Thiar i mí na Márta (féach sa chartlann: http://www.scoilgaeilge.org/t_na_t/), scríobh mé beagán faoi Naomh Iósaef. Back in March (see the archives…), I wrote a little about St. Joseph. Ní raibh paidir oiriúnach chuige agam ag an am, ach fuair mó chara ceann ó shin (Peigí Breathnach, atá ina hOifigeach um Bheartaíocht na gCaitliceach san LAOH, rannóg a dó sa Bhablóin, Nua Eabhrac). I didn’t have a suitable prayer to him at the time, but my friend found one since then (Peggy Walsh, who is Catholic Action Officer in the LAOH, division 2 in Babylon, NY). Seo é: Here it is:

Cugatsa, Iósaef Naofa, a thagaimid inár mbuairt aigne, agus tar éis dúinn cúnamh a iarraidh ar do chéile ró-bheannaithe, táimid anois le lándóchas ag iarraidh do choimircese mar an gcéanna. We come to you, Joseph, in our troubles of mind, and after our having asked help of your most blessed spouse, we now come full of hope asking likewise for your guardianship. Tríd an ngrá sin a bhí agat don Mhaighdean neamhthruaillithe Muire Máthair Dé agus tríd an ansacht athairiúil a thug tú don Leanbh Íosa, achainímid ort, féach anuas le taitneamh ar an oidhreacht sin a cheannaigh Íosa Críost lena chuid fola, agus fóir orainne inár riachtanais le do chumhacht agus le do chabhair. Through the love which you had for the uncorrupted Virgin Mary Mother of God and through the fatherly love which you gave to the Child Jesus, we ask of you, look down with pleasure on that heritage which Jesus Christ purchase with his blood, and aid us in our needs with your power and help.

A choiméadaí shárchúramach an Teaghlaigh Naofa, cosain an sliocht is ionúin le hÍosa Críost; O truly careful protector of the Holy Family, protect the most beloved posterity of Jesus Christ; coimeád i bhfad uainn, a athair róghrámhair, gach uile thaom earráide agus truaillíochta; keep far from us, O father ever so loving, every single fit of error and corruption; cuidigh linn ó neamh, a chosantóir chróga, inár gcomhrac le cumhacht an dorchadais; help us from Heaven, O brave protector, in our struggle against the power of darkness; agus de réir mar a rinne tú anallód an Leanbh Íosa a shaoradh ó chontúirt a bheatha, déan Eaglais Dé a chosaint anois ó iaróga an namhad agus ón uile bhuaireamh. And as you so long ago freed the Child Jesus from danger to his life, protect now the Church of God from disturbances of the enemy and from every trouble. Díon sinn i gcónaí faoi do chúnamhsa agus ag leanúint do shampla, beatha naofa a chaitheamh agus bás naofa a fháil, mar aon le seilbh i nglóir shíoraí na bhFlaitheas. Shelter us always under your care, as we follow your example, to live a holy life and to have a holy death, as well as to possess the eternal glory of Heaven. Amen. [Ón leabhar ‘Aifreann Dé’].

Anois agus an fhómhair buailte linn, is minic a théann daoine ar an gcósta thoir ar turais lae chun na duilleoga áille ildaite a fheiscint. Now with fall having arrived, people on the East coast often go on day trips to see the beautiful multi-colored leaves. Tá cáil is clú ar stáit mar Massachusetts, Vermont, New York agus New Hampshire, srl. as radhairc dheasa an fhómhair atá le fáil iontu. States such as…are famous for their nice fall scenery. Bíonn na sléibhte sna stáit seo (agus áit ar bith, is dócha) go hálainn i gcónaí. The mountains in these states (and anywhere at all, I suppose) are always beautiful. Sa samhradh seo, bhí deis agam Sléibhte an Deataigh a fheiscint in Tennessee, an Iomaire Ghorm a fheiscint in Virginia, agus na Sléibhte Bána a fheiscint in New Hampshire. This summer, I had the opportunity to see the Smokey Mtns in TN, the Blue Ridge in VA, and the White Mtns. in NH. Agus rinne mé rud a bhí ar intinn agam le fada faoi dheireadh: dhreap mé Sliabh Washington, an sliabh is airde ar an gcósta thoir. And I did something which has been on my mind for a long time, finally: I climbed Mt. Washington, the tallest mountain on the East coast.

Tarlaíonn an aimsir is measa ar domhain uaireanta ar an sliabh seo. The worst weather in the world happens on this mountain sometimes. Iompaíonn an aimsir gan choinne go minic, agus bíonn baol ann mar gheall air sin. The weather often changes unexpectedly, and there is danger because of that. Ach lá réasúnta deas a bhí againn, buíochas le Dia. But we had a pretty nice day, thank God. Bhí mo mhac Connor agus mo dheartháir céile Rich i mo theannta. My son C and brother-in-law R were with me. Chaitheamar a lán ama á dhreapadh, ar chosán (mar dhea) fada fánach. We spent a long time climbing, on a long wandering path (if you can call it that). Ach bhí stoirm ag bagairt orainn nuair a bhíomar chun dul síos, agus mar sin chuamar ar chosán eile, i bhfad ní ba thapúla! But a storm was threatening us when we were going down, and so we took another path, much more quickly! Bhíomar fliuch le báisteach agus le hallas, ach bhíomar go sona sásta agus thángamar abhaile slán. We were wet with rain and with sweat, but we were very pleased and we got home safely.

An lá dar gcionn, thit crann ar dhian na hóstlainne a rabhamar, agus bhris sé píopa gáis! The following day, a tree fell on the roof of the hotel where we were, and broke a gas pipe! Thángamar slán as sin, freisin, buíochas le Dia. We got out of that safely, too, thank God. Cheap mé go raibh baol sa bhreis againn ar an sléibhe, ach nach mbíonn baol ann i gcónaí sa saol seo? I thought we’d been in extra danger on the mountain, but isn’t this life always full of danger? Nílim ag moladh go ndéanann éinne rud ró-bhaolach gan chúram – ach ná bíodh imní ar éinne eachtra a dhéanamh gan chúis. I’m not recommending that anyone carelessly do anything too dangerous – but no one should worry needlessly about having an adventure. Bain sult as an saol seo! Enjoy life!

Cé go bhfuil radharc iontach le fáil ar barr sléibhe, sa chás seo ar Sliabh Washington, is féidir an radharc céanna sin a fheiscint tar éis turas cairr nó turas traenach!

Even though there’s a wonderful view from a mountaintop, in this case on Mt. W, you can see the same view after a trip in a car or on a train! Ach is é sárú an dúshláin agus an déanamh féin as a mbaintear sult nuair a dhreaptar sliabh. But it is the overcoming of a challenge and the doing itself that you get pleasure from when climbing a mountain. Feictear radhairc eile nach bhfeictear ar aon slí eile. You see other views you can’t see any other way. Agus faightear tuiscint níos fearr ort féin, agus comhluadar níos fearr le do chomhpháirtithe. And you get a better understanding of yourself, and better company with your fellow climbers. Níl aon sliabh is airde de dhíth chun eachtra mar seo a dhéanamh. You don’t need the highest mountain to have an adventure like this. Siúlóid eile a bheadh oiriúnach duit, b’fhéidir. Maybe another hike would be suitable for you. Ach téigh amach faoin spéir! But get outdoors!

Nach rí-mhinic a chuirtear an cheist “cén fáth?” orainn a fhoghlaimíonn Gaeilge! Isn’t it oh so often that we learners of Irish are asked “why?”! Is iomaí fáth atá ann as a spreagtar an spéis – stair, mórtas cine, srl. There are many reasons for getting interested – history, pride of ancestry, etc. Ach i ndeireadh na dála, tar éis a thosnaithe, is iad sárú an dúshlán, an déanamh féin, agus an comhluadar na rudaí is tábhachtaí. But in the end, it is overcoming the challenge, the doing itself, and the companionship which are most important. Cén fáth? Mar is spraíúil é! Why? Because it’s fun!