeling; Spying, betrayal; Expectation, intention	m
  cliath	Wattled, latticed, frame; hurdle
  truamhéalach	Piteous, plaintive; pathetic
  tom	Bush, shrub; Clump, tuft, tussock
  eidheann	ivy	, gs eidhinn
  ursain	Door-post, jamb	ff
  clog	bell	m
  meirgeach	rusty
  giota	piece, bit	m
  téad	rope	f
  liobarna	hanging loose, drooping
  slabhra	chain	m

• 
  “A Dhiabhailín!” a bhéic an t-athair. “An ag breathnú ar éanacha atá tu anois, mar bheadh leathamadán? Céard a dhéanfas me leat ar chor ar bith? Oscail an geata sin.”

  Gheit an gasúr agus rug sé ar leath an gheata lena dá láimh. Bhí an t-iarann an-trom agus níor cuireadh aon ola air le blianta. Is ar éigin a bhí Neidín i ndon é a bhogadh chun siúil.

  “Tabhair faoi go misniúil,” d’fógair an t-athair. “Cia nach bhfuil spreac ar bith ionat, a ghrabaide[???]?”
  

  “You little devil!” the father shouted. “Are you looking at birds now, like some kind of half-wit? What am I supposed to do with you, anyway? Open that gate.”

  The boy started and gripped one half of the gate with both his hands. The iron was very heavy, and no oil had been put on it for years. Neidín was barely able to move it away.

  “Set about it courageously,” the father called out. “How is it that you have no urge at all, you [???]?”

  misniúil	Courageous; Hopeful, cheerful
  fógair	Call out, proclaim; Declare, announce, make known
  Tabhair faoi	Bring under; Attempt, undertake, set about
  spreagadh	Urging, incitement; incentive, encouragement; excitation, stimulus	m

<

• Rinne an geata torann binn agus é á chasadh amach.

  Nuair a bhí Neidín ag gabháil sall go dtí an leath eile, tháinig seanghealbhan amach as an nead faoi ruathar mór eitill, tar éis péiste a roinnt idiréeiníní an áil. Sheas an gasúr arís agus lean a shúile teitheadh mear an éin, soir amach tríd an spéir, nó gur thosnaigh a athair ag gabháii lena dhá dhorn ar roth stiúrach an chairr.
  

  The gate made a pleasant sound as it swung open.

  When Neidín was going across to the other side, an old sparrow came out of the nest in a great rush of flight, after sharing a worm among the little birds of the brood. The boy stood again and his eyes followed the bird’s rapid flight, out eastward through the sky, until his father began pounding the car’s steering wheel with his two fists.

  torann	noise	,
  binn	(Of sound) Sweet, melodious
  sall	To the far side, over, across
  gealbhan	sparrow	m
  ruathar	Rush, onrush, onset, attack	m
  péist	(Fabulous) beast, reptile, monster; worm;…
  ál	litter; brood	áil
  teitheadh	Flight, retreat; escape, evasion	m
  mear	Quick, fast, nimble, lively, spirited.
  dorn	fist	m

• 
  “Beidh d’anam agam,” adeir an t-athair agus a [d.l. 68] ghlór scréachach le fearg. “Ó! A Thiarna Dia Nach orm a bhí an ml-ádh an lá a cuireadh faoi mo chúram do leithéid de phleidhce!”

  Tháinig líonrith anois ar an ngasúr agus d’oscail sé an dara leath den gheata go mór níos sciobthaí. Ní baileach go raibh sé caite siar ar fad aige nuair a chuir an t-athair a charr ar aghaidh faoi chruashiúl. B’eigean do Neidín léimneach as an mbealach.
  

  “I will have your soul,” says the father, his voice screaching with anger. “Oh! Lord, what bad luck I had the day the like of that fool was put in my care!”

  Panic now came over the boy, and he opened the second half of the gate much faster. He hadn’t quite thrown it all the way back when the father drove his car forward at a fast pace. Neidín had to jump out of the way.

  scréachach	Screech, screeching	f
  leithéid	Like, counterpart, equal; such	f
  pleidhce	Simpleton, fool	m
  líonrith	Palpitation; agitation, excitement, panic, terror.	m
  sciobtha	Fast, rapid, prompt
  baileach	exactly
  cruashiúl	Smart pace	m

• 
  “Níl braon de mo chuid fola íonat,” a bhéic an t-athair agua é ag gabáil thart isteach ar an tsráid. “Le do mhathair a chuaigh tú, a ruidín fánach leisciúil.”

  Chreathnaigh an gasúr ó cheann go cos agus tháinig fonn tréan caoineacháin air nuair a chuala sé a mhathair á maslú. Bhí an-chion aige ar a mháthair; bean réidh cheanúil a thug an-ghrá dhó agus a chuir spéis ina chuid smaointe aisteacha agus a d’éist go cúramach le na rámhaillí cainte ba ghnáthach leis cur uaidh roimh titim ina chodladh. A mháthair ! Ba hí a mháthair a aingeal coimhdeachta agus a bhanríon diaga. Ar an nóiméad sin, ba luarga leis a athair ná diabhal as ifreann, mar gheall ar í a mhaslú leis an méid sin tarcaisne. B’eigean dó a chuid fiacal a sháitheadh síos go doimhin trína chlab íochtarach sular fhéad sé cosc a chur le na deora. Tháinig dath bán ar a leicne.

  “There isn’t a drop of my blood in you,” the father yelled as he passed, going onto the street. “You took after your mother, you lazy stray thing.”

  The boy trembled from head to toe and a strong urge to cry came on him when he heard his mother being insulted. He had a great love for his mother; an easygoing, affectionate woman who loved him dearly, took an interest in his strange thoughts, and listened carefully to the rambling talk that usually came from him before falling asleep. Mother! His mother was his guardian angel and his divine queen. At that moment, his father was more vulgar to him than a devil from hell, for having insulted her with that much contempt. He had to stab his teeth deep into his lower lip before he could restrain the tears. His cheeks turned white.

  tréan	strong
  ruidín	puny thing
  fánach	Wandering, straying, vagrant
  leisciúil	Lazy, slothful; Reluctant, loath; Shy.
  maslaigh	Insult, affront, abuse	v
  cion	Love, affection	m
  réidh	Smooth, level, easy to traverse; Easy, unhurried, unrestrained: Mild, clement
  ceanúil	Loving, affectionate
  rámhaille	raving; delirium; rambling	f
  luarga	Coarse, vulgar
  tarcaisne	Contempt, scorn; affront, insult	f
  sáigh	Thrust; stab; push, press; dart, lunge	v
  clab	open mouth	m
  íochtarach	lower
  cosc	Check, restraint; prevention, prohibition	m
  leaca	cheek	npl leicne

• 
  Ní buan cuimhne gasúir, ina dhiaidh sin, ar mhaith ná ar olc. Is ar éigin a bhí sé taobh istigh den gheata, ag leanacht an chairr, nuair a chuir iontas na sráide deireadh lena dhoilíos. Ba é seo an chéad uair a chonaic sé an áit. Bhí sí fade caol; fál ard cloiche le gach ceann agus fail muice le gach taobh; an t-urlár stroighne chomh [d.l. 69] mín le clár; dabhach uisce agus caidéal i lár báire. Bhí geata mór eile sa bhfál thiar; ó leathoscailte agua muca le feiscint ag tochailt taobh amuigh de, i mbuaile a bhí clúdaithe le puiteach.

  “Ó! Nach deas an áit í seo!” adeir Neidin leis féin agus ó ag breathnu timpeall air go sonasach. “Nach álainn an ait í!”
  

  A child’s memory is not permanent, after that, whether for good or for bad. He had barely passed inside the gate, following the car, when the wonder of the street put an end to his sorrow. This was the first time he had see the place. It was long and narrow; a high stone wall at each end and a pigsty on either side; the cement floor as smooth as a board; a water tank and a pump in the middle. There was another large gate in the back wall; half-open, with pigs to be seen rooting outside, in a pen that was covered in mud.

  “Oh! Isn’t this a nice place!” said Neidin to himself, looking around happily.

  buan	Enduring, permanent
  dhoilíos	Sorrow, affliction; remorse, penitence; melancholy; Difficulty; reluctance	m
  fál	Hedge, fence; Wall, barrier; …	m
  fail muice	pigsty
  stroighin	Cement	f
  mín	smooth
  dabhach	Vat, tub; Deep water-hole; pool, pond	f
  caidéal	pump	m
  i lár báire	in the center of play; in the middle
  tochailt	Digging, excavation; uprooting; rooting (pig)	f
  buaile	(cattle) pen; fold, enclosure	f
  clúdaithe	covered
  puiteach	Boggy ground, mud, mire	m
  sonasach	happy, lucky, fortunate

• 
  Stad an t-athair amach ar aghaidh faile ina raibh fear ard liath ag cartadh aoiligh le píce.

  “Dia dhuit, a Pheadair,” adeir se.

  “Dia agus Muire dhuit, a Éamoinn,” adeir an fear liath. “Teas mór.”

  “Teas mór,” adeir Éamonn, ag teacht amach as an gcarr. “Cheap me go dtiocfainn ag breathnú ar do chuid banbh, féachaint an mbeadh sé nó seacht de cheanna freagarthach le haghaidh abhair muice ina measc.”
  

  The father stopped in front of a shed where a tall, grey-haired man was shovelling manure with a pitchfork.

  “Hello, Peter,” he said.

  “God and Mary be with you, Éamonn,” says the grey-haired man. “Very hot.”

  “Very hot,” says Éamonn, getting out of the car. “I thought I would come and take a look at your piglets, to see if there might be six or seven among them [??]freagarthach le haghaidh abhair********** muice ina measc….among them.°

  cartadh	Clearance, removal;Cleared-out material, dump; shovelling	m
  aoileach	Dung, farmyard manure	m gs aoiligh
  píce	pike; pitchfork	m
  banbh	piglet	m
  le haghaidh	for the use of, for the purpose of

• 
  Lig an fear liath a ucht ar bharr a phíce, chaith sé amach smugairle agua dúirt sé go dúthrachtach:

  “Sé nó seacht de cheanna? Tá agus suas le trí scóir de na habhair muice is fearr a chonaic tusa riamh.”

  “Buachaill é Peadar!” adeir Éamonn. “Cá bhfuil siad?”
  

  The grey-haired man leaned his chest on the top of his pitchfork, spat, and said earnestly:

  “Six or seven of them? Yes—and up to sixty of the best pigs you have ever seen.”

  “Peadar is a lad!” says Éamonn. “Where are they?”

  ucht	chest	m
  smugairle	Thick spittle	m
  dúthrachtach	Devoted, fervent; earnest, zealous; diligent

• 
  “Foighid leat,” adeir Peadar, ag caitheamh uaidh an phíce. “Is gearr go bhfeicidh tú leathscór banbh chomh slachtmhar… ”

  “Bheadh leathscór iomarcach,” adeir Éamonn. “Níl uaim ach sé nó seacht de cheanna.”

  “Nuair fheicfeas tú an t-ál seo,” adeir Peadar, ag gabháil trasna na sráide le Éamonn, “betdh tnúthán agat le chuile dhiabhal ceann díobh. [d.l. 70]
  

  “Have patience,” says Peadar, throwing aside the pitchfork. “Soon, you’ll see a half-score piglets, as neat…”

  “Half-score would be too many,” says Éamonn. “I only want six or seven of them.”

  “When you see this litter,” says Peadar, crossing the street with Éamonn, “you’ll be desiring every damn one of them.”

  foighne	Patience	f
  leathscór	leathscór
  slachtmhar	Well-finished, neat, tidy
  ál	litter	m
  tnúthán	(Act of) expecting, desiring, longing; expectancy, yearning.	m

• 
  “D’fhéadfadh tnúthán bheith ag duine leis an ngrian,” adeir Éamonn os ard a ghutha, “agus gan acmhainn ag a sparán ar í a cheannach.”

  “Éist leis an té atá ag caint ar acmhainn a sparáin,” adeir an fear liath. “Fear atá lofa le airgead.”

  “Mise?” adeir Éamonn. “Fear atá gan talamh, gan trá?”

  “Ná bac leis sin,” adeir an fear liath. “Bíonn béal bocht í gconaí ag lucht an tsaibhris.”
  

  “A person might desire the sun,” says Éamonn, in a loud voice, “without the means in their purse to buy it.”

  “Listen to who is talking about the resources of his purse,” says the grey-haired man. “A man who is rotten with money.”

  “Me?” says Éamonn. “A man without land or shore?”

  “Don’t bother with that,” cried the gray man. “The rich always have a poor mouth.”

  gutha = guta	Filth, mire; Filthy place; Filthy creature	m
  acmhainn	Capacity, endurance; Means, resources	f
  saibhreas	riches, wealth	m gs saibhris

• 
  Ar an nóiméad sin tháinig cráin muice isteach ar an tsráid tríd an geate thiar agus a craiceann brataithe go slat a droma le puiteach na buaile. Bhí a smut le talamh agus a súile beaga géara ag dearcadh amach roimpi go dian feargach. Bhí a colg ardaithe ar chír a muiníl agus a heireaball casta suas go dlúth ar a cairín, mar bheadh coirceog. Le gach cor uaibhreach a bhain sí as a másaí ina gluaiseacht, do luasc a húth folamh ó thaobh go taobh a boilg agus bhí na siní fada feoite ag rince mar bheadh bábóga á n-oibriú le iomad sreangán.

  At that moment, a sow entered the street through the back gate, her hide covered up to the her backbone with the mud of the farmyard. Her snout was near the ground, and her small, sharp eyes were staring out ahead of her, intensely angry. The hair along the ridge of her neck was standing up, and her tail was curled tightly up over her back, much like a beehive. With every proud turn of her thighs as she moved, her empty udder swung from side to side under her belly, and the long, withered teats were dancing as if they were puppets being worked by many strings.

  cráin muice	sow
  puiteach	Boggy ground, mud, mire	m
  buaile	fold, enclosure; Dung-yard	f
  dearcadh	look, gaze	m
  dian	.Intense, vehement; hard, severe
  smut	Stump; short piece, portion; snout	m
  colg	Blade, point (of sword); Beard, awn	m
  cír = cior	comb	f
  muineál	neck	m gs npl muiníl
  dlúth	Close, compact; dense, solid
  coirceog	beehive	f
  uaibhreach	Proud, arrogant
  cor	Turn, turning movement	m
  másach	big-thighed
  luasc	Swing, oscillate
  úth	udder	m
  sine	Nipple, teat	f pl siní
  feoigh	Wither, decay
  bábóg	doll, puppet	npl bábóga
  iomad	Great number or quantity; abundance, excess
  sreangán	String; cord, twine	m

• 
  ” Ó! A Thiarna! ” adeir Neidín leis féin go samhnasach agus a shúile leata ina cheann le iontas. “Tá sí i ngar a bheith chomh mór le asal. 0! Nach tréan an fad atá inti!”

  Lean sé an chráin sall go dtí cúinne ina raibh a athair agus an fear liath ag breathnú isteach thar leathdhoras faile.

  “Hurrais! Hurrais!” adeir sé os íseal, ag ligean air féin go mba leis an chráin agus go raibh sé á tiomáint ar ais ón mbuaile. “Gabh amach anois, a chailín. Hurrais!”
  

  “Oh! Good Lord!” Neidín says to himself, nauseated, his eyes wide in his head with wonder. “She’s nearly as big as a donkey. Isn’t she so strong!”

  He followed the sow over to a corner where his father and the grey-haired man were looking in over a half-door of the pen.

  “Sooey! Sooey!” he says in a low voice, pretending that the sow belongs to him and that he is driving her back from the enclosure. “Off you go now, girl. Sooey!”

  samhnasach	Nauseating, disgusting; Easily nauseated, queasy, squeamis
  gar	Nearness, proximity	m, a
  tréan	strong
  failín	(Little) sty; coop, pen; hovel	m

Notaí Faoi Scéalta