'Bhí mo chroí i mo bhéal. Ba dhóigh leat go rabhas i m’athair nua mé féin'

Táimid ar mhuin na muice anseo sa Ríocht agus an ceiliúradh ar Sam bheith fillte ar Chiarraí fé lán tseoil fós. Ardaíodh ár gcroí chun na bhflaitheas leis an sárthaispeántas a dhein ár laochra i gCluiche Ceannais na hÉireann.

Nach liomsa atá an t-ádh agus níos mó ná san le ceiliúradh agam féin. Cúpla lá sara dtugamar fé Pháirc an Chrócaigh, caitheadh bronntanas ar an sop ar fheirm s’againne.

Bhí ana-mhearbhall orm nuair a phléasc mam isteach doras mo sheomra. ‘Éirigh amach ón leabaidh…Tapaidh. Seo leat!’ Leathuair tar éis a cúig ar maidin. Ba dhóigh liom, agus mo shúile leathiata fós, go raibh na ba i ndiaidh briseadh amach ar an mbóthar nó go raibh tionóisc éigin eile titithe amach. Ach táim a’ rá leat go rabhas mar a mbeadh leanbh óg ann maidin Nollag nuair a thuigeas go raibh mo láir, Lady, i ndiaidh searrach a thabhairt ar an saol.

Ba dhóigh liom, agus mo shúile leathiata fós, go raibh na ba i ndiaidh briseadh amach ar an mbóthar nó go raibh tionóisc éigin eile titithe amach

Mí roimis bhí Lady ana-bhreoite agus tréadlianna in amhras go mairfeadh sí fiú gan trácht ar an searrach. Cé go dtáinig sí slán as san, buíochas mór le Dia, dúirt duine a bheadh ar an eolas liom go mbeadh seachtainí ann sara mbeadh aon radharc ar shearrach. Thuigfeá mar sin, dhá lá ina dhiaidh san, ná beadh aon choinne in aon chor agam go ndúiseoinn agus go mbeadh bromach ag stánadh aníos orm le súile móra, donna. Bhí mo chroí i mo bhéal. An imní a bhí orm mar gheall orthu ag eitilt amach asam agus an folús a fágadh á líonadh le lúcháir agus sceitimíní. Ba dhóigh leat go rabhas i m’athair nua mé féin.

Táim fós ag cur aithne ar an bhféirín nua ach cheana féin aithním dea-thréithe ann óna mháthair.

Neart sna cosa deiridh agus an muineál, an phearsantacht shocair, mhacánta ach blaiseadh de spíosra ann. Tá ciall iomlán anois leis an nath cainte atá againn sa Ghaelainn ‘Searrach na dea-lárach’. Deirtear é seo agus tú ag moladh duine as rud a fuaireadar óna mam, ag moladh na máthar i ndáiríribh a bheifeá.

Seans go mbeadh dath deas ar a gcuid gruaige nó b’fhéidir gur ón mam a tháinig féith an ghrinn i nduine. Pé rud é, líne fhónta a bheadh ann d’aon léitheoir a bheadh ag iarraidh tuismitheoirí a phlámás le posadh isteach ar thalamh – ‘cliamhain isteach’ mar a deirmid.

Pléisiúr atá ann bheith ag faire an tsearraigh agus é ag teacht i dtuiscint ar an saol mórthimpeall air. Is maith liom go mór na ba agus na gamhna ach tá rud éigin speisialta faoi shearrach.

Táimid ceangailte leis na capaill leis na mílte bliain agus creidim go bhfuil rud éigin i nádúr an duine daonna a chorraíonn ar a fheiscint ag pocléimnigh, a chlos ag seitreach. Is léir go bhfuilim fé gheasa aige. I ndomhan atá chomh lán d’fhulaingt, is deas a bheith in ann éalú isteach sa tsaol úr seo, lán spraoi, fiosrachta agus dóchais.

Táim sa tóir ar ainm fós, má ritheann aon cheann deas leat, a léitheoir. Is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh liom ar Instagram nó ar Tiktok @kerrycowboy agus chífidh sibh mar atá ag éirí leis ansan chomh maith.

Táimid lotaithe amach ‘s amach i gCiarraí an samhradh seo, agus é ag teacht chun deiridh, níl clabhsúr go fóill leis an gceiliúradh. Tá Aonach an Phoic ar na bacáin agus meallfaidh sé sin na sluaite.

Ag féachaint siar ar an gcúpla mí atá imithe tharainn, ní gearánta dúinn in aon chor.

English translation

We’re on the pig’s back here in the Kingdom and celebrations of Sam returning to Kerry are still in full swing. Our heroes lifted our hearts in the All-Ireland Final with an incredible performance.

I’m such the lucky man that I have even more cause to be celebrating. A few days before we headed off for Croke Park, a present ‘was thrown on the sop’, as we say, on our farm.

I was so confused when the mother burst in my bedroom door. ‘Get out of that bed… Quick. Come on!’

Half five in the morning. I reckoned that the cows had broken out on to the road or some other disaster was after happening. But I tell you, I was like a child on Christmas morning when I realised my mare, Lady, had just given birth.

A month prior, Lady had been seriously ill. Vets were uncertain that she’d live herself, not to mind have a foal. Although she survived, someone who’d be in the know told me that it would be weeks before there’d be any sign of a foal.

I reckoned that the cows had broken out on to the road or some other disaster was after happening

So, two days later, I wasn’t expecting to wake up to a colt staring up at me with big, brown eyes. My heart was in my mouth. The worry I had for them flew up out of me and the vacuum it left filled with delight and excitement. You’d think I was a new dad myself.

I’m still getting to know the new arrival but already I see some good traits in him from his mother. Strength in the back legs and neck. The cool, honest personality with a bit of spice.

It’s really brought meaning to the Irish phrase ‘Searrach na dea-lárach’ (the good mare’s foal). You say this when you praise someone for something they inherited from their mother – it’s the mom you’re praising really.

Maybe they’ve a nice hair colour or a good sense of humour. Whatever it is, it’s a great line for any reader looking to ‘plámás’ parents to marry into land – ‘cliamhain isteach’ (son-in-law coming in) as we say.

It’s a pleasure to watch the foal figure out the world around him. I really like cows and calves but there’s something special about a foal. We’ve been linked to horses for thousands of years and I believe there’s something in human nature that just stirs to see a foal frolicking and hearing them neigh.

I’m clearly under his spell. In a world with so much pain and suffering, it’s nice to be able to escape into this new life, full of fun, curiosity and hope.

I’m still looking for a name, if anything nice comes to you, reader. You can get in touch on Instagram or Tiktok @kerrycowboy and you’ll also be able to keep up with how he’s getting on.

We’re spoilt altogether in Kerry this summer, and as it starts to comes to a close, there’s no let-up with the celebrations yet.

Puck Fair is just around the corner and is sure to gather crowds and looking back on the past few months, we’ve no reason to complain.