Bhí síneadh amach na maidine ar fhoirgnimh an ospidéil i gContae Luimnigh.

The morning light stretched across the buildings of the hospital in Contae Luimnigh.

Bhí tintreach na Cásca sa spéir, agus boladh bláthanna úr ag dóireacht tríd na prochta.

The Easter lightning filled the sky, and the scent of fresh flowers wafted through the air.

Bhí Niamh ar bís i lár na himeachtaí.

Niamh was excited in the midst of it all.

Dar léi, bheadh an lá iontach!

In her opinion, the day would be wonderful!

Bhí plean ag Niamh.

Niamh had a plan.

Bhí sí ag iarraidh a cairde, Liam agus Aoife, a chur ar bís.

She wanted to excite her friends, Liam and Aoife.

Shíl sí go mbeadh an-spraoi ann má ghlac sí páirt sa tóraíocht uibheacha Cásca a bhí curtha le chéile do na páistí saospidéal.

She thought it would be great fun if she participated in the Easter egg hunt organized for the children in the hospital.

"Fan go bhfaca sibh é seo!

"Wait until you see this!"

" a dúirt Niamh agus aoibh uirthi.

said Niamh with a smile.

Bhí Aoife agus Liam ag amharc uirthi go heaglach.

Aoife and Liam looked at her apprehensively.

"An bhfuil tú cinnte, Niamh?

"Are you sure, Niamh?"

" arsa Liam.

said Liam.

"Cinnte," a dúirt Niamh.

"Sure," said Niamh.

Chuaigh sí isteach leis an nuachtán timpeall cosúil le hata, ag tabhairt airde ar bith do na leorchaoga a bhí curtha in eagar ar feadh na mbóithrín.

She went in with the newspaper wrapped around like a hat, paying no attention to the wheelchairs arranged along the pathways.

Chuir sí uibheacha i ngach áit agus thug sí treoracha do na páistí.

She placed eggs everywhere and gave instructions to the children.

Bhí páistí ag rith, ag gáirí, agus ag súgradh timpeall.

Children were running, laughing, and playing around.

Ach ní raibh an foireann an-sásta.

But the staff was not very happy.

Tháinig Anna, an altra, rith isteach.

Anna, the nurse, came running in.

Níor thuig sí cén fáth gur lean na páistí Niamh, ag smaoineamh gur cuid den chlár í.

She didn't understand why the children were following Niamh, thinking she was part of the program.

"Liam, Aoife, níor chóir go mbeadh sí ag déanamh seo," a dúirt Anna.

"Liam, Aoife, she shouldn't be doing this," said Anna.

"Tá sé ríthábhachtach go n-eagraítear na himeachtaí.

"It's crucial that the events are organized."

" Bhí Niamh idir dhá cheann na meá.

Niamh was on the fence.

"Tá brón orm," a dúirt sí go ciúin.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Ach ní raibh sí ag iarraidh éirí as fós.

But she didn't want to give up yet.

"Níl aon dochar déanta agam éinne.

"I haven't harmed anyone."

"Agus sin an uair a tharla sé – thosaigh páistí ag gáire níos airde.

And that's when it happened – the children started laughing even louder.

"Feicim uibheacha!

"I see eggs!"

" a bhéic siad agus rith siad le Niamh, cosúil le fata mór.

they shouted and ran to Niamh like a big wave.

Bíseach isteach, léiríodh go mílteallach gur fheabhsú ar an bplean a bhí ann.

In the end, it humorously turned out to be an improvement on the plan.

Dúradh leis an ospidéal gur gheall na páistí iad féin a bheith chomh sásta sin.

The hospital was told that the children promised to be so happy about it.

"Niamh, is dócha go n-inseoidh muid an scéal seo ar feadh blianta," a d’áitigh Aoife, ag gáire.

"Niamh, I bet we'll be telling this story for years," insisted Aoife, laughing.

Ag deireadh an lae, bhí idirghabháil réidh idir Niamh agus an fhoireann.

At the end of the day, there was a meeting between Niamh and the staff.

Mhínigh sí gach rud le gáire, agus b’fhéidir go raibh rún i roinnt bebíoga shásuil.

She explained everything with laughter, and maybe there was a secret in some sweet smiles.

Ghlac an fhoireann leis, le mbeidh siad thar a bheith sásta leis an sásamh a thug sé do na páistí.

The staff accepted it, being exceedingly pleased with the joy it brought the children.

Agus mar sin, d’fhoghlaim Niamh rud luachmhar an lá sin.

And so, Niamh learned something valuable that day.

Bhí sé níos fearr smaoineamh ar na hiarmhairtí roimh dhul rófhada le plotaí aoibhiúla.

It was better to think of the consequences before going too far with whimsical plots.

Fiú amháin, ag siúl amach is ag amharc síos sa halla, smaoinigh sí go mbeidh sí ag pleanáil níos eolaí – b’fhéidir spraoi, ach cinnte gan damáiste.

Even as she walked out and looked down the hall, she thought she would plan more wisely next time – maybe having fun, but definitely without causing any damage.

Faoi dheireadh, bhí an spraoi níos nádúrtha agus ádhúil, díreach cosúil leis an gCásc é féin.

In the end, the fun was more natural and fortuitous, just like Easter itself.