I'm trying to figure out where to put the emphasis in a sentence.

We're playing a game of "beat the picture" on the games board. Mhwombat topped a picture I'd posted (of a black jaguar) with a picture of a catamaran and the sentence "tá an "cat" seo i bhfad níos tapaí." I topped that with a picture of a cheetah and the sentence "bhuel, tá an cat seo i bhfad I BHFAD níos tapaí."

So here's my question: In English, if I were to say something like this, I'd emphasize "this" (well THIS cat is much MUCH faster"). Normally in Irish we'd use an emphatic ending instead of emphasizing "this," but I'm not sure which word should actually be emphasized. Would it be "cat"? And, if so, would it keep the broad "t" ("catsa")? Or would it be "caitse"?

Redwolf

The -se/-sa ending only works with possessives : mo chatsa, do chatsa, a chats(e)an, a catsa, ár gcat-ainne, mur gcatsa, a gcats(e)an. You can't use it if there's no possessive before... So you have to find another way to emphasize... You can say "An cat seo tá sé/sí i bhfad i bhfad níos tapúla".

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Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

Or an cat seo agamsa

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

An cat s'agamsa = mo chatsa.
But this doesn't answer Redwolf's question

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Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

What about inversion?

I bhfad i bhfad níos tapa an cat seo. (<= Is i bhfad níos tapa atá an cat seo.)

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Thanks to both of you...this is very helpful!

Redwolf

Both of mine were actually questions, Redwolf. I'm hoping someone will clarify the proper way to do the last one as well.

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

In speech, isn't the second 'i' dropped - i bhfad, 'bhfad ...

You could also say i bhfad Éireann níos tapúla

I don't see a major problem with stressing seo either. Perhaps a native speaker would, but I just don't imagine so.

Yup, it definitely is.