Achoimre (Summary) (Leaving Cert Irish): Revision Notes
Achoimre (Summary)
Exam Tip: Understanding the Plot It's crucial to have a solid understanding of the plot for each studied text. Memorising a few key points to summarise the story can be very useful, as you can use these points as a foundation for any answer.
- Is scéal béaloidis é Oisín i dTír na nÓg. Baineann an scéal seo leis an bhFiannaíocht – na scéalta faoi na Fianna agus Fionn Mac Cumhail.
- Oisín i dTír na nÓg is an old folklore story. It relates to the Fianna-the stories about the Fianna and Fionn Mac Cumail.
- Tagann sé ón dtraidisiún béil. Tá tréithe an bhéaloidis le feiceáil tríd an scéil - mar shampla áibhéil agus draíocht, na huimhreacha trí agus seacht, agus laochas agus crógacht.
- It comes from oral tradition. Characteristics of old Irish folklore can be seen throughout the story, for example, exaggeration, magic, the numbers three and seven and heroism and bravery.
- Lá amháin, bhí trí chéad fear ag baint chloch i nGleann na Smól ach bhí an chloch thar a bheith trom. Mar sin, ní raibh siad ábalta an chloch a bhogadh. Bhí cúpla duine ag titim i laige!
- One day, there were three men carrying stones in Gleann na Smól but they were far too heavy. They weren't able to move them. Some people were falling over!
- Chonaic siad fear óg, láidir ar chapall bán agus thug sé cabhair dóibh. Rug sé ar an gcarraig, agus chaith sé é gan aon stró! Ach, thit sé den chapall, agus nuair a sheas sé ar an talamh, fágadh é ina sheanfhear, críonna dall.
- They saw a strong, young man on a white horse and he helped them. He took the big rock and threw it with no difficulty. But, he fell from his horse and when he got back up on the ground, he was an old wise blind man.
- Oisín a bhí ann, ball do na Fianna. D'inis sé a scéal do Naomh Phádraig.
- It was Oisín, a member of the Fianna. He told his story to Saint Patrick.
- Maidin amháin nuair a bhí sé ag seilg leis na bhFianna, chonaic siad spéirbhean álainn ar chapall bán – Niamh Chinn Óir.
- One morning when he was hunting with the Fianna, they saw a beautiful goddess on a white horse - Niamh Chinn Óir.
- Tháinig sí go hÉirinn ó Thír na nÓg, toisc gur chuala sí scéalta faoi Oisín agus ba léir go raibh sí i ngrá leis.
- She came to Ireland from Tír na nÓg as she had heard stories about Oisín and it was clear that she was in love with him.
- Áit álainn is ea Tír na nÓg – bhí bláthanna, torthaí, mil agus fíon ann. Ní raibh éinne tinn nó sean ann.
- Tír na nÓg was a lovely place- there were flowers, fruit, honey and wine there. Not a single person was sick or old there.
- Chuir Niamh geasa ar Oisín ionas go rachadh sé go Tír na nÓg. D'fhág siad Éire le chéile ar an gcapall bán, agus ar aghaidh leo trasna na farraige!
- Niamh cast a spell on Oisín so that he would go to Tír na nÓg. They left Ireland together on the white horse and off they set across the sea!
- Ar an mbealach, chaith Oisín trí lá agus trí oíche ag troid leis an bhfathach, an Fómhar Builleach agus shábháil sé iníon Rí na mBeo. Bhain Oisín an ceann don Fhathach.
- Along the way, Oisín spent three days and three nights fighting the giant, the Fómhar Builleach and he saved the daughter of the King. He beheaded the giant.
- Nuair a shroich siad Tír na nÓg, chuir gach duine fáilte ollmhór rompu, agus bhí féasta acu ar feadh deich lá agus deich n-oíche.
- When they reached Tír na nÓg, everyone welcomed them and they had a feast for ten days and ten nights.
- Bhí Oisín agus Niamh sona sásta i dTír na nÓg. Phós siad agus bhí beirt mhac agus iníon acu, Fionn, Oscar agus Plúr na mBan.
- Oisín and Niamh were very happy in Tír na nÓg. They married and had two sons and a daughter, Fionn, Oscar and Plúr na mBan.
- Ach, tar éis tamaill, bhí uaigneas ar Oisín nuair a smaoinigh sé ar Éirinn, ar a athair agus ar na Fianna. Bhí fonn ar Oisín dul ar ais go hÉirinn.
- However, as time went by, Oisín became very lonely as he began to think of Ireland, his Dad and the Fianna. Oisín wanted to return to Ireland.
- Thug Niamh an capall bán d'Oisín. Ach, thug sí trí rabhadh dó, gan a chosa a chur ar thalamh na hÉireann, nó ní rachadh sé thar nais go Tír na nÓg riamh!
- Niamh gave the white horse to Oisín. But she gave him three warnings. He was not to put a foot on Irish ground or else he would never return to Tír na nÓg!
- Nuair a shroich Oisín Éire, bhí an áit thar a bheith difriúil. Bhí a athair, Fionn, agus na Fianna go léir marbh. Ní raibh a fhios ag Oisín go raibh na céadta bliain caite aige i dTír na nÓg.
- When he reached Ireland, the place was very different. His father, Fionn, and the Fianna were all dead. Oisín didn't realise that he had spent hundreds of years in Tír na nÓg.
- Chuaigh sé go Gleann na Smól, thit sé den chapall agus fágadh ina sheanfhear críonna, caite, dall é. Thug Naomh Pádraig aire agus cabhair d'Oisín.
- He went to Gleann na Smól, he fell of his horse and he was left as an old, blind, wise man. Saint Patrick helped Oisín.
- Ag deireadh an scéil, cuirtear íomhá bhrónach os ár gcomhair. Ní raibh fonn ar Oisín ithe le aon duine eile – mar níor mhothaigh sé go raibh sé mar chuid den saol sin.
- At the end of the story, we are presented with a sad image. Oisín didn't want to eat with anyone else, as he didn't feel part of this life anymore.
- Tá brón air, tá uaigneas air agus cinnte, tuigeann Oisín anois nach mbíonn in aon rud ach seal.
- He is sad, he is lonely and, certainly, Oisín now understands that 'nothing lasts forever.'
Struggling to remember the plot?
Alright, get ready for one of the coolest, most magical stories in Irish folklore—Oisín i dTír na nÓg!
So, picture this: One day, there are 300 men in Gleann na Smól, and they're all trying to move this massive stone, but it's just too heavy! These lads are struggling, almost passing out trying to budge it. Along comes Oisín, this super-strong, young warrior from the Fianna, riding in on a majestic white horse. No big deal, he grabs the giant stone and tosses it like it's a football! Easy, right? But wait... when Oisín steps off his horse to help the men, something crazy happens—he suddenly turns into an old, blind man!
Turns out, Oisín has an epic backstory. He starts telling it to Saint Patrick, and this is where things get really wild. Back when Oisín was still a young warrior, he was out hunting with the Fianna, when they spot this beautiful woman on—you guessed it—a white horse. Her name is Niamh Chinn Óir, and she's straight-up magical. She's from this place called Tír na nÓg, where no one ever grows old, everyone's happy, and there's endless feasting. Oh, and she's in love with Oisín after hearing about all his heroic adventures!
So Niamh sweeps Oisín off his feet (well, onto her horse) and they fly across the sea to Tír na nÓg. On the way, Oisín even fights a giant, the Fómhar Builleach, for three days and nights, and rescues the princess. You know, typical hero stuff. When they finally arrive, Oisín is treated like a king—they have a massive feast for ten days and nights to celebrate.
Oisín and Niamh get married, they have three kids, and life is perfect. Except... after a while, Oisín starts missing home. He misses his dad, Fionn, and the Fianna. Niamh, worried, gives Oisín their trusty white horse to visit Ireland, but she warns him: Do not touch the ground. If he does, he'll never return to Tír na nÓg.
When Oisín gets back to Ireland, he doesn't recognise the place. Everyone he knew is gone—Fionn and the Fianna have long passed. He still doesn't realise how long he's been gone, until that moment in Gleann na Smól when he helps the men with the stone and accidentally falls from the horse. Bam—he instantly turns into an old man.
Heartbreaking, right? Saint Patrick listens to Oisín's tale and helps him in his final days. It's a sad ending, as Oisín realises that everything he loved is gone, and he'll never return to the magical Tír na nÓg. The moral of the story? Nothing lasts forever—not even in fairy tales.