Ins an earrach, bhí na Aillte Mhothair áille fós fothrach.

In the spring, the Aillte Mhothair cliffs were still magnificent ruins.

Bhí an fharraige mhór, glórach ag cluaiseag lucht leanúna an nádúir agus lucht feartha na spéire caoin ar barr na haillte.

The vast, noisy sea was enchanting the ears of nature enthusiasts, and the gentle rain was showering down on the cliff tops.

Bhí Cillian ag tógáil grianghrafanna.

Cillian was taking photographs.

Bhí áilleacht na néalt agus fuaim torannach na dtonnta ag spreagadh é.

The beauty of the clouds and the thunderous sound of the waves were inspiring him.

Ar an lá céanna, bhí Aoife, treoraí na háite, ag cur síos do ghrúpa ar na hathruithe sa saol dúlra.

On the same day, Aoife, the local guide, was describing to a group the changes in natural life.

I measc lucht a haistir, bhí Fiona. Eolaí comhshaoil a bhí inti, bean meabhrach le cúram don chomhshaol agus turasóirí ag smaoineamh ar fáil.

Among her audience was Fiona, an environmental scientist, a sharp-minded woman concerned for the environment and tourists with thoughts to ponder.

Ach, phreab na haimseartha; thosaigh gaoth agus aibhleoga sneachta ag ruathar anuas.

But the weather changed suddenly; wind and snowflakes began to rush down.

Chuaigh gach duine i bhfoscadh isteach ag bothán beag cois na haillte.

Everyone sought shelter in a small hut by the cliffs.

Bhaineadh a chuireann turas ar ceal, fán solas gear acra nár imigh mórán.

Some had to cancel their tour, under the dim light of an acre that barely faded.

Bhí Cillian agus Fiona ann, gan rochtain ar rannóg eile.

Cillian and Fiona were there, with no access to another section.

Ghabh Aoife, an treoraí, scíth.

Aoife, the guide, took a rest.

Agus iad isteach sa bothán ansin, chuir Fiona ceist faoi ghrianghraif Cillian.

As they were sitting in the hut, Fiona asked about Cillian's photographs.

Bhí sí fiosrach faoi conas a thug sé aird ar an ngné nádúrtha.

She was curious about how he focused on the natural aspect.

“An gcaithfidh muid a bheith ag claise agus duileog uilíoch do gach rud?” arsa Fiona, ag iarraidh a chur in iúl nach raibh sí ag leanúint lomchló ar a dtugtar fáil riachtanach don turasóireacht.

“Must we adhere strictly and universally to everything?” Fiona said, trying to express that she wasn't following the rigid guidelines deemed necessary for tourism.

D'eist Cillian.

Cillian listened.

Ní raibh sé roimhe seo ag smaoineamh ar a raibh tionchar a shaothar aige ar an dúlra.

He had never before considered the impact of his work on nature.

Thosaigh siad ag comhrá faoin gcomhshaol.

They began conversing about the environment.

D'oscail Cillian a chroí, ag dul i ngleic an cheoil a bhí ina mothúchán.

Cillian opened his heart, engaging with the music that was his emotion.

I measc an díospóireachta sin, d’athraigh rud éigin.

In the midst of their discussion, something changed.

Lá riamh, fuair siad pas go baile siar síos na haillte, fíorbheagán grúpa aitheanta cúlán beaga.

A day later, they found a path back to the cliffs, among a small, scarcely known group of small nesting sites.

Bhí nead ann.

There was a nest there.

Banda arda teannta le chéile ar an gcliff, ach bheadh an sórt sin deasghnátha féin ag na héin.

A band of tall birds gathered on the cliff, but those kinds of rituals were known to the birds.

D'oscail Cillian a chás ceamara go mall agus chuaigh Fiona céim siar.

Cillian slowly opened his camera case, and Fiona stepped back.

Tuig siad an mbaol.

They understood the risk.

Smaointe d’íobairt ar thaithí agus ar fáil go clúdach a choinneáil ar a sé a bhíonn ag breathnú leis an eangach an bhreoiteasa.

Thoughts of sacrifice on experience and capturing what lay covered in the net of illness crossed their minds.

Bhí an sástacht ina chois orthu beirt.

Both of them felt satisfaction.

Ionaíonn an ceart do choincheap.

Understanding takes shape in concept.

Le chéile, d’oibrigh Cillian agus Fiona ar thionscadal úr.

Together, Cillian and Fiona worked on a new project.

Bhí an glór áilleachta ina ualach mór.

The beauty of sound was a heavy burden.

Bhí na Aillte Mhothair fós soiléir.

The Aillte Mhothair cliffs were still clear.

Bhí fhios acu a thaibhsigh.

They were aware of what was revealed.

Bhí an turas a bhí ann fós i gcuimhne acu.

The journey that was had remained in their memory.

Bhí spreagadh nua faighte acu.

They had found new inspiration.

Bhí áilleacht ann fós.

There was still beauty there.

Ba é sin tús na cairdeas agus an tionscadail, áit a ndeachaigh fórsaí áilleachta agus dúlra le chéile, don lá inniu.

That was the beginning of a friendship and a project, where the forces of beauty and nature came together, for today.