I lár an fhómhair, bhí scamall liath ag cromadh os cionn na cathrach Dín Geineal.

In the middle of autumn, a gray cloud loomed over the city of Dín Geineal.

Bhí sé fuar.

It was cold.

Bhí an ghaoth aniar aduaidh ag séideadh trí na sráideanna caola mar a bheadh scéalaí dólásach ann, ag fiosraigh scéalta rúnda gach cúinne.

The northwesterly wind blew through the narrow streets like a sorrowful storyteller, investigating the secret tales of every corner.

In aice leis an traid ar an mbóthar mór, bhí dánlann bheag a raibh a h-anam féin aici.

Beside the main road, there was a small gallery with a soul of its own.

Bhí Cormac mar bhainisteoir uirthi.

Cormac was the manager.

Fear a bhí ann a raibh meas air ón phobal áitiúil. Bhí sé i gcónaí ag lorg ealaíontóirí nua a d'fhéadfadh éisteacht lena saothar a fháil.

He was a man respected by the local community, always on the lookout for new artists with work worthy of attention.

Lá amháin, tháinig Niamh, ealaíontóir óg as cathair na Gaillimhe, isteach sa dánlann le súil is go dtabharfadh an farraige agus an tírdhreach na smaointe ceart di.

One day, Niamh, a young artist from the city of Galway, came into the gallery hoping that the sea and landscape would inspire the right thoughts in her.

Níorbh fhada go raibh Niamh cáiliúil lasmuigh di féin mar gheall ar a pictiúr ar leith—léiriú breá ar an dtír-raon áitiúil, taispeántach de ghlór an Atlantaigh agus de dhathanna an fhómhair.

It wasn't long before Niamh became renowned beyond herself for her unique painting—a beautiful depiction of the local terrain, capturing the voice of the Atlantic and the colors of autumn.

Bhí an pictiúr sin crochta go bródúil ar bhalla an dánlann, ach lá amháin, nuair a chuaigh Niamh ann, ní raibh ann ach rian folamh den fhráma.

The painting hung proudly on the gallery wall, but one day when Niamh visited, there was only the empty outline of the frame.

D’éirigh a croí trom.

Her heart grew heavy.

Bhí aidhm aici an pictiúr a fháil ar ais, ach bhí eagla uirthi go mbeadh daoine ag caoineadh a cuid oibre más rud é go raibh siad cuntasach as an slándáil a bhriseadh.

She aimed to get the painting back but feared people would blame her for the security breach.

Is ansin, i lár a machnaimh, gurbh fhearr di a bheith mionna faoi.

In the midst of her pondering, she decided to confide.

Chuaigh sí go dtí Cormac, lena súil an eolas agus na gnathanna áitiúla a roinnt.

She went to Cormac, hoping to gather information and local habits.

Chuir Cormac lámh ina láimh léi, agus dubairt sé, "Ní bheimis ag cur suas le robáil den chineál seo ar do chuid saothair.

Cormac took her hand and said, "We will not tolerate such theft of your work.

Tá tuillte ag do phictiúr a bheith slán."

Your painting deserves to be safe."

D'éirigh Niamh níos muiníní agus thosnaigh ar an gcuardach le Cormac.

Niamh grew more confident and began the search with Cormac.

Le himeacht ama, fuair siad roinnt leideanna.

Over time, they found some clues.

Bhí cúpla focal cáinte sa phobal le déanaí faoi ealaíontóir eile a bhain triail as, ach nach raibh chomh rathúil agus Niamh sa taispeántas céanna.

There had been recent rumors in the community about another artist who had tried but failed to succeed as much as Niamh in the same exhibition.

Lá amháin, i lár an trí bliana síos, tháinig Niamh agus Cormac trasna ar scéal faoi rival ealaíontóir chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar a ngníomhas.

One day, three years later, Niamh and Cormac stumbled upon a story about this rival artist and confronted them.

Ar deireadh, le gáir áitimh, admhaigh an rival an gníomh, agus chuir Niamh síos ar stráice cáise sa scríobhán síos i gcófra láimhe.

Eventually, with a plea, the rival admitted the deed, and Niamh found a note hidden in a suitcase.

Fuair sí an pictiúr.

She recovered the painting.

Uair úd, bhraith sí go raibh a saothar féin fíorluachmhar.

At that moment, she felt her work truly valuable.

Bhí muinín nua aici as a cuid ealaíne.

She had newfound confidence in her art.

Bhí sé cosúil le scéala coiscéime an Bhóthair Mhóir féin – ní raibh ann ach an tús.

It was like the story of the High Road itself—it was just the beginning.

Fuair sí a háit sa phobal, sa dánlann, agus ina croí féin.

She found her place in the community, in the gallery, and within her own heart.

Chuir seo go mór leis an gcaitheamh aimsire a bheadh aici anois i ndánlann bheag ach a raibh an-chroí leis.

This greatly enriched the pastime she would now have in a small but heartfelt gallery.

Bhí Niamh níos cinnte faoi féin anois agus chreid sí go raibh a cuid buanna ann, mar a bhí sa chuimhne sin den fhadbhalla i dánlann Chormaic i gCiarraí.

Niamh was more self-assured now and believed her talents were real, as was the memory of the long wall in Cormac's gallery in Kerry.