Welcome to the session Doug, craic = good time , fun, excitement, party, session,any goings on etc , as in where's the craic or what's the craic. Don't know of any literal Irish translation, is there one ?
cheers
Pajic.
Fintan Vallely's Companion to Irish Traditional Music, the best fifty dollars you can spend on dead trees has, in its entry for "craick":
"A modern-Gaelic, commercially exploited spelling of the English word 'crack', most typically found on Irish-bar posters linked by the word 'agus' to the word 'ceol', this indicating commercialisation of traditional music as a device in selling 'ol'." (Caomhin MacAoidh).
Converselly, "craic" (no k) seems to mean "buttocks", or "anus". And i'm not making this up.
Crack means "uplifting and enjoyable conversation, fun". Often used to describe a combination of good music and drinking among a wide spread of friends not normally together -- all in the circumstance of an occasion of great relaxation.
as with the music, coloquial Scottish and Irish language is mostly aural usage, so the spellings insignificant, other than to websites and advertisers....
I think of two things when I hear the work "crack". One is a drug used by junkies who no longer get high on cocain, and the other is viewed from the backside of a generally overweight gentleman who needs to hitch his pants up. I don't appreciate either in my sessions.
That wonderful gentleman Donal Lynch from Listowel (hi Donal!), who runs the Hibernia Irish Centre in Bristol UK, has suggested an alternative for "craic". I quote from his posting on the Hibernia website at the beginning of the year -
"I've re-discovered a very old Irish word for having a good time from Tomas O' Criomhthain's 'The Islandman' - I havent heard the word 'sceilp' for 40 years ! So... craic is out and passee for 2003, tis sceilp we're after (pronounced schellp)." [quote ends]
I thought it meant what happens in a theme pub with green Guiness, photos of donkeys, rural curios and a "no live music" policy - (doesn't fit their company profile).
Andee, I think Donal meant that the "sch" was pronounced as in "school" - in other words "sceilp" would be pronounced "skelp".
The Jewish/Irish connection therefore looks a little more tenuous!
Lads, believe me, "craic" is not used in the same way as the english word Crack. So it is not "British Sland translated in Oirish" (I hate that word "Oirish")!! I have never heard any british citizen "Whats the crack" or "Hows the crack" or "Any crack"! They would use it more like "Give it a crack" or "Have a crack at it"........at least I have never heard it used by the english in the same context as the Irish...........
And trust me, its not drugs......
Well, maybe it's more like an English word *borrowed* into Irish usage and adapted to a new use. Fintan Vallely (in his encyclopedia) certainly gives in an English derivation and sounds a bit sniffy about the 'craic' spelling, which he attributes to pub signage, mainly, as in 'ceol agus craic'.
He reckons the Irish predecessor to this term was 'ghas'. ( I think that's how he spelt it, don't have it to hand.)
Like "banana" or "bus" or one of the many other words that are English words transferred into Gaelige, "crack" turned into "craic" seeing as how "crack" as the Irish use the word is how the English used the word, oh I believe it was back in the 1700s or so. (Right about the same time that the hornpipe in its present form hit Dublin, I suppose. *snort*)
Ahh.... so that's what the Streatham session was that 'David' posted...about which, I recall, he said was of 'good' quality, or words to that effect!... something of a hyperbole... I'd go as far as to say Sheena's not far off the best - And no better man to take over, Miles!
So is this Irish word Sceilp related to the scots word Skelp which means to slap or hit. That would give a connection though usage. I.e. - I gave him a skelp across the jaw - I gave him a crack across the jaw.
Davetnova, they're probably not related in the way you suggest; when my ma used to threaten me with the words "I'll skelp the arse of ye" I don't think she meant I was about to enjoy the experience!
While we're on the subject there are many words and phrases in common English usage which come from Irish. For example:
The phrase "Smashing!!", meaning "That's great" comes from an abbreviation of "Is maith sin", "that's good" in English.
Phoney, the American term for fake, comes from the irish "F
"Davetnova, they're probably not related in the way you suggest; when my ma used to threaten me with the words "I'll skelp the arse of ye" I don't think she meant I was about to enjoy the experience!"
craic?
craic?
Being new to the field and from the USA, I don't know what this word (craic) is or means. Can someone explain? Thanks Doug Barr
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by dbarr15@aol.com
Re: craic?
Welcome to the session Doug, craic = good time , fun, excitement, party, session,any goings on etc , as in where's the craic or what's the craic. Don't know of any literal Irish translation, is there one ?
cheers
Pajic.
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by pajic
Web search craic
Doug, found this too ( on a web pge of a band called Craic )if it helps, although the quote isn't attributed to any source
1.The craic (pron. "crack") is the feng shui of a se
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by pajic
Re: cracking cheese,Gromit...
it's crack as far as i know.
you don't always have to be in a pub,either but it certainly helps me any road.
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by biggus dave
Re: craic?
Yes, it's British slang "translated" into Oirish. Kinda like "seissium".
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by glauber
Sez the man:
Fintan Vallely's Companion to Irish Traditional Music, the best fifty dollars you can spend on dead trees has, in its entry for "craick":
And i'm not making this up.
"A modern-Gaelic, commercially exploited spelling of the English word 'crack', most typically found on Irish-bar posters linked by the word 'agus' to the word 'ceol', this indicating commercialisation of traditional music as a device in selling 'ol'." (Caomhin MacAoidh).
Converselly, "craic" (no k) seems to mean "buttocks", or "anus".
Crack means "uplifting and enjoyable conversation, fun". Often used to describe a combination of good music and drinking among a wide spread of friends not normally together -- all in the circumstance of an occasion of great relaxation.
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by glauber
Re: craic?
also widely used in Scotland coloquially as in : to have a good crack, a good blether (or a good conversation).
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by Kenn
Re: craic?
as with the music, coloquial Scottish and Irish language is mostly aural usage, so the spellings insignificant, other than to websites and advertisers....
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by Kenn
Re: craic?
I think of two things when I hear the work "crack". One is a drug used by junkies who no longer get high on cocain, and the other is viewed from the backside of a generally overweight gentleman who needs to hitch his pants up. I don't appreciate either in my sessions.
-Troy
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by RTP
Re: craic?
That wonderful gentleman Donal Lynch from Listowel (hi Donal!), who runs the Hibernia Irish Centre in Bristol UK, has suggested an alternative for "craic". I quote from his posting on the Hibernia website at the beginning of the year -
"I've re-discovered a very old Irish word for having a good time from Tomas O' Criomhthain's 'The Islandman' - I havent heard the word 'sceilp' for 40 years ! So... craic is out and passee for 2003, tis sceilp we're after (pronounced schellp)." [quote ends]
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: craic?
I thought it meant what happens in a theme pub with green Guiness, photos of donkeys, rural curios and a "no live music" policy - (doesn't fit their company profile).
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by geoffwright
Re: craic?
crack - isn't that what sado-masochists do with whips?
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: craic?
Trevor--"sceilp, pronounced schellp"--sounds like the Yiddish word "schlep". I knew I could find a Jewish/Irish connection if I looked hard enough!
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by Andee
I always thought that fiddler on the roof was sneaking in a few jigs and reels,,,,
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by Andee
Re: craic?
Andee, I think Donal meant that the "sch" was pronounced as in "school" - in other words "sceilp" would be pronounced "skelp".
The Jewish/Irish connection therefore looks a little more tenuous!
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
PS I'll get back to Donal on this one for a definitive statement on the pronunciation - I can see a possible ambiguity.
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: craic? & sceilp
Donal Lynch tells me that the pronunciation of "Sceilp" is "shh-kelp"
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: craic?
Trevor--Hmmmmm sounds like something my Grandmom put into the chicken soup to give it more flavor.
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by Andee
Re: craic?
Lads, believe me, "craic" is not used in the same way as the english word Crack. So it is not "British Sland translated in Oirish" (I hate that word "Oirish")!! I have never heard any british citizen "Whats the crack" or "Hows the crack" or "Any crack"! They would use it more like "Give it a crack" or "Have a crack at it"........at least I have never heard it used by the english in the same context as the Irish...........
And trust me, its not drugs......
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by Edja
Re: craic?
Well, maybe it's more like an English word *borrowed* into Irish usage and adapted to a new use. Fintan Vallely (in his encyclopedia) certainly gives in an English derivation and sounds a bit sniffy about the 'craic' spelling, which he attributes to pub signage, mainly, as in 'ceol agus craic'.
He reckons the Irish predecessor to this term was 'ghas'. ( I think that's how he spelt it, don't have it to hand.)
# Posted on January 27th 2003 by Nell
Re: craic?
Fintan is no doubt pulling one's leg.
# Posted on January 28th 2003 by milesnagopaleen
Re: craic?
About the "ghas" or the "craic", miles? ;)
Like "banana" or "bus" or one of the many other words that are English words transferred into Gaelige, "crack" turned into "craic" seeing as how "crack" as the Irish use the word is how the English used the word, oh I believe it was back in the 1700s or so. (Right about the same time that the hornpipe in its present form hit Dublin, I suppose. *snort*)
Zina
# Posted on January 28th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: craic?
FIntan is definitely a gas man and full of oul' craic!
# Posted on January 28th 2003 by milesnagopaleen
Re: craic?
As is the sister! Is she still playing at New X, Miles?
# Posted on January 28th 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: craic?
No, I'm now in her place at New X. Sheena's playing some session in Streatham on a Sunday night now.
# Posted on January 28th 2003 by milesnagopaleen
Re: craic?
Ahh.... so that's what the Streatham session was that 'David' posted...about which, I recall, he said was of 'good' quality, or words to that effect!... something of a hyperbole... I'd go as far as to say Sheena's not far off the best - And no better man to take over, Miles!
# Posted on January 28th 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: craic?
So is this Irish word Sceilp related to the scots word Skelp which means to slap or hit. That would give a connection though usage. I.e. - I gave him a skelp across the jaw - I gave him a crack across the jaw.
# Posted on January 28th 2003 by Davetnova
Re: craic?
Davetnova, they're probably not related in the way you suggest; when my ma used to threaten me with the words "I'll skelp the arse of ye" I don't think she meant I was about to enjoy the experience!
While we're on the subject there are many words and phrases in common English usage which come from Irish. For example:
The phrase "Smashing!!", meaning "That's great" comes from an abbreviation of "Is maith sin", "that's good" in English.
Phoney, the American term for fake, comes from the irish "F
# Posted on January 29th 2003 by Conán McDonnell
Re: craic?
"Davetnova, they're probably not related in the way you suggest; when my ma used to threaten me with the words "I'll skelp the arse of ye" I don't think she meant I was about to enjoy the experience!"
Wasn't that "I'll skelp the craic out of ye?"
# Posted on January 29th 2003 by glauber
Re: craic?
It maps exactly to "bon temps", as in the Cajun expression, "Laissez les bon temps rouler"--let the good times roll. Craic = the good times that roll.
Or crann, I suppose.
---Michael B.
# Posted on February 2nd 2003 by MichaelBolton
Re: craic?
I don't know if the British use it, but in American English there is also the borrowing "bucko," from buachail.
And I'm glad someone could give me a more rounded understanding of "craic" than I have had up to now. Thanks, all!
# Posted on September 17th 2004 by LINKBook
Cross reference
http://thesession.org/discussions/display.php/5103#comment107977
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by Zina Lee