Eachtraí Ghiolla an Amaráin Nua: I (1956)

Áralt Ó Tnúthail, composed in Toronto, Ontario

“I nÍoslann a bhíos an t-am sin. Lá amháin agus mé ag siúl go suaimhneach síos cnoc ard fada, timpeall trí míle nó mar sin de, do casadh truc-ghluaisteáin, stadaigh agus d’fhiafraigh an tiomáiní, ‘Go ndaigeann [Góðan daginn/Maidin mhaith],’ ar seisean, ‘an bhfuil tú ag dul sa mbaile?’

D’fhéach air. Cara dom, dob ainm Sigundur Sigurdson a bhí ann. ‘Táim,’ arsa mise.

‘Go maith, léim isteach.’

Léimeas isteach san truc agus gluaisimid síos an cnoc go tapaidh. Tar éis míle nó mar sin tháinig an truc don lánstad agus agus léim Sigurdur amach. Lean mé. Bhí iontas an domhain orm nuair a chonaic mé an fear ag cur sreinge thart timpeall mol an rothair. Níor chonaic mé bóltaí ann in aon chor, agus ar an rotha eile do bhí snáth miotail ag déanamh an obair céanna.

‘Gabh mo leathscéal a fheara maithe,’ ar mise, ‘ach b’fhearr liom siúl anois – is lá breá atá ann.’

Agus amach as an áit liom ar cos in áirde.”

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“In Iceland I was one time. One day, and me walking peacefully down a long tall hill, around three miles or something like that, I met a truck, it stopped and the driver asked, ‘Góðan daginn [Good Morning],’ he said, ‘are you going into town?’

I looked at him. My friend, whose name was Sigundur Sigurdson, he was. ‘I am,’ I said.

‘Good, jump in.’

I jumped in the truck and we drove down the hill quickly. After a mile or so the truck came to a full stop and Sigundur jumped out. I followed. I was entirely amazed when I saw the man putting string around the hub of the wheel. I didn’t see any bolts at all, and on the other wheel a metal wire was doing the same work.

‘Excuse me, good man,’ I said, ‘but I’d prefer to walk now - it’s a fine day.’

And I hightailed it out of the place.”

Adapted from: Ó Tnúthail, Áralt. 1956. “Eachtraí Ghiolla an Amaráin Nua: I.”Teangadóir. 3.3. Cló Chluain Tairbh: Toronto.

For citation, please use: Ó Tnúthail, Áralt. 1956. “Eachtraí Ghiolla an Amaráin Nua: I.” Ó Dubhghaill, Dónall. 2024. Na Gaeil san Áit Ró-Fhuar. Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir: www.gaeilge.ca