Lá fuar geimhreadh a bhí ann ar leithinis álainn an Daingin.

It was a cold winter day on the beautiful Dingle Peninsula.

Bhí an ghaoth ag séideadh go láidir thar na cnoc glasa agus an spéir lán le scamall dorcha.

The wind was blowing strongly over the green hills, and the sky was filled with dark clouds.

Bhí Seamus, Aoife agus Seán ag siúl ar an mbóthar cúng ag dul i dtreo an chlaí chaoirigh.

Seamus, Aoife, and Seán were walking on the narrow road towards the sheep pen.

"Brrr," a dúirt Aoife, ag tarraingt a cóta níos gaire timpeall uirthi, "tá sé an-fhuar inniu!

"Brrr," said Aoife, pulling her coat closer around her, "it's very cold today!"

""Déanfaidh muid te le beagán obair," arsa Seamus, a bhí lán dóchais go mbeadh lá maith oibre roimhe.

"We'll warm up with a little work," said Seamus, who was hopeful of a good day's work ahead.

Ach nuair a shroich siad an geata, bhí fadhb mhór amháin acu.

But when they reached the gate, they had a big problem.

Bhí an geata dúnta agus an eochair caillte ag Seamus.

The gate was closed, and Seamus had lost the key.

Bhí sé féin agus a chairde gafa taobh amuigh den chlaí, agus na caoirigh go léir ag stánadh orthu ón taobh istigh.

He and his friends were stuck outside the pen, and all the sheep were staring at them from the inside.

"A Mhuire na nGrást," a d'fhógair Sean, ag féachaint ar Seamus.

"Oh, Mary of Grace," Sean exclaimed, looking at Seamus.

"Cá bhfuil an eochair?

"Where is the key?"

"Chuardaigh Seamus a phócaí.

Seamus searched his pockets.

D'aimsigh sé lán a phócaí de rudaí beaga - paidreacha, sreangán, píosaí páipéir - ach ní raibh aon eochair ann.

He found lots of small things - prayers, strings, bits of paper - but no key.

"Bhuel," arsa Seamus go mearbhall, "ní fheicim an eochair.

"Well," said Seamus bewildered, "I don't see the key.

Tá sí caillte!

It's lost!"

"Rinne Aoife agus Seán iarracht cabhrú le Seamus an eochair a aimsiú.

Aoife and Seán tried to help Seamus find the key.

Chuardaigh siad faoin bhféar, idir na carraigeacha, agus fiú amháin faoi na crainn beaga atá gar don gheata.

They searched under the grass, among the rocks, and even under the small trees near the gate.

Ach, ní raibh an eochair le fáil.

But the key was nowhere to be found.

Bhí an ghrian ag titim go mall taobh thiar de na cnoic, agus táinig an dorchadas go sciobtha.

The sun was setting slowly behind the hills, and darkness came quickly.

Shuigh an triúr le chéile, a smaointe ag dul i mbunachar.

The three sat together, their thoughts racing.

"Caithfidh muid réiteach a fháil," a labhair Aoife go socair, ag smaoineamh go críonna.

"We must find a solution," spoke Aoife calmly, thinking wisely.

Ansin, smaoinigh Seán ar rud éigin cliste.

Then, Seán thought of something clever.

"Féach!

"Look!

An sinneadán sean ag fás thar an bhalla," a dúirt sé, ag léiriú i dtreo an crainn.

The old sycamore is growing over the wall," he said, pointing towards the tree.

Seasann Seamus in airde agus braith sé na brainsí láidre.

Seamus stood up and felt the strong branches.

Le neart agus beagán tacaíochta ó Aoife agus Seán, d'éirigh leis na brainsí a lúbadh agus leath bealach a thabhairt dóibh thar an mballa.

With strength and a little help from Aoife and Seán, they managed to bend the branches and make a way over the wall.

Bhí dúshlán eile rompu - conas a gheobhaidis na caoirigh amach an geata dúnta?

They had another challenge - how would they get the sheep out through the closed gate?

Ach, bhí dea-ádh orthu nuair a thug Aoife faoi deara go raibh an geata ag oscailt le himeall.

But they were lucky when Aoife noticed that the gate was opening from the inside.

"Seo linn!

"Here we go!"

" a scairt sí, agus le cabhair ó Seamus agus Seán, d'éirigh leo an geata a oscailt go leor do na caoirigh dul trí.

she shouted, and with help from Seamus and Seán, they managed to open the gate enough for the sheep to go through.

Le sásamh a gcroíthe, chonaic se faoi dheireadh na caoirigh ag rith saor go sábháilte síos na faichí glasa.

With relief in their hearts, they finally saw the sheep running safely down the green fields.

"Beidh sé in am dúinn cóip eochair a dhéanamh," a gháireadh Seamus, "nó múineadh na caoirigh conas an geata a oscailt!

"It's time for us to make a spare key," Seamus chuckled, "or teach the sheep how to open the gate!"

"Rinne gach duine gáire agus d'fhág siad an croíchlós le chéile, agus an scéal ag críochnú le teaghlach sona agus sábháilte faoi dhíon don oíche.

Everyone laughed and they left the enclosure together, finishing the story with a happy and safe family under shelter for the night.