1. Scéalaíocht / Storytelling
Topaic / Topic:
Scéalaíocht / Storytelling
Gaeilge do Thuismitheoirí – An Fhoghlaim Neamhspleách 1

2. You’ll be watching a video recording of a story called ‘An Préachán agus an Madra Rua’ (The crow and the fox). It was recorded for TG4’s birthday celebrations in 2016 and the recording was made with children, parents and grandparents from Scoil Dhún Chaoin in the West Kerry Gaeltacht.

3. ag eitilt thuas sa spéir flying up in the sky
You might want to have a look at some of the vocabulary and phrases in the story before you listen to it. Here are some of the key words and phrases:
ag eitilt thuas sa spéir flying up in the sky
píosa cáise a piece of cheese
i ngob an phréacháin in the crow’s beak
líon sé suas d’éad agus formad he was full of jealousy
nach gleoite na cleití atá ort? aren’t your feathers lovely?
‘An bhfeadraís?’ do you know? (a Munster dialect version)
tháinig mórtas is éirí in airde ar an bpréachán the crow felt proud and conceited
ba thapaidh a sciob an madra rua leis é the fox snapped it away quickly

4. Now watch the recording and see how much you can understand
Now watch the recording and see how much you can understand. Afterwards, have a look at the tapescript, if you want (the pdf. file on the right...)

5. Note the end of the story...
‘...Sin é mo scéalsa agus má tá bréag ann bíodh – ní mise a chum ná a cheap...’
This is the standard traditional ending to a story – it means ‘that’s my story, if there’s a lie in it, so be it, because it wasn’t me who first composed it!’

6. Did you know?
Oireachtas na Gaeilge is the largest Irish language and culture festival in the country. It is run in different locations each year and is attended by more than 10,000 participants over the course of the festival. The main activities are stage competitions for children and adults in various activities such as recitation, storytelling, sean-nós singing and sean- nós dancing. Check it out at They have a player on the site so you can have a look at some of the activities.