Bhí gaoth fhuar an gheimhridh ag séideadh os cionn Aillte an Mhothair, ag tabhairt fuar le gach análú.

The cold winter wind was blowing over the Aillte an Mhothair, bringing cold with every breath.

Níor chuir sé isteach ar Éamon, áfach.

It didn't bother Éamon, however.

Bhí sé ag brionglóidigh ar feadh míonna faoin suanbhán, an ulchabhán sneachta, a tuairiscíodh a bheith le feiceáil ann sna freastalacha sin.

He had been dreaming for months about the suanbhán, the snowy owl, reported to have been seen there in those meetings.

Bhí a fhios aige go raibh sé uathúil.

He knew it was unique.

Bhí Siobhán, a raibh a ceamara i gcónaí idir lámha, ag súil go mór leis an radharc a ghabháil.

Siobhán, who always had her camera in hand, was eagerly looking forward to capturing the scene.

Bhí Cillian, ar an láimh eile, ag tabhairt níos mó airde ar na seanscéalta faoi na haillte, rud a bhris seiftiúlacht an lae.

Cillian, on the other hand, was more focused on the old stories about the cliffs, which broke the monotony of the day.

Tháinig an triúr acu amach sa tráthnóna, iad te teann teann gearrtha ina cótaí agus hataí.

The three of them set out in the afternoon, snugly wrapped in their coats and hats.

Chuaigh siad in aice leis na haillte móra, ag breathnú ar an aigéan bormhór ina bhun.

They went near the great cliffs, looking at the vast ocean below.

Bhí Siobhán beagán mífhoighneach, ag iarraidh an uaimhcheannach a fháil roimh éirí na gréine.

Siobhán was a little impatient, wanting to find the coveted bird before sunrise.

Bhí Éamon ag dul go mall.

Éamon was moving slowly.

Bhí eagla air dul ró-ghar don imeall.

He was afraid to get too close to the edge.

Ach, bhí mhian láidir le feiceáil ar an éan ann fós.

Yet, the strong desire to see the bird was still there.

"An amhlaidh go mbeidh tú ceart, Éamon?" a d'iarr Cillian le haire, agus iad ag siúl ar aghaidh.

"Are you alright, Éamon?" asked Cillian with concern as they walked on.

"Táim ceart, cinnte," d'fhreagair Éamon, ach beagán mí-áiritheas ag sú craiceann a spéartha.

"I'm fine, certainly," replied Éamon, but a slight uncertainty showed as his skin tingled.

Chomh cheal air féin gur sheachain sé ag scaoileadh síos faoin eagla airde.

He avoided speaking about his fear of heights.

De réir mar a bhí siad ag druidim níos gaire do chladaigh na n-aillte, is mó a mhothaigh Éamon scaipeadh an fuar agus ráigeanna geala á ngabháil as an bhfarraige faoi bhun.

As they drew closer to the cliff's edge, Éamon felt the cold spreading and bright bursts catching off the sea below.

Ach ansin, mar a bheadh draíocht ann, chonaic sé pióg bán ag sciméalleadh i bhfad i gcéin.

But then, as if by magic, he caught sight of a white speck gliding far away.

"Ná confirmaí ann é," béic Siobhán, í ag díriú a ceamara i dtreo an radhairc.

"Is it really there?" shouted Siobhán, focusing her camera towards the sight.

"Anois nó riamh, Éamon," a dúirt Cillian, ag gabháil le gliondar.

"Now or never, Éamon," said Cillian, joining in with excitement.

Bhí bua na haillte caoin ach Éamon gur ghlac leis an dúshlán.

The sound of the cliffs was calm, but Éamon embraced the challenge.

Cé gur ghlac eagla air, rinne sé an rud nár riamh sé déanta — dhá shúil ag scaoileadh thar bheagangán.

Although fear gripped him, he did something he had never done before — gazed beyond the threshold.

Le gach botún a ghlac sé níos gaire, bhraithead sé an croí ag preabadh ina chliabhrach.

With each step he took closer, his heart pounded in his chest.

Faoi dheireadh thiar, chomh gar agus a d'fhéadfadh sé, d'fhéach sé.

Finally, as close as he could get, he looked.

Agus ann, lig sé béic gheal amach, nuair a chonaic sé í — an ulchabhán sneachta, ar ais agus lámhach sa spéir, bpost deas ag suí gasta.

And there, he let out a bright shout when he saw it — the snowy owl, back and darting in the sky, sitting gracefully with poise.

Captúiríodh an nóiméad ar cheamara Siobhán díreach in am.

The moment was captured on Siobhán's camera just in time.

Le géim na hiontais agus an éacht, d'fhág Éamon anál ar an gcloch.

With the exclamation of wonder and achievement, Éamon let out a breath on the rock.

D'fhéach sé thart ar a chairde, a bhí ag scairteadh le áthas.

He looked around at his friends, who were cheering with joy.

Bhí sé réidh suas ina chinntí, a raibh gnóthaigh sé draíocht nua anseo ar an imeall sin na n-aillte.

He was reassured in his decision, having found new magic here at the edge of those cliffs.

Ag siúl ar ais ón imeall, mothaigh sé leigheas sa chroí.

Walking back from the edge, he felt healing in his heart.

Bhí a fhios aige go raibh níos mó i bhfad sa saol ná eagla.

He knew there was much more to life than fear.

Agus le Siobhán agus Cillian in éineacht leis, bhí brionglóidí an-chumhachtach fós le baint amach.

And with Siobhán and Cillian beside him, there were powerful dreams still to be realized.

Agus cé gur lá fhuar a bhí ann, bhí an teas spreagúil de chumhacht agus cairdis ag scaipeadh taobh istigh dá chroí.

And though it was a cold day, the warming inspiration of courage and friendship spread within his heart.