An Seisiún — The Session

A trad session in a packed pub, and a word of encouragement.

Bhí an teach tábhairne lán go doras.
The pub was full to the door.

Bhí seisiún ar siúl sa chúinne.
A session was going on in the corner.

Bhí fidil, bosca ceoil agus bodhrán ann.
There was a fiddle, an accordion and a bodhrán there.

Shuigh mé síos in aice leis an tine.
I sat down beside the fire.

Thosaigh siad ar phort mall.
They started into a slow tune.

Níor labhair aon duine.
Nobody spoke.

Ansin, d’athraigh an ceol.
Then the music changed.

Tháinig ríl bheo ina dhiaidh.
A lively reel came after it.

Bhí na cosa ag bualadh faoin urlár.
Feet were beating on the floor.

Cheannaigh fear óg deoch dom.
A young man bought me a drink.

“An bhfuil tú ag foghlaim?” a d’fhiafraigh sé.
“Are you learning?” he asked.

“Táim,” a dúirt mé. “Beagáinín.”
“I am,” I said. “A little bit.”

“Sin an chuid is deacra,” a dúirt sé. “Tosú.”
“That’s the hardest part,” he said. “Starting.”

A note on this one

A seisiún isn’t a performance — the musicians play facing each other, not the room. The last line is the one every learner needs: starting is the hard part.