The Craic was Mighty…And Other Things You Should Know

I just spent ten days on holiday in Ireland, and we had great craic visiting my hometown (Sligo) and my Mom’s hometown (Moate). I’m home now and though I’m a bit knackered, there’s not a bother on me.

Not sure what that means? That’s okay. Below is my glossary for all terms Irish that should help you understand my next few posts. I’ll be telling stories from my vacation in Ireland, but the humor will be lost if I have to keep translating.

Craic (pronounced ‘crack,’ but not to be confused with the drug): Fun / good times
What’s the craic? / How’s the craic? / Well, any craic?: What’s new? / What’s going on? You are not being asked if you have any drugs, or if said drugs are good quality.
It was great craic: We had a great time.
The craic was mighty: We had a great time.

Sláinte: Cheers! [Literally: To your health!]

Lift: A car ride. When saying someone picked you up, say, “I got a lift with Joe,” not “I got a ride with Joe.” If you say you got a ride with Joe, you’re talking about something completely different, and you’d make your mother blush.

Howiya?: How are you?
Howiya fixed?: How are you?
Howiya keeping?: How are you?

I’m grand / Not a bother on me / Not a loss on me / I’m not too bad, thanks: I’m doing well.

Are you going on the beer tonight?: Are you going drinking tonight?

Pissed / jarred: very drunk

How’s the heads this morning?: How are you feeling after a night on the beer?
He had such a head on him this morning: He was severely hung over this morning.

A Fry: A traditional Irish breakfast made of rasher, sausage, egg, black and white pudding, fried tomato, toast, and beans. It is the best breakfast you will ever eat, but in my opinion, can be eaten at any time of the day. It’s too good to confine to breakfast time.

Biscuits: Cookies. Sometimes know as bickies.

The Bog: Where the turf is found. Turf is dried pieces of soil that is used for heating houses. Don’t ever say you want to go to the bog unless you intend to work when you get there.

21 Kisses: A tradition in Ireland where the person turning 21 gets 21 kisses from party goers of the opposite sex. I think we should bring this tradition to America, but make it 25 kisses, as my 25th birthday is in May.

Tea: I prefer Lyon’s tea, but Barry’s isn’t bad either. You drink it with milk and sugar (if you like…I like), and if you’re not eating a meal, you have a cup of tea in your hand. It’s practically a rule. If a visitor comes to your house, the first thing you do is offer them a cup of tea. Tea is also served with Irish Breakfasts.
Tea is also the name of the small meal eaten in the evening since dinner is usually eaten around 1 or two.

You’re very bold: You’re misbehaving.

Have manners!: Behave yourself.

You didn’t catch that [a personality trait] from the wind: You inherited that trait from someone.

He was knee-high to a duck’s arse: He was short.

Oh the Lord save us!: Oh my God! / No way!

Talking never brought home the turf: You have to work hard if you want results.

They’re thick as thieves, those two: They’re really close, usually referring to a business deal or something a bid shady.

Knackers / Tinkers: Names for the travelers in Ireland that move about in caravans. If someone calls you a knacker or a tinker, he or she is insulting you.

Knackered: Exhausted (not an insult).

Eejit: Idiot.

Class: Awesome, as in “That new car is class!”

Jinnot: Technically the offspring of a mule and a donkey (I think…the explanation I got was a bit complicated), but in slang terms, it means a real jerk of a man.

Shift: to make out. If a Irishman asks you if you want a shift, do not give him the opportunity shove his tongue down your throat. Just say, “No thanks,” and walk away.

Sheepshaggers: Slang term for farmers. Never, ever shift a sheepshagger from Roscomman. Your family will never let you live it down. Ever.

I think I’ve covered everything. Tomorrow I’ll write about Frankie’s 21st birthday party: the party that lasted for nearly three days!

Sláinte!