The Irish Slang You Didn't Know You Needed (Craic Part 2)

If you caught our last post about the almighty craic, you’re probably still tossing it into conversations like a pro. But why stop there? Irish slang is full of charm, wit, and just the right dash of cheek. So here’s your next round of words to impress your mates—or at least confuse your coworkers.

1. Grand

Meaning: Everything from “fine” to “great” depending on tone.
How to use it:

“How’s the new job?”
“Ah sure, it’s grand.”

It’s the Swiss Army knife of Irish responses. Vaguely positive. Often used to end conversations quickly.

2. Eejit

Meaning: Idiot, but said with love (usually).
How to use it:

“He locked himself out again? The eejit!”

Perfect for when someone does something daft but you still want to grab a pint with them.

3. Giving out

Meaning: Complaining, ranting.
How to use it:

“She was giving out something fierce about the price of rashers.”

No actual giving involved—just someone having a go.

4. Yoke

Meaning: Thing, object, gadget, or even a person.
How to use it:

“Pass me that yoke, would ya?”

When the name for something escapes you... or when you never knew it in the first place.

5. Acting the maggot

Meaning: Messing around, being a nuisance.
How to use it:

“Stop acting the maggot and do your homework.”

Great for parents, teachers, and anyone dealing with nonsense.

6. Deadly

Meaning: Amazing, cool, excellent.
How to use it:

“That trad session last night was deadly!”

Yes, it sounds dangerous. Yes, it means the exact opposite.

Want to Speak Like a Local?

Next time you're browsing our Irish sweaters or sipping Barry’s Tea, try dropping a few of these gems into your chat. You’ll sound like you’ve just stepped out of a pub in Galway.

And remember—when in doubt, it’s all just part of the craic.

Irish Slang - Craic

Craic: The Quintessential Irish Word You Need to Know

If you’ve ever set foot in Ireland — or chatted with an Irish friend — chances are you’ve heard the word “craic” thrown around. But what exactly is “craic,” and why does it seem to be the lifeblood of every Irish gathering? In fact, a lovely Irish play titled “The Craic” was recently performed at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

Let’s dive in.

What Is Craic?

Craic (pronounced “crack”) is one of the most beloved and versatile words in the Irish lexicon. It means fun, good times, enjoyable conversation, or general merriment. But really, it’s more than that — craic is a feeling, a vibe, a shared moment of good energy.

Some common uses:

• “What’s the craic?” = What’s up? / Any news?

• “The craic was mighty!” = It was an absolute blast.

• “No craic at all.” = It was dead boring.

It can describe a night out, a good story, a funny person, or just that magical spark when people come together and something clicks.

Where Did It Come From?

Interestingly, “craic” is actually a reclaimed word — it originally came from the English word “crack” (meaning news or gossip) and was “Gaelicized” in Ireland to give it a new identity and a new spelling.

Craic in Action

Spend an evening in an Irish pub, and you’ll see the craic in full swing — music playing, laughter rising, pints clinking, and stories flying. It’s not about fancy surroundings or big budgets. It’s about connection, humor, and warmth.

Why You Should Love It

In a world that often prizes hustle over heart, the Irish remind us that a life full of good craic is a life well lived. So go out, share a laugh, tell a story, and keep the craic alive — wherever you are.

Slán go fóill (goodbye for now), and may the craic be ever in your favor!

Lime-Glazed Sugar Cookies and Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays! After a lovely most-of-December, polar vortex-like temps are upon us.  Paul is working and the store is open right up until Christmas, but the rest of us are staying in until temps climb to more respectable levels. Fortunately, we have a lot of crafts and projects to keep us busy. Last year we made cookies and brought them out to all of the people working in Cedarburg on the 24th. The kids made me promise that we would do it again this year. So, we are working on cookies and dipped pretzels for our cookie bags.

Baking with the kids these days is so much less messy than it used to be. Which really brings home the fact that they are growing up. I was watching them glaze cookies yesterday and couldn’t believe how well they did it and how little mess was made.  Honestly, it was bittersweet, no pun intended. These days I enjoy doing more activities with them without it turning quickly into inattention, followed by major cleanup, executed by me. But their competence and independence also signals the end of an era.

I usually have little patience for the overly sentimental, but I guess I’m not immune. The growth of ones children puts the passage of time into sharp relief like nothing else. There is also a whole new world of fun, interesting conversations, complex personalities and a web of inter-family relationships developing. A lot to love and celebrate. 

Finding a cookie that we can all get behind is definitely something to celebrate. Sugar cookies with lime glaze. These little guys are sweet and tart and Christmasy with a little sophistication. But most importantly, we all love them! They are also simple. So simple! I like to make all of my cookie dough in the food processor. I find that it’s so much easier to dump everything in and let the processor mix it for you. It also eliminates the need to soften butter and therefore, to plan ahead.

I don’t refrigerate the dough before rolling out. I hate trying to roll out rock hard dough. With these, I find that if the butter is not too soft, the dough stays cool enough to roll out and cut out right after processing. No waiting! No listening to little people complain about having to wait!  I take the cut out cookies, put them on a cookie sheet and freeze for 10 minutes before slipping into the oven. It could not be easier. Once we roll and re-roll the dough a few times, I shape the remaining dough into a log and keep it in the freezer. They make great cut-and-bake cookies. 

Sugar Cookies with Lime Glaze 

For the Sugar Cookies 

1 cup sugar

2 ½ cups flour

¼ tsp baking powder 

½ tsp salt

1 ½ sticks butter

1 egg 

2 tsp vanilla extract

For the Lime Glaze 

Juice and zest of 1-2 limes (Depending on size)

1-2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F

Place sugar in food processor and process a few seconds

Add flour, salt, baking powder and process about 15 seconds

Add butter, egg and vanilla and process until sandy in texture

Roll out onto a floured surface or piece of parchment and knead until the dough forms a ball

Roll out into a sheet and cut out into desired shapes

Place on baking sheet and freeze for 10 minutes 

Bake for 15 minutes until the top and edges just begin to turn light brown. 

Remove from oven and cool completely on rack.

Glaze cooled cookies and allow glaze to set before eating. 

We’ve had many a tantrum over which cookies to make and who gets to decide. So, finding that everyone loves these is a gift.  I think we should make them our Barry-family Christmas Cookie. We have so much more than cookies to be grateful for this year. We are especially grateful for Cedarburg and Greater Milwaukee, and Long Grove and Greater Chicago for supporting our family business. We are so incredibly grateful for our health, our family and all of our friends who are like family.  Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year! xoxo