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

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An Scáthán
The Mirror

• 
  Ar mheán lae samhraidh agus teas mór ann, bhí cailín óg ag baint bhairnigh thíos ar íochtar díththrá, in aice le gob na leice móire a bhí mar theora le taobh thoir an chuain. Bhí sí ag imeacht léi go righin leisciúil í áit go háit ar lorg na gceann ba mhó agus ba spéisiúla, a lámh chlé ag coinneáil ciseoige in aghaidh a gorúin agus bior iarainn ina láimh dheis. Bhí a sciorta gorm craptha suas thar a glúine, a léine gheal oscailte ag a scornach agus a mainchillí dúbailte suas go barr gualann. Ní raibh ar a cosa ach brúigíní beaga bána canbháis a raibh boinn robair fúthu.
  

  On a hot summer noon, a young girl was gathering limpets down at low tide, near the great stone that was the border of the east side of the bay. She was going stubbornly and lazily from place to place looking for the biggest and most interesting ones, her left hand holding a shallow basket against her hip and an iron spike in her right hand. Her blue skirt was gathered up above her knees, her white shirt open at her neck and her double sleeves up to the top of her shoulders. On her feet were only small white canvas shoes with rubber soles.

  bairneach	limpet	m gs npl bairnigh
  íochtar	Lower part, bottom	m
  díthrá	Low tide	f
  gob	Beak, bill; Tip, point; projection	n
  leac	Flat stone or rock; flagstone, slab	f gs leice
  teorainn	boundary, limit; border, frontier	f
  cuan	Haven; Harbor	m gs cuain
  righin	Tough; tenacious; unyielding, stubborn
  leisciúil	lazy, slothful; Reluctant, loath; Shy
  ciseoig	Shallow basket	f
  gorún	haunch, hip	m gs npl gorúin
  bior	Pointed rod or shaft; spit, spike	m gs beara
  scornach/i>	throat	f
  muinchille	sleeve	f pl muinchillí
  bonn	sole	m gs npl boinn

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AN CHARRAIG DHUBH
The Black Rock

• 
  Bhí an taoille chomh íseal sin go raibh iomlán na carraige móire duibhe nochtaithe, síos go dtí an fheamainn dhearg lonrach a bhí crochta, mar bheadh cuirtín, amach ar aghaidh an íochtair tollta. Síos uaidh sin fós, i ndoimhneacht dorcha na mara, tháinig bodhar-thorann cráite ón uisce a bhí ag unfairt go leisciúil mall, sa bprochlais stóránach[??] a bhí gearrtha amach as an seanchloch ag neart feargach na dtonn ; ag bualadh agus ag bualadh gan sos, leis na mílte agus na mílte bliain.
  

  The tide was so low that the great black rock was completely exposed, down to the shiny red seaweed that hung, like a curtain, out in front of the hollow bottom. Down there from it still, in the dark depth of the sea, came a dull agonized noise from the water that was tossing lazily and slowly, in the ?? hollow that had been cut out of the old stone by the furious strength of the waves; beating and beating without rest, for thousands and thousands of years.

  taoille = taoide	tide
  nochtadh	Baring, exposure; disclosure, revelation; appearance	m
  feamainn	seaweed	f
  lonrach	Bright, shining, luminous; brilliant, resplendent
  íochtar	Lower part, bottom	m
  toll	Bore, pierce, perforate
  doimhneacht	depth	f
  bodhar	deaf; dull
  torann	noise	m
  cráite	Agonized, tormented, grieved
  únfairt	(Act of) wallowing; (act of) rolling, tossing, about	f
  prochóg	Hole, den, cave; hollow	f
  feargach	angry
  sos	Rest, cessation; pause, interval; respite	m

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An Seabhac (tuilleadh)
The Hawk (continued)

• 
  Sin é an uair a thosnaigh an seabhac fireann ag déanamh gaisce go rícheart ; an bodach leitheadach ag siúl go basach anonn agus anall ar an gcarraig fhuilteach ; cnámha nochtaithe faoi chois agus screamhóga de chraiceann tirim greamaithe den chloch agus mealltracha beaga aisig curtha i dtaisce ar storráin le n-ithe arís ; bréanbholadh uafásach ag líonadh an aeir thart timpeall ar uachais an mharfóra. Níor léir dé siúd ach áilleacht san áit damanta. Bhí a anam barbartha lan le áthas agus ríméad, faoi bheith ag comhlíonadh iomláin an dualgais ceaptha amach dhó ag a nádúir. [d.l. 20]
  

  That was when the male hawk began to do true feats; the broad lad walking flatfooteldy to and fro on the bloody rock; bones exposed underfoot and flakes of dry skin stuck to the stone and small lumps put on projections to be eaten later; a terrible stench filled the air around the killer’s lair. He only saw beauty in the damned place. His barbaric soul was filled with joy and delight, at having fully fulfilled the duty set out for him by his nature.

  gaisce	Arms, weapons; martial equipment; Feat (of arms); prowess (in arms); Boasting, bravado; showing off, swank.	m
  rí-	Royal, kingly, majestic; (Intensifying) Exceedingly, very, ultra-
  bodach	Churl, lout	m
  leitheadach	Broad, wide
  basach = bosach	Bladed; Flat-footed
  nocht	Bare, strip, uncover	v
  screamhóg	crust, flake	f
  tirim	dry
  greamaigh	Attach, fix, fasten; make fast, secure
  mealltracha	balls, globes; lumps, masses
  aiseag	Restoration, restitution	m
  taisce	store, treasure, hoard	f
  storrán = starrán	Projection, jag; Fit, frenzy	m
  uachais	Burrow, cavity; lair, den	f
  damanta	damned
  léir	Clear, lucid; distinct, explicit; clear-headed, clever
  dé	Smoke; Puff, breath; glimmer	f
  áthas	Joy, gladness	m
  ríméad	Gladness; joyous pride	m
  comhlíonadh	fulfilment; Performance, observance; Completion; Satisfaction, requital.	m
  dualgas	Natural right, due; customary fee or reward; duty	m

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