Reading (Higher)
Read Áine’s blog below and try to answer the questions which follow.
Léigh blag Áine agus freagair na ceisteanna thíos.
A chairde, cad é mar atá sibh?
Gach bliain, bíonn ceiliúradh mór ar siúl fud fad an domhain le fáilte a chur roimh an bhliain úr. Is ócáid ollmhór í Oíche Chinn Bliana anseo in Éirinn. Bíonn na sráideanna dubh le daoine agus bíonn cóisirí tí ar siúl gach áit. Ach is í an oíche is measa sa bhliain í mo bharúil. Bíonn na tithe tábhairne agus na clubanna oíche plódaithe agus ní bhíonn sé furasta tacsaí a fháil ach an oiread.
I mbliana, beidh ceolchoirm ar siúl i lár na cathrach i mBéal Feirste agus tá mé ag dúil go mór leis. Ceolchoirm do theaghlaigh a bheas ann. Beidh a lán daoine agus grúpaí ceoil mór le rá ar an ardán. Beidh an ócáid seo saor in aisce chomh maith.
Ag meán oíche, nuair a bhuaileann an clog, beidh tinte ealaíne draíochtúla ildaite ann. Tabharfaidh gach duine póg agus croí isteach dá chéile agus ceolfaidh muid an t-amhrán clúiteach sin, Auld Lang Syne.
Is é an rud is suimiúla faoi Oíche Chinn Bliana ná go mbíonn an ceiliúradh ar siúl san Astráil aon uair déag sula mbíonn sé againn anseo agus is deas amharc ar an cheiliúradh ar an teilifís.
Question
What celebration does Áine describe in her blog?
New Year’s Eve
Gach bliain, bíonn ceiliúradh mór ar siúl fud fad an domhain le fáilte a chur roimh an bhliain úr. Is ócáid ollmhór í Oíche Chinn Bliana anseo in Éirinn. - Every year, there is a big celebration throughout the world to welcome the new year. New Year’s Eve is a huge occasion here in Ireland.
Question
What two comments does she make about the night?
She comments that the streets are packed and there are a lot of house parties.
Bíonn na sráideanna dubh le daoine agus bíonn cóisirí tí ar siúl gach áit. - The streets are packed with people and there are a lot of house parties going on everywhere.
Question
What is Áine’s opinion about this night?
She thinks it is the worst night of the year.
Ach is í an oíche is measa sa bhliain í mo bharúil. - But it is the worst night of the year in my opinion.
Question
What reasons does she give for this?
She says that the pubs and nightclubs are packed and it is difficult to get a taxi.
Bíonn na tithe tábhairne agus na clubanna oíche plódaithe agus ní bhíonn sé furasta tacsaí a fháil. - The pubs and night clubs are packed and it isn’t easy to get a taxi.
Question
What event is planned for New Year’s Eve in Belfast this year?
There will be a concert for families.
Beidh ceolchoirm ar siúl i lár na cathrach i mBéal Feirste. Ceolchoirm do theaghlaigh a bheas ann. - There will be a concert happening in the city centre in Belfast. It will be a concert for families.
Question
Name two things people will do at midnight?
They will kiss, hug and sing a famous song.
Tabharfaidh gach duine póg agus croí isteach dá chéile agus ceolfaidh muid an t-amhrán clúiteach sin, Auld Lang Syne. - Everyone will give each other a kiss and a hug and we will sing the famous song, Auld Lang Syne.
Question
What does Áine find most interesting about New Year’s Eve?
The celebration takes place much earlier in Australia.
Is é an rud is suimiúla faoi Oíche Chinn Bliana ná go mbíonn an ceiliúradh ar siúl san Astráil aon uair déag sula mbíonn sé againn anseo. - The most interesting thing about New Year’s Eve is that the celebration takes place in Australia eleven hours before we have it here.
Translation
Every year, there is a big celebration throughout the world to welcome in the New Year. New Year’s Eve is a huge celebration here in Ireland. The streets are packed with people and there are house parties everywhere. But it is the worst night of the year in my opinion. The pubs and the night clubs are packed and it is not easy to get a taxi either.
This year, there will be a concert in the city centre in Belfast and I am really looking forward to it. It is a concert for families. There will be a lot of people and famous groups on the stage. This event will be free as well.
At midnight, when the bell rings, there will be magical multi-coloured fireworks. Everyone will kiss and hug and we will sing that famous song, Auld Lang Syne.
The most interesting thing about New Year’s Eve is that the celebration happens in Australia eleven hours before we have it here and it is lovely to watch the celebration on the television.