"How's the craic?" is a friendly greeting used throughout Ireland.
Heard in pubs, on street corners, and even in people's homes, it is a question of extreme importance to most Irish people.
Unfortunately the word is pronounced just like the English word "crack", giving rise to potential awkward misunderstandings for tourists, especially those unaccustomed to an Irish turn of phrase.
The word craic is an Irish language word. Let's explore its origins.
The Meaning of the Word Craic:
It is used so prolifically, I often wonder if tourists sometimes think the country is teeming with those who use some not so legal substances, searching high and low in every pub and meeting place for a bit of "craic".
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The most straightforward definition of the word is fun or enjoyment, but the true meaning encompasses something far greater than just a bit of fun.
True craic requires lively conversation and good times, in the best of company.
Good craic involves chat, enjoyable conversation, social entertainment and sometimes music.
Craic is usually associated with Irish pubs, but alcohol is not a necessary ingredient, to experience the social essence of craic. Music, on the other hand, is widely known to enhance the craic.
You usually need at least one companion to have a wee bit of craic. It's a very social phenomenon.
The Term Craic In Different Phrases:
A speaker's meaning, when using the word craic, is totally dependent on phrasing.
Here are some examples of its use, with my best efforts at American English translation:
How's the craic? / What's the craic? / Any craic?
= How are you? How are you doing? Any gossip?
Craic agus ceol
= Fun and music
We had great craic last night
= We had great fun last night.
She's great craic altogether
= She is great fun and great company.
The craic was mighty / The craic was ninety
= The fun was brilliant.
There are all kinds of craic to be found in Ireland and parts of Scotland too.
Some Irish people speak of deadly craic, or mighty craic, or savage craic. There's nothing really savage happening here.It's all just good fun.
Ceol agus craic (pronounced k-yole ah-gus crack) is the Irish phrase for music and fun. Craic is often accompanied by Irish traditional music.
Bhí craic agus ceol againn (pronounced vee crack ah-gus k-yole ah-gwing) means we had fun and music.
Christy Moore, the Irish songwriter and musician, tells us that the "craic was ninety in the Isle of Man."
It truly is a versatile little word.
The Origins of the Word Craic:
At this point in my little story I planned to talk about the Gaelic origin and ancient meaning of this versatile, little word. To my great dismay, once I did some very basic research, I discovered I may have been under a grand illusion about its true origin.
My first port of call, like so many internet researchers of today, was Wikipedia. After reading just a few paragraphs, my ancient, craic-filled dreams were shattered.
According to Wikipedia, the word was borrowed from the English term 'wisecrack', meaning joke, as late as the mid-20th century, merely ten or twenty years before my birth. Newspaper articles from the 1950's used the word, but spelled it 'crack'.
Not until the 1960's was the Gaelicized version of the word 'craic' first seen.
That's the decade of my birth, so the Irish claim on the word may only be as old as I am. I don't know if the 'craic' should feel young, or I should feel old.
Then to make matters worse, a language expert Diarmaid Ó Muirithe (Dermot Murray in English), is quoted as saying "crack as craic sets my teeth on edge". In this Wikipedia article, it is even suggested the Irish Tourist Board and Irish pub owner's are creating a stereotypical Irishness, by over-utilization of the word.
I paused for a while, to try to get my head around why we have all gone crackers over 'craic'. It is part of everyday language, a word spoken throughout Ireland. It has become an integral part of modern Irish culture.
References to Craic in Literature
But fear not - all is not lost. There's a little more to theunusual history of this favorite Irish word.
Let's take a look at some references to English crack in some old literature, linking the word to Celtic culture.
In the early 19th century the word 'crack' was found extensively in Scotland and northern England.
Sir Walter Scott used the word in 1817. His character, Rob Roy, declares:
“I maun hai a crack wil an auld acquaintance here.”
The use of the word in Rob Roy stands for fun and good conversation.
Ebenezer Picken was a Scottish poet and songwriter who was known as "The Poet of Paisley."
His body of work includes in English and Scots Gaelic. He even created a dictionary of Scottish words which was published after he died. He wrote of "the friendly crack, and the cheerful sang."
The Scottish poet, Robert Burns used the term, and in a glossary where he defined the term as meaning "to chat, to talk."
The word is found in the works of Ulster-Scots weaver poets in the 18th century. John Hewitt produced a book called "Rhyming Weavers: And Other Country Poets of Antrim and Down." Once again our term appears in the glossary with the explanation that it means "to talk, to banter."
James Fenton, a 20th century linguistic scholar, includes the term in his book "The Hamely Tongue: A Personal Record of Ulster-Scots in County Antrim." He provides examples of its use and describes it as meaning "fun, entertainment and conversation"
Here's an example of how it was used in Ulster. "He's guid crack," with guid meaning good.
The good people of Belfast and Ulster had no need of the glossary in these books to understand the meaning of this cheerful little word.
In 1980, the Irish and Ulster playwright, Brian Friel, penned the line "You never saw such crack in your life, boys." It appears in his play Translations - which focuses on the topic of language.
And so, it is probably safe to say the origins of this favorite Irish word are found in Northern England and Scotland. Sometime around the middle of the 20th century, the word was borrowed and introduced into the Irish language To make it feel and look more authentic it was transformed using a Gaelicized spelling 'craic.'
Another linguist and journalist, Kevin Myers, has expressed his annoyance at this little contrived Irish language word. He described it as criticised it as "pseudo-Gaelic" and a "bogus neologism."
That's a big word for this little corner of the internet, so we'll settle to describe it as "fake Irish."
True or false, there's no turning back the clock. As the decades pass craic is becoming more and more accepted as an Irish Gaelic word.
Irish - An Evolving Language
Then, I thought to myself, why can't the Irish language claim a new word, proving to the world it is alive and well, evolving and changing just like English.
The Oxford English dictionary has added new words like blog, FYI, threequel, cyberslacking and many, many more.
So what's all this fuss about adding 'craic' to the Irish dictionary, Irish-English dictionary, or wherever it is we record the terminology of our crazy spoken language?
"Possession is nine-tenths of the law", and oh boy, do the Irish claim possession of the 'craic'.
Into the bargain another saying supports our claim: "If you don't use it, you lose it". The Irish have no intention of ever losing this precious new word, through lack of usage.
Irish Tourist Attractions Promoting the Craic
Of course, in the 1990's the Irish seized the opportunity to glorify the craic and fun to be found all over the island of Ireland.
Undeterred by this linguistic lie, the Irish transformed this favorite catchpharase into great cultural currency. It's pure gold for Irish pub owners.
Pubs all over Ireland bask in the limelight, jump into the craic fray and now tout their establishments as being havens ofwild craic, brave crack, and the very best places to find a little music, together with a smattering of Irish wit and humor.
So, as far as the term craic goes, we Irish are determined to use it, all across Ireland and throughout the world, even if we risk arrest by a New York cop, when inquiring about the craic in some Irish American bar.
But let's face it, after so many years of Irish immigration to the Big Apple, most members of the NYPD are, by this time, fairly wise to the 'craic'.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Irish American Mom
Here are some more recipes and ramblings you might enjoy...
Easy Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding
Never Let The Truth Get In The Way Of A Good Story
Thomas McDonough, jr
Thanks for the explanation. Read a few of your posts I guess they are great. Thank you.
Irish American Mom
Thomas - I'm so glad you enjoyed my ramblings. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Thomas McDonough, jr
I meant they are great and I guess they are considered posts sorry. I looked at my comment after and it looked odd to me.
Irish American Mom
Thomas - Don't worry - I understood your meaning, but thanks so much for clarifying.
Take care,
Mairéad
Margot Cronin Riley
Great article- love the pic of my dad! 🙂
Irish American Mom
Thanks Margot. I was delighted to find that wonderful picture of your Dad is available for use under a creative commons license. A big thank you to all.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Harold
I just looked up craic because Lady Rose MacClare used it in #DowntonAbbey. And I quote, "It's a good craic." I had no idea what it meant.
Irish American Mom
Harold - I've watched Downton Abbey and admit I never noticed Lady Rose MacClare using the expression "craic". I'm not sure if it's a saying that was used prolifically in the 1920's, but Downton Abbey is so entertaining, I never set an expectation of complete historical accuracy.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Kathleen
Lots of craic next Wed at 7 PM at the 6 th Annual St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl at http://www.cuisinekathleen.com
Would love to have you join in!
Irish American Mom
Kathleen - Thanks for letting me know. If I get a chance I'll join you.
Best wishes,
Mairead
Ariella
Hello,
Thank you for this wonderful piece on craic. My very Irish musician boyfriend sent it to me. He said I was great "craic," and explained the term, but this really helps!!! Now I really feel the compliment. It is so interesting that it is a new word with roots in the old language -- which he calls "Irish" rather than Gaelic.
Irish American Mom
Hi Ariella - I'm so glad your boyfriend sent you this little piece to explain our Irish 'craic', and trust me, when he says you are "great craic", that is a true compliment.
Like most Irish people I too call our Gaelic by the term Irish. There are many forms of Gaelic such as Scottish, Welsh, Cornish and we distinguish our version of Gaelic by calling it 'Irish'.
Thanks so much for stopping by to check out my ramblings.
All the best,
Mairéad
Ariella
Thanks for your reply! If you ever come to Santa Fe, NM, please let me know.
Blessings!
Ariella
Irish American Mom
Ariella - Thanks so much. New Mexico is among the states I have yet to visit. I hear it is stunningly beautiful.
Blessings to you too!
Mairéad
Jody
Hello Mairéad,
Thanks so much for these interesting and intelligent articles.
I was just wondering how your name is pronounced, as I often do about Irish names.
Is it like 'Mary', or 'Mairad', or something else altogether?
Thanks
Jody
Irish American Mom
Hi Jody - My name is Irish for Margaret and it is pronounced as if it rhymes with 'parade'. So glad you stopped by to check out my recipes and ramblings.
Take care and have a lovely weekend.
Mairéad
Brittany
Thanks for the article about craic! I'm not sure if you know, but in the US there's a slang saying "what's cracking" meaning what's up. I wonder if that's where the saying came from. That's my theory. My Mexican husband says it although there's a sillier version "What's crackalackin' " Which means the same thing, just is usually said by someone in a goofy mood. Thought you would be interested to know!
Irish American Mom
Hi Brittany - Thanks for letting my know about this American slang - I had not heard it before. As with many sayings, it makes you wonder if the Irish brought the term with them when they came to America, or if immigrants returning to Ireland might have brought some terms with them. We'll probably never know the true origins of many of our sayings.
Best wishes, and thanks for checking out my post about "the craic."
Mairéad
Michelle Macdonald
If you ever get the chance you should visit Newfoundland. Canada. Many folks there are from Irish decent. The accents are as colorful as the houses are. I went for my first time last summer. Not the big towns and cities tho.....the best times are atill found in the little fishing villages along the coasts. Lovely place and people.
Irish American Mom
Hi Michelle - I would love to visit Newfoundland someday. Many readers have let me know over the years that it's a part of Canada with definite Irish roots and deep seated connections to my homeland. So happy to hear you enjoyed your trip there.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Daniel Wieczorek
Thank- you very much for the explanation of craic. I'VE wondered for years, ever since I heard Van Morrison use the phrase " and the craic was good" in a song and speaking of a road trip to Coney Island
Irish American Mom
Hi Daniel - I'm so glad you found this piece about Irish 'craic' helpful. It's a word that is used frequently in Ireland, and over the past few decades it has become part of everyday Irish speech. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Valk
I have truly enjoyed your article!
Have come across it accidentally as was researching the correct spelling of "craic" while writing to my good Irish friend, whether it's with fàda or not.
I had intuitively gathered the meaning of it in my first few years in Ireland and have happened to notice i use it sometimes myself 🙂
And few days ago on the train overheard an Irish student lecturing a Norwegian and a French friends about difference in Irish, Cornish, Welsh and Manks dialects. Was absolutely brilliant - with such an interest and compassion!
So, long live Éireann and sláinte to you Mairèad!
Irish American Mom
Hi Valk - I'm so glad you enjoyed this article, and that you have learned all about what 'craic' is in Ireland. I hope you have enjoyed your time living in Ireland.
Best wishes,
Mairéad