What’s the Craic: Embracing the Emerald Isles

A blog by Freemavens celebrating the diverse music, tantalising food, enchanting folklore, and colourful slang cherished by our Irish colleagues. Welcome to a world where the craic is mighty, the tunes are deadly, and the stories are pure gas.

Andrew O’Reilly – Insights Analyst

Andrew was born and raised in the Republic of Ireland. He moved to London in 2019 but goes home often to visit family and friends. His family often send him care packages of his favourite Irish goods, because you really can’t beat the stuff from home. 

Where do you call home in Ireland and what makes it special? What makes you proud to be Irish?  

Tralee Co. Kerry in the Southwest of Ireland is home for me. The scenery is some of the best in the world weather depending of course. If you do not believe me, go, see for yourself. Just google “The ring of Kerry” So many lakes, mountains, and beaches in such close proximity we are spoilt for choice. As John B. Keane once said. “there are only two real kingdoms, The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Kerry”.

Our history and the people in general especially when it comes to sports, at the end of the day we’re never going to win a football tournament let alone qualify for one but when we do, we are just happy to be there. You could be anywhere in the world and the Irish will always look out for one another.

Of all the Irish traditions, which is your favourite, and why?

Trad sessions. There’s nothing better than going to a pub on a miserable night, sitting in front of a fire with a pint of Guinness listening to traditional Irish music. It’s such a unique experience. Locals will arrive to the pub over the course of an evening with their own instruments and just start playing together.        

The Irish are known for their Traditional music, do you have a favourite tune? 

Anything but BONO and U2.

Where to begin, you have The Dubliners, anything Luke Kell, The Wolfe Tones, The Chieftains, Sinead O Connor, The Cranberries . One of my personal favourites is The Streets of New York by The Wolfe Tones but also can’t forget the Rocky Road to Dublin, Raglan Road, The town I loved so well and Grace.

What’s your favourite slang term or saying, what does it meaning? 

Ah there’s too many. I think “craic” is one of the better ones as it can be used as that’s great craic which means that great fun or what’s the craic meaning any news. Using ‘yolk’ to describe things e.g. where’s the yolk for the tv. ‘Eejit’, which basically means fool, is another staple. ‘I will yea’ isn’t what it seems. If you were to ask someone to do something and they respond ‘I will yea’ it’s more than likely they won’t do it.

Imagining you’re hosting friends back home, which Irish meal or snack would you introduce them to, and why?

It has to be a homemade stew with some Irish soda bread with Kerry Gold butter.

Ireland has some of the best seafood chowder so if you ever find yourself in Ireland, I recommend a seafood chowder. If it were only for a light snack it would have to be a cheese and onion Tayto sandwich with a cuppa.

Ireland has a rich culture of folklore stories, which one holds a special place in your heart?

The Salmon of Knowledge is a legendary creature from Irish mythology. According to the tale, there was a sacred salmon that lived in the river Boyne, known as the Salmon of Knowledge. It possessed the wisdom of the world, gained from eating nine magical hazelnuts that fell into the river from the sacred trees. It was said that whoever consumed the salmon would gain all the knowledge of the world. 

In one famous story, the young hero Fionn mac Cumhaill catches and accidentally tastes the salmon while cooking it for his master. As a result, he gains great wisdom and becomes a renowned leader in Irish mythology. The story of the Salmon of Knowledge is often used to symbolize the acquisition of wisdom through experience and learning.

Aimee Dowds Roddy – Marketing Manager

Aimee was born and raised in Northern Ireland. She left Ireland at the wee age of 19 and has been here since. Her family are constantly pestering her to move home but for now, she calls London home. 

Where do you call home in Ireland and what makes it special? What makes you proud to be Irish?  

I’m from the mighty Belfast – and not out in the sticks. For those in the know, I’m from the Ormeau Road and it’s about as central as you could be. I think what makes Belfast special is the people. The craic really is different at home. Everyone loves a joke, a prank or a game but they’d give you the shirt off their back all the same. 

The Irish have a profound ability to face hardship head on and harness our emotions into crafting an immortalised story, song or art. I reckon this is where the saying “the Irish never forget” comes from. At our core, we are creative people, it’s how we’ve kept our famous Irish spirit lit for all these years – and for many more years to come. 

Of all the Irish traditions, which is your favourite, and why?

We are well known for telling a good story, and there’s good reason for it. I never really realised how engrained storytelling was in our culture until I started going to weddings, funerals and other milestone events outside of Ireland. There’s nothing better than an entire room captivated by one person’s tale. I’m lucky enough to know many great story tellers, but I’m still working on the craft myself.  

The Irish are known for their Traditional music, do you have a favourite tune?

I’m going to go for a classic and say John Ryan’s Polka – you might recognise it from the scene in the Titanic when Rose and Jack are drinking, smoking and dancing in steerage. It’s a bop. I’m also a fan of more modern music like Kneecap, The Corrs, The Cranberries, The Dubliners, Westlife, Van Morrison and Sinéad O’Connor. 

What’s your favourite slang term or saying, and its meaning?

There’s so many to pick from! ‘Yeo’ is a classic, often said with the ‘o’ exaggerated. It’s used to express excitement; you’re bound to hear it on any night out in Belfast. One of my absolute favourites is ‘melter’, used to describe someone getting on your nerves but can also be used in annoying situations, ‘that meeting melted me’. Another gem my mum always says is ‘do you think I came up the river Lagan in a bubble?’. Which basically means, do you think I’m stupid? It’s so Belfast and a classic. 

Imagining you’re hosting friends back home, which Irish meal or snack would you introduce them to, and why?

Tayto! No question. They are an elite crisp in a league of their own. And every single flavour bangs. In terms of an actual meal, you can’t go wrong with Irish stew or chowder. Irish stew from St. George’s Market or chowder from somewhere coastal like Donegal – there’s nothing better. There is another staple in Belfast but it’s not Irish – Boojum. It’s a fast-food Mexican restaurant but we’ve really adopted it into our culture. It’s the first place I take anyone visiting. 

Ireland has a rich culture of folklore stories, which one holds a special place in your heart?

In Irish folklore, the Púca is a mischievous and sometimes malevolent fairy creature that is both feared and respected. The Púca can be found in rural areas of Ireland, particularly in regions with strong Celtic roots. It is known for its shapeshifting abilities, often appearing in various forms such as a horse, goat, hare, cat, or even a human.

The nature of the Púca can vary widely depending on the story or region. In some tales, it is portrayed as a helpful spirit that may assist farmers with their work or guide lost travellers safely home. However, in other stories, the Púca is depicted as a trickster or even a sinister entity that enjoys causing chaos and confusion. I think there’s a little Púca in all of us.