Comments on: “Wouldn’t it be great if it was like this all the time?”

By: Eddie

Eddie — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 11:41:46 +0000

Just came across this thread … and thought it might be as well to ensure for posterity that the origin of th term ‘craic’ went on record.
Anglicised as ‘crack’, the term ‘craic’ comes from ‘ag buaileadh craiceann’ or ‘beating skin’. It is a reference to a highly private inter-personal (and usually inter-gender) activity which tends to promote mutual enjoyment, and sometimes progeny.
But, there it is … buaileadh craiceann; an craic; the crack. All good fun really.

Beir beannacht

By: jennifer

jennifer — Tue, 25 May 2004 06:41:10 +0000

the “ Crack was ninety” is best illustrated in the song of the same name sang by various artists, my favourite being Paddy Reilly!!

By: R�ona

R�ona — Sun, 31 Aug 2003 21:39:43 +0000

I want FECK as my license plate. Must see if I can sneak it past the WA licensing computer …

By: Dervala

Dervala — Sat, 30 Aug 2003 11:59:47 +0000

“Mighty” is a great Cork/Kerry/Galway term. Not used so much in Limerick or Dublin. I love it, though. I think I’ll seed “mighty crack” in northern Ontario. “Feck” is already taking nicely.

By: Vincent D. Murphy

Vincent D. Murphy — Sat, 30 Aug 2003 10:17:12 +0000

Isn’t that ninety as in ‘ninety miles per hour’? No?

Though I reckon I hear ‘the craic is mighty’ way more often than ‘ninety’. Maybe it’s just a Cork thing.

By: R�ona

R�ona — Fri, 29 Aug 2003 15:08:28 +0000

I love it! Thanks, D!

By: Dervala

Dervala — Fri, 29 Aug 2003 14:08:00 +0000

This one’s for Riona: a dictionary of Limerick-Dublin slang.
http://www.angelfire.com/ak3/thebarkinglizards/tbl.html

By: Dervala

Dervala — Fri, 29 Aug 2003 13:53:48 +0000

Bravo, R.

“Crack” is often enjoyed at a “session”. Which is sort of a spontaneous happening when everything just seems to flow right at a gathering (often spontaneous). So “There was a great session down at Lock’s the other night. Everyone wsa there and the crack was ninety.”

A person can also embody crack. “Oh you’ll have to meet so-and-so, she’s great crack.” About the highest compliment, I think.

I am going to go back to Ireland and open a crackhouse.

By: R�ona

R�ona — Fri, 29 Aug 2003 13:43:55 +0000

The “crack” is basically … well, fun. Drink-fuelled, loud, boisterous, but good fun.

It used always be spelt “crack” but in the last ten years or so, there’s been a tendency to hibernicize the spelling – “craic”.

When the crack is especially good, you’d say “Ah, the crack was ninety.” I have no idea where this phrase comes from. I’ve just enjoyed using it in front of people. Sometimes.

By: SvenByGolly

SvenByGolly — Fri, 29 Aug 2003 12:34:56 +0000

Could you please tell us what the phrase “…and the crack is good” means? I’m pretty confident ol’ Van isn’t interrupting his meditation on the beauties of nature and friends with a side trip to his pusher, but I can’t make out what he’s really trying to say. Thanks. (By the way, I’ve never heard this cover version, so I don’t know if that phrase made the transition from “Avalon” to “No Prima Donna”).