Bhí sneachta trom ar an talamh thart timpeall ar an gcaisleán.

There was heavy snow on the ground around the castle.

Bhí fuacht an gheimhridh ag crith sna hallaí fada agus faoi na clúdach cloiche sa chaisleán.

The chill of winter trembled in the long halls and beneath the stone covers of the castle.

Bhí an Nollaig thart ach bhí gealladh na bliana nua ar an mbealach.

Nollaig was over, but the promise of the new year was on its way.

Ach bhí rud éigin as alt sa chaisleán.

Yet something was amiss in the castle.

Bhí an t-atmaisféar teann.

The atmosphere was tense.

Bhí Niamh, an duine is sine den teaghlach, ag siúl suas is síos i seomra mór an Halla Mhóir.

Niamh, the eldest of the family, was pacing back and forth in the great room of the Halla Mhóir.

"Caithfidh muid an tseoid a fháil sula dtagann oíche na hAthbhliana," ar sí go dáiríre.

"We must find the jewel before oíche na hAthbhliana comes," she said earnestly.

Bhí an tseoid teaghlaigh imithe.

The family jewel had vanished.

Ní raibh amhras ar aon duine faoi céard a tharla.

No one doubted what had occurred.

Bhí Ciaran, sa bhreis ar aoibhinn le heachtraí, níos suaimhneach.

Ciaran, more inclined towards thrilling activities, was more at ease.

Ní raibh suim aige i dtraidisiúin teaghlaigh atá caite.

He wasn't interested in old family traditions.

"B'fhéidir gur caill muid í.

"Maybe we've lost it.

Abair leis an teaghlach go bhfuil an-díomá orainn," a dúirt sé, ag bualadh cláiríne le Aoife.

Tell the family we're very disappointed," he said, clapping Aoife on the back.

Ach bhí Aoife, an duine ba thúisce ag breathnú agus ag éisteacht, níos ciúine.

But Aoife, the keenest observer and listener, was quieter.

Bhí a hintinn ag bogadh níos tapúla ná mar a ligeann a chéile.

Her mind was moving faster than she let on.

"Níor chaillimid," ar sí go tobann.

"We haven't lost it," she said suddenly.

Bhí a hintinn lonnaithe mar gháinne.

Her mind was as sharp as an arrow.

"Ach b'fhéidir go bhfuil an scéal níos doimhne ná mar a mheas muid.

"But perhaps the story is deeper than we realized."

"Sheas Niamh taobh le Aoife.

Niamh stood next to Aoife.

"Cén fáth a gceapann tú sin?

"Why do you think that?"

" d'fhiafraigh sí.

she asked.

Bhí a ceann eile do Niamh ag dul in olcas de réir mar a shleamhnaigh an t-am.

Niamh's head was spinning more as time slipped by.

Bhí an nuacht a bhí ag Aoife dochreidte ach iad ag seasamh ann.

The news Aoife had was incredible as they stood there.

"Tháinig mé ar rún nótaí sa leabharlann.

"I came across a secret note in the library.

Dar leis an nóta, is í an tseoid a thugann an dínit dár dteaghlach," arsa Aoife go práinneach.

According to the note, it's the jewel that gives dignity to our family," said Aoife urgently.

"Ach dúirt araiseró go bhfuil rún eile ag an tseoid.

"But another note says the jewel holds another secret.

Rún atá an-suimiúil ar fad.

A very interesting secret, indeed."

"Bhí Niamh ag an bpointe seo ar míle huaire níos fiosrach.

At this point, Niamh was a thousand times more curious.

"Rún?

"A secret?"

""Rún a nascann sinn le teaghlach mór, ach ag an am céanna beidh orainn teacht ar an tseoid atá imithe.

"A secret that connects us to a great family, but at the same time, we'll have to find the jewel that's gone."

" Eanair Aoife go ciúin, mar go raibh gach rud thar a bheith soiléir di.

Aoife said quietly, as everything became very clear to her.

Bhí an oíche ag titim agus bhí an brú ag méadú.

Night was falling, and the pressure was mounting.

Gach céim a ghlachadh smaoinigh Niamh ar an tseoid imithe.

With every step, Niamh thought about the disappeared jewel.

Níor fhéad sí ligean den bhrón ach bhí uirthi aghaidh a thabhairt ar an bhfírinne.

She couldn't let go of the sorrow but had to face the truth.

Bhí Ciaran ag éirí mífhoighneach agus thug an dá shiúir fé bhráid.

Ciaran was growing impatient and brought it up with the two sisters.

B'fhéidir nár thuig sé fad is a bhí sé doimhne ach bhí a nádúr tapaidh ag treisiú anois.

Perhaps he didn't understand the depth of it all, but his quick nature was taking over now.

Thomáin sé an chaint.

He drove the conversation.

"Tá muid anseo chun a fháil amach cár imigh an tseoid.

"We're here to find out where the jewel went.

Níor chóir do rúnanna teaghlach sinn a shíneadh i dtuigbhealach eile seachas chun íoc as an am atá caite.

Family secrets shouldn't lead us in any direction other than to pay for the past."

" A chuid focal ghonta.

His words were blunt.

Ach go hionadh, tháinig Aoife ar eolas go raibh an taisce curtáile i bhfolach i seomra faoi rún.

But surprisingly, Aoife discovered that the treasure was hidden in a secret room.

Bhí na triúr ann, taobh istigh den seomra, ag cuimilt a n-álainn amhlaidh go bhfuaradar í.

The three were there, inside the room, rubbing their eyes as they found it.

Bhí sí láidir agus lonrúil.

It was strong and radiant.

"Beidh sí ábairín stró i dtreis," ar siad go corraitheach.

"It'll be a bit of a challenge," they said excitedly.

Bhí deireadh leis an easaontas idir na siblíní.

The disagreement among the siblings ended.

Tháinig siad ar bhealach nua cainte agus tuisceana.

They found a new way of speaking and understanding.

Bhí rúin agus traidisiúin á meas has anois i measc an teaghlach mór, ach bhí siad in ann éisteacht lena chéile.

Secrets and traditions were now valued within the large family, but they could listen to each other.

Bhí meas níos mó ag Niamh ar shaoirse Ciaran.

Niamh had greater respect for Ciaran's freedom.

Bhí meas ag Ciaran ar shúileamh Aoife.

Ciaran had respect for Aoife's insight.

Agus dar ndóigh, bhí nasc nua agus anam gaol ann idir an tríur.

And of course, there was a new bond and spirit among the three of them.

Ar deireadh thiar, bhí an oíche úd lán le craic agus cuimhní nua.

Finally, that night was full of fun and new memories.

Bhí an Teaghlach Mac Ghaibhra uair amháin eile ar aghaidh le hoidhreacht neamhghnách agus stair dúchais láidir.

The Teaghlach Mac Ghaibhra once again continued with an unusual heritage and strong native history.

Agus b'iad Niamh, Ciaran, agus Aoife na seodáin fírinneacha.

And Niamh, Ciaran, and Aoife were the real jewels.