Scéal - Pílí Cat agus Caolchat na Luathadh (cuid 1)

Bhíodh a bhonnaíochaí dóite sa luaith aige agus ba in é an fáth ar bhaist Seán Caolchat na Luathadh air.

His pipe was always burnt out in the ashes, and that was why Seán Caolchat called him Luathadh (Ashes).

Ní chorraíodh sé sa lá amach ach ag sneagaireacht cois na tineadh.

He would not stir out by day but to be skulking by the fireside.

Is éard a bhí ann cneámhaire, rógaire, falsóir agus leadaí.

"He was a knave, a rogue, a liar, and a scoundrel."

Agus bhíodh sé féin agus Seán ag coinneál súile ar a chéilí agus ní rabh aon chorr dá gcuireadh Seán dhó nach bhfosclaíodh Caolchat leathshúil agus choinníodh sé súil ar Sheán.

"And he and Seán would keep an eye on each other, and there wasn't a move Seán would make that Caolchat wouldn't open one eye and keep watch on Seán."

Agus bhí Seán ar an gcaoi chéanna leis.

And Seán was the same way with him.

Lean sin dhó mar sin agus an oíche seo bhí Seán agus Pílí Cat cois na tineadh.

"That continued for him in that way and this night Seán and Pílí Cat were by the fire."

Agus ar ndóigh, bhí Caolchat imithe leis ó thit an oíche.

And of course, Caolchat had gone off since night had fallen.

Bhí siad ag scéalaíocht agus caint agus ag comhrá mar a bhíodh siad i gcónaí.

"They were storytelling and talking and chatting as they always used to."

"Ara", a deir Seán, "tá sé ag brú suas le aimsir na Nollag anois, amárach an Satharna Mór agus caithfidh muid a ghoil 'un an bhaile mhóir agus brógaí a fháil dhúinn féin.

"Ara," says Seán, "it's getting close to Christmas now, tomorrow is the Big Saturday and we have to go to the big town and get shoes for ourselves.

Teastaíonn brógaí go géar ar ndóigh ó Chaolchat.

"Caolchat really needs shoes, of course."

Feicim go bhfuil a bhonnaíochaí bruite dóite aige sa luaith agus an geimhreadh ag tíocht, b'fhéidir go n-éireodh a chosaí nimhneach.

"I see that his soles are burnt and scorched in the ashes and with winter coming, perhaps his feet would become frostbitten."

" "Maith go leor", arsa Pílí Cat.

"Fair enough," said Pílí Cat.

"Caithfidh muid a bheith inár suidhe beagán níos moiche ar maidin," a deir Seán, "agus an bricfeasta a bheith ite againn go luath agus ansin buailfidh muid an bóthar.

"We need to be sitting a little later in the morning," says Seán, "and have our breakfast eaten early and then we will hit the road.

Réiteoidh mé sac agus cuirfidh mé thú féin agus Caolchat sa tsac agus buailfidh mé an sac ar mo dhroim agus gabhfaidh muid isteach agus amach chun an bhaile mhóir agus ní iarrfaidh sibh coiscéim a shiúil.

"I will prepare a sack and put you and Skinny Cat in the sack and I will put the sack on my back and we will go in and out to the big city and you will not have to walk a step."

"Bhoil, ní rabh mé ariamh sa mbaile mór," arsa Pílí Cat ,"tá mé ag dúil go mór leis!

"Well, I've never been to the big city," said Pílí Cat, "I'm really looking forward to it!"