Bhí an uair go luath, uair áthasach sa teach altranais.

It was early, a joyful hour in the nursing home.

Thuas sa seomra céilí, bhí boladh crann Nollag ag líonadh an aer, agus soilse ag lonrú go boige.

Upstairs in the ceilidh room, the smell of a Christmas tree was filling the air, and lights were softly glowing.

Bhí Aoife ag eagrú páistí don dráma scoile a bheadh ar siúl ar Oíche Nollag.

Aoife was organizing children for the school play that would take place on Christmas Eve.

Bhí páistí fonnmhar ag ullmhú, culaith ar a gcroí agus amhráin á bhfoghlaim acu.

Enthusiastic children were preparing, costumes on their hearts and songs being learned.

Istigh sa chúinne, i gcogar suaimhneach, bhí Ciarán.

In the corner, in a quiet whisper, was Ciarán.

Buachaill cúthail a bhí sé, ach bhí samhlaíocht an-domhain aige.

He was a shy boy, but he had a very deep imagination.

Bhí Aoife i gcónaí ag moladh Ciarán chun páirt a ghlacadh.

Aoife was always encouraging Ciarán to participate.

"Beidh tú iontach ann," a dúirt sí, ag iarraidh misneach a chur air.

"You'll be great in it," she said, trying to give him courage.

Bhí Róisín ansin chomh maith, lán le fuinneamh ach deacracht aici na línte a mheabhrú.

Róisín was there too, full of energy but having trouble remembering her lines.

"Ciarán," a scread sí.

"Ciarán," she shouted.

"Cén fáth nach n-imríonn tú m'áit nuair a dhearmad mé?

"Why don't you play my part when I forget?"

"Bhí Ciarán chomh cúthail sin.

Ciarán was so shy.

Bhí eagla air go ndiúltódh na páistí é, ach bhí Róisín fíor-mhuiníneach.

He was afraid the children would reject him, but Róisín was very confident.

Oíche amháin, d'fhan sé suas déanach.

One night, he stayed up late.

Scríobh sé script nua don dráma.

He wrote a new script for the play.

Bhí litir ag gach leathanach ag súil le hionú.

A letter on each page hoping for inclusion.

Ar maidin, le croí ar lasadh le sceitimíní agus imní, thug sé an script go Aoife.

In the morning, with a heart alight with excitement and anxiety, he gave the script to Aoife.

Léigh sí é le súile gléineacha.

She read it with shining eyes.

"Ciarán, tá seo iontach!

"Ciarán, this is fantastic!"

" a dúirt sí agus thóg sí an dráma amach chuig na páistí.

she said and took the play out to the children.

Sa chlós, thosaigh na cleachtaí.

In the yard, the rehearsals began.

Ghlaoigh Aoife orthu agus d'inis sí faoin scéal nua Ciarán.

Aoife called them together and told them about Ciarán's new story.

Bhí gach duine ar bís, ach chuir sé imní ar Ciarán go fóill.

Everyone was excited, but Ciarán was still anxious.

Ansin, le linn cleachtaidh, rinne Róisín dearmad ar línte.

Then, during practice, Róisín forgot her lines.

Bhí tost na halla an-shuaimhneach.

The silence of the hall was very peaceful.

Sheas Ciarán, ag coimeád greim ar a script agus chabhraigh sé léi.

Ciarán stood, holding onto his script and helped her.

Nuair a chríochnaigh siad ag cleachtadh an lá sin, rith sores leo.

When they finished rehearsing that day, they ran out of the hall.

Bhí an dráma Ciarán iontach.

Ciarán's play was amazing.

Bhí na páistí ag canadh, ag gáire, agus ag bualadh bos.

The children were singing, laughing, and clapping.

Bhí muinín nua ag Ciarán.

Ciarán had newfound confidence.

Thuig sé go raibh sé ina chuid den chlann, ábalta a scéalta agus é féin a roinnt leo.

He realized he was part of the family, able to share his stories and himself with them.

Seo anois an Nollaig.

Now it was Christmas.

Tháinig Oíche Nollag, agus bhí an dráma mar an bpríomhimeacht.

Christmas Eve came, and the play was the main event.

Chuaigh sé thar barr.

It was a huge success.

Bhí Ciarán mar an réalta, agus mhothaigh sé rud nach bhfacthas riamh aige: go raibh sé sa bhaile.

Ciarán was the star, and he felt something he had never seen before: that he was at home.