A sign Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival leaves me a little puzzled – and concerned. It simply states, “The craic in Lisdoonvarna is very good!” My oral reading of the sign is promptly corrected by a storekeeper. “It is pronounced crack – not crake,” says she. That does not allay my concern at all.
Next morning as we take our seats on the tour coach for another day of John Costello’s wit and wisdom, he asks those of us who had gone to the nearby pub last night – actually all of us – he asks, “How was the crack last night?” No response. I wonder, did John learn this from his extensive Irish Tourist Board training? Is he running a side business of some sort to supplement his tour guide income? The crack? Then he spells it for us, “c-r-a-i-c, crack.” “What?” he says, “You don’t know what craic is?” “Oh the things I have to explain to you Americans!”
When someone asks about the craic they are asking if you had fun – if you had a good time. The term is derived by taking the initial letter from five words:
Ceol is from the Gaelic word for music. When pronounced, the word Ceol will sound like k-yawl. So, the C of Ceol becomes first letter of craic – to represent music.
Rince is the Gaelic word for dance. Specifically, it means to move quickly. You might have seen or heard the phrase, Rince Na Tiarna which is translated Lord of the Dance. So, the second letter of the word craic comes from rince.
The A is from the word augus which is simply a slang connector word like the word ‘and’ meaning to augment or add-on to something. The fourth letter is provided by the word iompair which in the Gaelic language means to carry a load or carry on in a big way – to be plentiful. Finally, the letter C is contributed from the word caint which means conversation.
What a neat word – craic! So, when some asks, “How was the craic last night?” – and you reply by saying, “The craic was good.” – it is like saying, “The dancing was good; the music was good; and there was plenty of good conversation!”
Craic & hookers in little ole Ireland – who would have guessed?
May All of Your Travels Be Happy and Safe!