I dtús an gheimhridh, bhí Aoife gléasta go teolaí i gculaith lasmuigh, agus í ag breathnú isteach ar bhá álainn na Gaillimhe.

At the start of winter, Aoife was warmly dressed in an outdoor suit, as she looked out over the beautiful Galway Bay.

Bhí sí ag súil go mór leis an t-aistear bliantúil a bhí aici feadh na hün sé’ísí de Chladach na Gaillimhe.

She was eagerly anticipating the annual journey she made along the Galway Coast.

Lá speisialta a bhí ann, Lá Fhéile Bríde, agus bhí Aoife díograiseach dul i ngleic le traidisiún a mhuintire.

It was a special day, Lá Fhéile Bríde (St. Brigid's Day), and Aoife was keen to engage with her family's tradition.

Tá Cillian buach, tarraingteach agus lán de nádúr eachtrúil, ina sheasamh in aice léi.

Cillian, charming, attractive, and full of adventurous spirit, stood next to her.

“Aoife,” ar sé go meangadh gáire, “Ní foláir duit a bheith cúramach, ach bain taitneamh as an lá freisin!”

“Aoife,” he said with a smile, “You must be careful, but enjoy the day as well!”

Bhí lámh agam hug orm, mar b’in nós é dom é, a chuir leis go raibh mé ag brath air.

I had his hand on me, as was my habit, which added to my reliance on him.

Bhí Niamh, a col ceathrar beag cúthail, in éineacht leo.

Niamh, her shy little cousin, was with them.

Firsten a bhí aisteach, agus bhí go leor ag aerascaeireacht.

She was curious and had done a lot of exploring.

Bhí a blush óg le féiceáil faoin gaoithe fuar, ach dhreapfadh sí na scléip go léir.

Her young blush could be seen in the cold wind, but she would climb all the excitement.

Tharraing an ghaoth a macalla ar an gcladach, ag nochtadh gleochar ollmhór an uisce.

The wind drew its echo on the shore, revealing the enormous resonance of the water.

Bhí an turas thart ar Chladach na Gaillimhe níos deacra ná mar a shílfeá.

The journey around the Galway Coast was more challenging than you might think.

Bhí an t-aer lán den bhaol a d'fhéadfadh sé tabhairt leat.

The air was full of the danger it might bring you.

Bhí an talamh creagach faoi chos, ach, a bhí pearsanta go Aoife, bhí sé iontach.

The ground was rocky underfoot, but, for Aoife, it was wonderful.

Go tobann, thit torann – sreng sé an chluas – Niamh.

Suddenly, a sound dropped—a sharp noise to the ear—Niamh.

"Ó, a Ghrásta!" ar aoiíl, í ag iompar go tobann.

"Oh, a Ghrásta!" she exclaimed suddenly.

Bhí bairdín di an rian agus aadhmhé chuir sí ina haghaidh.

A branch had tripped her up, and she had fallen.

Bhí a cos sríonta.

Her leg was scraped.

Bhí Aoife leathscríofa.

Aoife was in a dilemma.

Bhí sí ag iarraidh leanúint ar aghaidh le siúlóid thraidisiúnta, ceann a raibh an-mheas aici air, ach bhí Niamh ina choinne ag páian achobain.

She wanted to continue with the traditional walk, one she deeply cherished, but Niamh was against that due to her minor injury.

D'fhéach Cillian ar Aoife.

Cillian looked at Aoife.

"Caithfear cabhrú léi. Coinnighim tinóin," ar sé go réiteach.

"We have to help her. I'll keep guard," he said calmly.

Rinne Aoife cinneadh é, an ní éasca.

Aoife made the decision, not an easy one.

D'fhan sí le Niamh agus d'éirigh leo teacht ar ais go sábháilte, ag siúl ar a sínea go seasta.

She stayed with Niamh, and they managed to get back safely, walking steadily on her support.

Arud a dhóigh sí na huisci na bróg, grá dá colcead sa bhfód.

Despite the water invading her shoes, her love for her cousin was solid.

Nuair a bhí an ghrian ar tí dul i bhfolach faoi scáth an aird ardh láimhe, shuigh Aoife agus Niamh le chéile.

As the sun was setting beneath the shadow of the distant horizon, Aoife and Niamh sat together.

Bhí dathanna dearg agus órga ag damhsa ar an bhfarraige fuar.

Red and golden colors danced across the cold sea.

Tháinig Cillian ar ais, anáil tanaidhe ina anál – d’fhág sé le cabhair a fháil.

Cillian returned, breath a bit short—he had gone to get help.

Ba phóg do sióineadh láir é.

It was a gentle kiss to the middle of the foreheads.

D'fhéach Aoife go grámhar air.

Aoife looked lovingly at him.

Thuig sí ansin nach mbaineann Lá Fhéile Bríde le cé taistilíos, ach cé hí ar an taise í.

She then understood that Lá Fhéile Bríde wasn't about where you travelled, but who you experienced it with.

Le n-aghaidh Aoife, bhí an tráthnóna i bhfad níos luachmhaire ná an traidisiún féin, in aghaidh na hoíche a tholgadh ar chumsan.

For Aoife, the evening was much more valuable than the tradition itself, as opposed to the night curled up on a cushion.

Tá grá níos tábhachtaí ná aon nós nó am eile.

Love is more important than any custom or occasion.

Sa gheimhridh fuar sin, thóg Aoife an chothrom ór nadúra agus teaghlach.

In that cold winter, Aoife embraced the balance of nature and family.