I lár an fhómhair i mBaile Átha Cliath, bhí Caoimhe agus Eoin ag ullmhú le haghaidh lá speisialta.

In the middle of autumn in Baile Átha Cliath, Caoimhe and Eoin were preparing for a special day.

Bhí sé leathuair an chloig i bhfad sula n-oscail an áit vótála.

It was half an hour before the polling station opened.

Sheas siad i líne d'fhonn a ndícheall déanta, ionas go mbeadh a nguth cloiste sa toghchán atá le teacht.

They stood in line determined to make their voices heard in the upcoming election.

Bhí Caoimhe ar bís.

Caoimhe was excited.

Bhí sí lán den fhuinneamh agus den díograis.

She was full of energy and enthusiasm.

Ba bhreá léi go bhfeicfeadh a vóta cúram faoi cheisteanna comhshaoil sa cheantar.

She would love for her vote to show care about environmental issues in the area.

Níorbh é an chéad uair a vótáil sí, ach bhí sí i gcónaí mothúchánach faoi chuidiú le hathrú a chruthú.

It wasn't her first time voting, but she always felt emotional about helping to bring about change.

Eoin, áfach, ní raibh an rud céanna ar a intinn.

Eoin, however, didn't have the same mindset.

Bhí sé beagáinín ciniciúil faoi vótáil.

He was a bit cynical about voting.

Thagair sé go minic ar a thuairim nach n-athraíonn aontán amháin mórán.

He often mentioned his opinion that a single vote doesn't change much.

Ach bhí Caoimhe ina chara dílis dó, agus níor theastaigh uaidh í a fhágáil ina haonar.

But Caoimhe was a loyal friend to him, and he didn't want to leave her alone.

"Tuigeann tú, Eoin," arsa Caoimhe leis agus iad ag siúl i dtreo an scoil.

"You understand, Eoin," said Caoimhe to him as they walked toward the school.

"Uaireanta, níl ann ach duine amháin le smaoineamh nua chun rudaí a athrú.

"Sometimes, it only takes one person with a new idea to change things."

""Maith go leor," arsa Eoin.

"Alright," said Eoin.

"Ach inis dom cén fáth atá an toghchán seo chomh tábhachtach?

"But tell me, why is this election so important?"

"Bhí an scoil innealtóireacht os a gcomhair, maisithe le duilleoga an fhómhair agus aoibhneas Shamhain ag taitneamh.

The engineering school stood before them, adorned with autumn leaves and the joy of Samhain shining.

Fuair siad a mbealach isteach, ar an ithir glúineach os comhair, nuair a thosaigh Caoimhe ag insint scéalta faoi thoghcháin a raibh tionchar acu roimh ré.

They found their way in, on the muddy ground outside, when Caoimhe began telling stories about elections that had significant impacts in the past.

Bhí ceann acu, dar léi, faoi thoghchán cuimhneacháin sna hochtóidí nuair a tháinig athrú suntasach ar an bpolasaí comhshaoil.

One of them, she said, was about a memorable election in the eighties when there was a significant change in environmental policy.

"Feiceann tú," lean sí uirthi, "Uaireanta is cúis an duine aonair leis an athrú.

"You see," she continued, "sometimes an individual's cause is the reason for change."

" D'fhéach Eoin timpeall air, ag féachaint ar an slua timpeall, gach duine ceann i gceann eile, ag tabhairt orthu dul i muinín agus dóchas as an gcóras.

Eoin looked around, observing the crowd, everyone heads bowed, drawing on faith and hope in the system.

Agus d'fhan siad.

And they waited.

Cinnte, bhí an líne fada, ach nuair a bhí sé ina sheasamh ann, bhí athrú ag tarlú istigh i gcroí Eoin.

Sure, the line was long, but while standing there, a change was happening inside Eoin's heart.

Thosaigh sé ag athmhachnamh ar na scéalta a chuala sé agus an dóigh a raibh an pobal áitrithe go mór chun guth a chur ar pháipéar.

He began to reconsider the stories he'd heard and how the community was moved to put their voice on paper.

Nuair a bhí Eoin sa deireadh ag an mbosca vótála, bhí sé rud beag néirbhíseach ach níos cinnte.

When Eoin finally reached the ballot box, he was a bit nervous but more certain.

Thóg sé nóiméad gairid, agus dhealraigh sé le Caoimhe le gruaig éadrom go raibh sí sábháilte agus buíoch.

He took a brief moment, and it appeared to Caoimhe with her light hair that she was safe and grateful.

Fuair sé a phinn agus leithéidigh sé an cliabhán.

He got his pen and marked the box.

Ní raibh sé ach fleasc bheag, ach mothaigh sé ionramháil chumhachtach anois.

It was just a small gesture, but it felt like a powerful handling now.

Ag teacht amach ón scoil, bhí Caoimhe ag gáire, sásta mar is gnáth, go raibh Eoin tar éis a vóta a chaitheamh.

Coming out of the school, Caoimhe was smiling, as usual, happy that Eoin had cast his vote.

"Féach?

"See?"

" a dúirt sí.

she said.

"Tá sé i do lámha anois.

"It's in your hands now."

"Agus smaoinigh Eoin, cé gur náisiún beag iad, gur féidir le guthanna beaga dul i bhfeidhm ar an gcomhshaol mór.

And Eoin thought, even though they were a small nation, small voices could impact the larger world.

Bhí deireadh lena chinnteacht agus chothromaigh sé a thuiscint go mb’fhéidir fós ina chuid den athrú.

His certainty had ended and balanced with the understanding that he might be part of the change.

Ah, a cheap sé agus é ag breathnú ar na duilleoga ag titim go réidh ó na crainn, bhí luach sa tsaoirse agus sa daonlathas níos mó ná mar a thuigeann sé riamh.

Ah, he thought as he watched the leaves gently falling from the trees, there was value in freedom and democracy greater than he ever realized.

Agus bhí Eoin, anois, réidh le bheith mar chuid de sin.

And Eoin, now, was ready to be part of that.