How Siobhán Outsmarted a Spider and Her Fears

Fluent Fiction - Irish : How Siobhán Outsmarted a Spider and Her Fears Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more: fluentfiction.com/ga/episode/2025-09-01-22-34-02-ga Story Transcript: Ga: Sa bhláth an fhómhair, bhí an coláiste beo, faoi líonta órga na gcrann. En: In the bloom of the fall, the college was alive, under the golden netting of the trees. Ga: I dorm beag plódaithe, bhí Siobhán agus Niamh ina gcónaí. En: In a little crowded dorm, Siobhán and Niamh were living. Ga: Bhí cathaoireacha míshocraithe, postair de bhannaí ceoil ar na ballaí, agus leabhair ábhair ar fud an bhúird. En: There were unsettled chairs, posters of music bands on the walls, and textbooks scattered across the table. Ga: Bhí Siobhán ina suí ar a leaba, ag stánadh le faitíos ar phoillín réalta sa chúinne — damhán alla. En: Siobhán was sitting on her bed, staring fearfully at a tiny star-shaped corner — a spider. Ga: Chonaic Siobhán an damhán alla ar maidin. En: Siobhán saw the spider in the morning. Ga: Bhí sí cineál suibiachtúil. En: She was somewhat subjective. Ga: Creidtear ag Siobhán go dtugann damháin alla ádh. En: Siobhán believed that spiders bring luck. Ga: Ach, bhraith sí nach raibh mórán ádh ag teacht uirthi. En: But, she felt that not much luck was coming her way. Ga: Bhí sí ag súil go socraíodh sí é seo i ngan fhios. En: She hoped that she could resolve this unnoticed. Ga: Níor theastaigh uaithi Niamh a chur ar crith mar bhí an eagla ar Niamh roimh dhamháin alla. En: She didn't want to frighten Niamh as Niamh was afraid of spiders. Ga: Agus Declan, mac léinn as an taobh eile, thaitin leis bheith ina shaineolaí ar damháin alla. En: Meanwhile, Declan, a student from the other side, fancied himself as a spider expert. Ga: Bhíodh sé ag caint leis féin agus ag taispeáint an rud céanna gach uair a tháinig sé isteach. En: He would often talk to himself, demonstrating the same thing every time he came in. Ga: Bhraith Siobhán go mbeadh sé níos fearr dá bhfanfadh sé as seo. En: Siobhán thought it would be better if he stayed away. Ga: Chinn Siobhán go réiteachfadh sí an scéal léi féin. En: Siobhán decided she would resolve the situation on her own. Ga: Ghlac sí cupán agus páipéar. En: She took a cup and a piece of paper. Ga: Bhí sí cúramach. En: She was careful. Ga: Tháinig sí suas go mall ar an damhán alla. En: She approached the spider slowly. Ga: Bhí sí ag smaoineamh ar conas é a chur amach gan trioblóidí. En: She was thinking about how to put it out without any trouble. Ga: Ach, nuair a shroich sí lán a misnigh, sciorr an damhán alla ar ais. En: But, just as she gathered her courage, the spider scuttled back. Ga: Bhí sé gasta agus glic! En: It was fast and cunning! Ga: Nuair a bhí sí i mbun iarrachtaí arís, chuala sí an doras ag oscailt. En: When she tried again, she heard the door opening. Ga: Niamh! En: Niamh! Ga: Thosaigh Niamh ag crith agus ag cúlú. En: Niamh started trembling and retreating. Ga: Ansin, tháinig Declan isteach. En: Then, Declan entered. Ga: Bhí seisean le bocal fréamhach mór. En: He had a large magnifying glass. Ga: "Sin feithid álainn," a dúirt sé, ag bogadh go hingearach le gníomh. En: "That's a beautiful insect," he said, moving vertically with action. Ga: Bhí Siobhán cliste. En: Siobhán was clever. Ga: Shín sí a cupán folamh amach. En: She extended her empty cup. Ga: "Tá sé imithe amach an fhuinneog," a dúirt sí go stuama. En: "It's gone out the window," she said calmly. Ga: Chroith sí a ceann i dtreo na fuinneog oscailte. En: She nodded toward the open window. Ga: Rinne Niamh faobhar analaithe agus thug Declan rith chun breathnú. En: Niamh exhaled sharply, and Declan ran over to look. Ga: Smaoineamh n-aindírithe! En: Distraction! Ga: Gach duine socruithe, d'fhéach Siobhán ar an cupán folamh. En: With everyone settled, Siobhán looked at the empty cup. Ga: Bhraith sí bród as a féin-shealbhú. En: She felt proud of her self-restraint. Ga: Sula bhféadfadh Declan teacht ar ais, bhí deireadh sé ceart. En: Before Declan could return, he was properly done with. Ga: Bhí an fhuinneog mórán dúnta. En: The window was mostly closed. Ga: Ní raibh ach gaoth an fhómhair á suí ag na dréanaí. En: Only the autumn breeze was resting at the drains. Ga: Bhí an deireadh sin sásúil go maith di. En: That conclusion was satisfying enough for her. Ga: D'fhoghlaim sí as an lá inniu. En: She learned something from today. Ga: Ní gá i gcónaí do shaineolaithe a bheith bíogach. En: Experts don't always have to be flustered. Ga: Is minic is féidir tú féin a dhéanamh agus taitneamh as an té atá ionat féin. En: Often, you can manage on your own and appreciate who you are. Vocabulary Words: bloom: bhláth dorm: dorm unsettled: míshocraithe tiny: poillín subjective: suibiachtúil luck: ádh resolve: socraíodh spider: damhán alla fearfully: faitíos cunning: glic trembling: ag crith retreating: ag cúlú magnifying glass: bocal fréamhach clever: cliste calmly: stuama distraction: smaoineamh n-aindírithe self-restraint: féin-sheal