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Craic Baby: Dispatches from a Rising Language
What do we talk about when we talk about Irish? When we talk about saving or supporting a language do we mean the musical combination of syllables, or something more profound? How do new words enter a language, and what is the relationship between that strange dialect called Hiberno-English and its parent language? Craic Baby picks up exactly where Motherfoclóir left off and explores the very new and very old parts of the Irish language from a personal perspective. While Motherfocloir was steeped in memory and a father-son relationship, Craic Baby hinges on the beginnings of a father-daughter relationship, and how watching a child learn to communicate changes how you think about language.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
49 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Darach Ó Séaghdha
2 books35 followersDarach O'Séaghdha is the author of popular twitter account @theirishfor whose followers include Dara O'Briain, Ed Byrne, Marian Keyes, Colm Toibin, and Gerry Adams.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 25, 2025
Went to irish language bookstore in Dublin and got this off the shelf - was contemplating getting a baby book as well. The workers were speaking irish to each other and listening to irish radio. Cool!
This book is essentially a blog about postcolonial language revitalization in the context of geopolitical (brexit) and technological developments (how do you add new words to a “dying” language, deciding between English loanwords and “translations”? I like how he rejects the idea that there is an authority beyond popular use that can make these decisions). And the tone is - written by a Good Dad, with lots of liberal dad opinions and dad jokes. INCREDIBLE!!! the chapters are kinda random - there’s one on irish gamer lingo - but generally interesting and the book is also quickly but movingly anchored by the authors personal story of raising a daughter w Down syndrome, considering what’s possible around raising her bilingually. There’s a remarkable allusion to battle hymn of the tiger mom LOL - sending ur kid to irish language school is more about being a yuppie than about preserving Irish peasant culture - and this rly meaningful meditation on authenticity as a contradiction - longing for authenticity means that you disregard what is really around you
The topic seems like it’d be super specific but I feel like anyone who grows up around English as a hegemonic language - ie anyone in the WORLD - will resonate. The story of words is the story of power!!! He cites this short story “uncleftish beholding” by poul Anderson which is basically an exercise where the author explains atomic theory without any Greek/Latin based words. Basically you can see how science develops from rooted in everyday experience of the natural world (local languages) to scientific revolution (classical languages) to dominated by the US and its interests (American English). Cool!!!
This was a rly random and short trip so I didn’t expect to be so into the vibe of Ireland as “white postcolonial subjects” :O
update - i'm rereading my old goodreads reviews and corrected "gaelic" to "irish" this is the influence of kneecap
This book is essentially a blog about postcolonial language revitalization in the context of geopolitical (brexit) and technological developments (how do you add new words to a “dying” language, deciding between English loanwords and “translations”? I like how he rejects the idea that there is an authority beyond popular use that can make these decisions). And the tone is - written by a Good Dad, with lots of liberal dad opinions and dad jokes. INCREDIBLE!!! the chapters are kinda random - there’s one on irish gamer lingo - but generally interesting and the book is also quickly but movingly anchored by the authors personal story of raising a daughter w Down syndrome, considering what’s possible around raising her bilingually. There’s a remarkable allusion to battle hymn of the tiger mom LOL - sending ur kid to irish language school is more about being a yuppie than about preserving Irish peasant culture - and this rly meaningful meditation on authenticity as a contradiction - longing for authenticity means that you disregard what is really around you
The topic seems like it’d be super specific but I feel like anyone who grows up around English as a hegemonic language - ie anyone in the WORLD - will resonate. The story of words is the story of power!!! He cites this short story “uncleftish beholding” by poul Anderson which is basically an exercise where the author explains atomic theory without any Greek/Latin based words. Basically you can see how science develops from rooted in everyday experience of the natural world (local languages) to scientific revolution (classical languages) to dominated by the US and its interests (American English). Cool!!!
This was a rly random and short trip so I didn’t expect to be so into the vibe of Ireland as “white postcolonial subjects” :O
update - i'm rereading my old goodreads reviews and corrected "gaelic" to "irish" this is the influence of kneecap
April 22, 2019
Oh, look, another book from Darach Ó Séaghdha about the Irish language, I thought naively. That will be nice way to avoid spoilers before I can watch Game of Thrones this evening. I’m sure I’ll discover a few new words (I did), find out some interesting developments (I did), and learn a bit more about we think about language and what’s “normal” (I did). There’s no way I’ll end up crying before midday (I did).
February 5, 2019
Leabhar an-shuimiúl. Maoithneach in áiteanna freisin. Thaitin sé go mór liom. Go háirithe an méid a scríobh sé faoi Lasairíona. Bhí na píosaí sin ionraic agus lán le grá. Molaim do gach duine an leabhar seo a léamh.
February 19, 2024
I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more if I knew Irish; some chapters were basically lists of Irish words and expressions that told me nothing. However, I really enjoyed the linguistic reflections, especially the fragment about machine translation.
November 10, 2020
A fairly disappointing sequel that feels like it was hastily slapped together in order to meet a publisher deadline.
Clocking in at 145 pages with far less interesting Irish content, my impression of the book from halfway through was that this was 3 or 4 different book drafts that were rushed into one book.
There's nothing wrong with focusing on the concepts of language as opposed to interesting vocabulary and etymology, but I felt like the core subject matter of this book wasn't Irish language so much as it was a chance for the author to tell people about his views on fatherhood and politics.
Clocking in at 145 pages with far less interesting Irish content, my impression of the book from halfway through was that this was 3 or 4 different book drafts that were rushed into one book.
There's nothing wrong with focusing on the concepts of language as opposed to interesting vocabulary and etymology, but I felt like the core subject matter of this book wasn't Irish language so much as it was a chance for the author to tell people about his views on fatherhood and politics.
December 30, 2018
I was delighted to see this in my local Easons just a few days ago and wasted no time in getting stuck in! This book picks up exactly where the fantastic Motherfocloir leaves off, diving back into unique and unusual facts about Irish and thinking about what our use of these words reveals about us. This is a more deeply personal book than the first, with the author looking at how his young daughter begins to learn language and imagining her future.
If you loved Motherfocloir, you won't be disappointed with this - I am already waiting for the next instalment!
If you loved Motherfocloir, you won't be disappointed with this - I am already waiting for the next instalment!
February 14, 2019
Not just about the language, it alternately made me laugh, made me think, and choked me up.
March 4, 2019
Bhaineas taitneamh as Craic Baby. Ní raibh sé ar chaighdeán le Motherfoclóir ach obair blianta ba é Motherfoclóir; obair bliana is ea Craic Baby. Tá sé cothrom mar sin.
Bhí níos lú béime ar liostaí i gCraic Baby ná mar a bhí i Motherfoclóir ach bhí sé níos fusa é a léamh de bharr sin. Féachaim ar Chraic Baby mar bailiúchán aistí; féachaim ar Motherfoclóir mar... force of nature. B’fhéidir gur mise an fhadhb.
Glacann Craic Baby den chuid is mó le h-iníonn nua Darrach agus é ag féachaint amach ar an domhain ina timpeall. An deas an áit é? Le Trump agus Brexit i mbéalaibh daoine, tá sé deacair le rá. Ach is iontach speisíalta é an guth agus an dearcadh atá ag Darrach ach nach bhfuil an t-ádh linne go bhfuil sé chomh shásta iad a roinnt?
Bhí níos lú béime ar liostaí i gCraic Baby ná mar a bhí i Motherfoclóir ach bhí sé níos fusa é a léamh de bharr sin. Féachaim ar Chraic Baby mar bailiúchán aistí; féachaim ar Motherfoclóir mar... force of nature. B’fhéidir gur mise an fhadhb.
Glacann Craic Baby den chuid is mó le h-iníonn nua Darrach agus é ag féachaint amach ar an domhain ina timpeall. An deas an áit é? Le Trump agus Brexit i mbéalaibh daoine, tá sé deacair le rá. Ach is iontach speisíalta é an guth agus an dearcadh atá ag Darrach ach nach bhfuil an t-ádh linne go bhfuil sé chomh shásta iad a roinnt?
September 25, 2018
Darach describes his cracking Motherfoclóir podcast as being about ‘words, Irish, Irish words and words from Ireland’. Each one of these subsets are given plenty of exposure in this thoroughly enjoyable read, but this book is about far more than these interrelated strands.
His various references to the impending omnishambles that is Brexit are as accurate as they are humorous, but his description of a man standing on LEGO and the emotions that pour forth was a poignant end to a book that is more about fatherhood in the 21st century than it is about the cúpla focal we all have.
From one father of a young Irish daughter to another, maith thú, Darach!
His various references to the impending omnishambles that is Brexit are as accurate as they are humorous, but his description of a man standing on LEGO and the emotions that pour forth was a poignant end to a book that is more about fatherhood in the 21st century than it is about the cúpla focal we all have.
From one father of a young Irish daughter to another, maith thú, Darach!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2019
bhí leathanach 100+ an páirt san leabhair seo is BREÁ liom!!! Bhí mé ag gáire go hard
January 3, 2019
By turns engaging, amusing, and poignant. A fantastic continuation of Motherfoclóir.
October 3, 2023
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Craic Baby: Dispatches from a Rising Language
by Darach O' Séaghdha
A mash up of parenting musings with a temperature check of modern Gaeilge, this crosses 2 of my favourite topics. In a personal twist, the parenting is of a child with Down Syndrome. O'Séaghdha is an Irish writer and an Irish language activist, and this is an interrogation of how our native language, until quite recently defined as "dying", is performing in a world where tech speak and management speak is evolving among with the expanding lexicon of scientific advancement and new social norms.
Covering etymology, multilingualism, our rapidly changing education systems, diverse attitudes to the Irish language, the influence of borrow words and our own identity, he riffs on many of the elements that make up our particular Hiberno English. He practically glories in the idiosyncrasies of our syntax, the fabulous mouthfeel of the syllables and the absolute necessity to apply the fada (I remember my 10 year old logic to dispel the confusion by simply ignoring it, and the response of my múinteoir).
Spanish speakers will recognise the danger from the anos/ años situation, or in French the cheveux/chevaux slip of the tongue.
So many of my Bookstagram friends have remarked how this year in particular, Irish authors are really working for them. So many of you are seeking out works in translation in recognition of the deeper cultural lesson to be gained. I even have one or two who are expressing an interest in the Irish dialect
There might be something here to interest all of you. It's funny, it's clever, but most of all, it's really encouraging to know that our once dying cant is alive and kicking.
Bualadh bos
#bookreview #irishbookstagram #craicbaby #darachóséaghdha #linguistics #nonfiction #irishauthor #asgaelige
Craic Baby: Dispatches from a Rising Language
by Darach O' Séaghdha
A mash up of parenting musings with a temperature check of modern Gaeilge, this crosses 2 of my favourite topics. In a personal twist, the parenting is of a child with Down Syndrome. O'Séaghdha is an Irish writer and an Irish language activist, and this is an interrogation of how our native language, until quite recently defined as "dying", is performing in a world where tech speak and management speak is evolving among with the expanding lexicon of scientific advancement and new social norms.
Covering etymology, multilingualism, our rapidly changing education systems, diverse attitudes to the Irish language, the influence of borrow words and our own identity, he riffs on many of the elements that make up our particular Hiberno English. He practically glories in the idiosyncrasies of our syntax, the fabulous mouthfeel of the syllables and the absolute necessity to apply the fada (I remember my 10 year old logic to dispel the confusion by simply ignoring it, and the response of my múinteoir).
Spanish speakers will recognise the danger from the anos/ años situation, or in French the cheveux/chevaux slip of the tongue.
So many of my Bookstagram friends have remarked how this year in particular, Irish authors are really working for them. So many of you are seeking out works in translation in recognition of the deeper cultural lesson to be gained. I even have one or two who are expressing an interest in the Irish dialect
There might be something here to interest all of you. It's funny, it's clever, but most of all, it's really encouraging to know that our once dying cant is alive and kicking.
Bualadh bos
#bookreview #irishbookstagram #craicbaby #darachóséaghdha #linguistics #nonfiction #irishauthor #asgaelige
August 2, 2024
Enjoyable read by Ó Séaghdha and am actively recommending to friends buttttt the structure could’ve done with more editing. I think reading Motherfoclóir first would be a wise step as this seems to be a sequel to exploring Irish language and its link to family and our outlook on life, however this theme feels incomplete in this book. The beginning chapters seemed to drive this idea home, with beautiful sentiment and genuine reflection, that felt raw and true to a young Irish dad. However the kind of linguistic philosophy gradually felt more and more forced as the chapters went on, and because completely disconnected to the sections on interesting Irish vocab, to the point where it felt like one was reading a dictionary, since the sentences were so disjointed. The conclusion chapter made the first genuine hark back to the familial theme in the second half of the book, and this felt like more like a clumsy way to sandwich the book with a philosophical/reflective idea than it did a genuine conclusion to everything discussed throughout the book. Otherwise, it’s clear Ó Séaghdha has a real deep seated passion for the teanga and how it interacts with us past to present and I’ll definitely be checking out the Motherfoclóir podcast ! Overall, an interesting read that could’ve done with a bit more brainstorming and editing before publishing.
January 8, 2023
What a disappointment.
I was initially drawn in by the author's mention of his daughter with Down Syndrome. I was eager to hear more of that relationship. It was that same dynamic with his dying father that made his first book so compelling. However, he ruins it by immediately launching into the same tired, repetitious tropes against his political opponents, that stain many of the pages of his first book. This time he goes even further, by accusing those who voted in favor of Brexit and Donald Trump as being White Nationalists. So much for claiming to encourage the learning Irish without the politics.
I was initially drawn in by the author's mention of his daughter with Down Syndrome. I was eager to hear more of that relationship. It was that same dynamic with his dying father that made his first book so compelling. However, he ruins it by immediately launching into the same tired, repetitious tropes against his political opponents, that stain many of the pages of his first book. This time he goes even further, by accusing those who voted in favor of Brexit and Donald Trump as being White Nationalists. So much for claiming to encourage the learning Irish without the politics.
September 14, 2025
As a speaker of Scottish Gaelic, and as one who is both a translator and delivers Gaelic awareness training, I found this book both entertaining and useful. A lot of the issues raised here will be very familiar to those in the Gàidhlig world.
Ó Séaghdha is a brilliant advocate for the Irish language and for minority languages and linguistic diversity in general and is also a great teller of tales, making even the most mundane subjects interesting as well as probing some very serious questions about language and parenthood, language and identity, machine translation, AI and more.
Highly recommended.
Ó Séaghdha is a brilliant advocate for the Irish language and for minority languages and linguistic diversity in general and is also a great teller of tales, making even the most mundane subjects interesting as well as probing some very serious questions about language and parenthood, language and identity, machine translation, AI and more.
Highly recommended.
November 16, 2019
Informative and touching in turns
I am trying to learn Irish, and so this book rose to the top of my recommendations. I wish I had finished Motherfócloir first, but still got some practice in sight reading the language. The historical background of many words gives insight into the language's evolution, and as translations tend to do, the way in which the subconscious mind sees the world. The personal stories leavened the book and provided well timed breaks between analyses. After getting more comfortable with Irish I'll have to re-read this.
I am trying to learn Irish, and so this book rose to the top of my recommendations. I wish I had finished Motherfócloir first, but still got some practice in sight reading the language. The historical background of many words gives insight into the language's evolution, and as translations tend to do, the way in which the subconscious mind sees the world. The personal stories leavened the book and provided well timed breaks between analyses. After getting more comfortable with Irish I'll have to re-read this.
May 6, 2020
I enjoyed this book tremendously. Darach is a fantastic writer, and I’m glad he did another book on the Irish language. I would buy one of these a year until the end of time. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that it felt short, as though there were more that were meant to be there, and what was missing was more of the heartfelt, personal writing that Darach is so good at. For whatever reason I thought his relationship with being a father was going to be more prominent throughout, but it felt more like a set of bookends to what was still a strong and interesting book.
May 26, 2025
Currently ranked #1 of list of books my boss told me to read. I thought it was a primer or even a history of the Irish language- it’s neither. It’s better!
This is the story beneath the laws and court cases and textbooks. Feels like a new friend telling you the stories of their life over a cup of tea or something.
This is the story beneath the laws and court cases and textbooks. Feels like a new friend telling you the stories of their life over a cup of tea or something.
February 21, 2019
As usual, Darach Ó Séaghdha creates an immersive story of fatherhood and the human experience through the lens of the Irish language.
February 15, 2020
I’m a big fan of these books. I love learning a little Irish reading through. The reason for one less star is because there wasn’t as much Irish vocab as the first one.
July 17, 2021
So much more than language. A personal insight into the Irish culture and SO funny.
August 10, 2022
Pretty much short essays on how language shapes culture and culture shapes language. Intermixed with a whole heap of modern (and some old) Irish vocabulary.
July 18, 2023
Would probably enjoy this more when I get further with Irish so I can see the derivations of the interesting words he discusses. But for general interest I enjoyed it.
January 11, 2025
Quite disjointed compared to the amazing Motherfocloir. Reading it admittedly 7 years after publication, a lot of references were outdated.
August 26, 2025
☘️ Go raibh maith agat as an leabhar iontach. Ba mhaith liom níos mó Gaeilge a fhoghlaim anois.
Darach Ó Séaghdha’s Craic Baby picks up where his first book Motherfoclóir left off. We learn in the introduction that Darach’s daughter Lasairíona was born with Down syndrome, shortly before the publication of this book. Darach talks about his experiences in transmitting his love of the Irish language and culture to his daughter.
Darach gives lots of information about how the Irish language is adapting to the modern world. This includes finding new terms for computer technology, video games, as well as political and social words used on the nightly Nuacht (TG4 News in Irish). There is also a section with parts of the Irish Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, with articles in Irish and their translation in English.
If you are studying Gaeilge (the Irish language) or are interested in learning more about life in modern Ireland, I recommend this book for you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Darach Ó Séaghdha’s Craic Baby picks up where his first book Motherfoclóir left off. We learn in the introduction that Darach’s daughter Lasairíona was born with Down syndrome, shortly before the publication of this book. Darach talks about his experiences in transmitting his love of the Irish language and culture to his daughter.
Darach gives lots of information about how the Irish language is adapting to the modern world. This includes finding new terms for computer technology, video games, as well as political and social words used on the nightly Nuacht (TG4 News in Irish). There is also a section with parts of the Irish Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, with articles in Irish and their translation in English.
If you are studying Gaeilge (the Irish language) or are interested in learning more about life in modern Ireland, I recommend this book for you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
July 22, 2019
When I had just begun to learn Irish a few years ago, I stumbled upon Motherfoclóir and the TheIrishFor twitter account, and fell in love. The small bits of Irish and the sense of humor with which Ó Séaghdha presents them were fun as well as informative on Twitter, and even more so in a full book form. So, naturally, I was delighted to hear of (and then read) the second book! Ó Séaghdha's style is accessible while simultaneously intellectual, and he has a very dry and unique sense of humor. He is also clearly knowledgeable and as in love with the language as I am. His work is part of a larger movement to share the love for the Irish language and is a very important part of that movement. In the second installment, Craic Baby, specifically, I enjoyed hearing more about Ó Séaghdha's new dad status and how that impacts his relationship with the language. It's not only about Irish, but also about living as an Irish dad today - a unique combo of personal memoir and essay on the things that make Irish great. If you like languages, word play, and of course, Gaeilge, this is the book for you (both this, and Motherfoclóir)! Best part? Once you've listened to the Motherfoclóir podcast, you'll hear this book in your head in Ó Séaghdha's soothing voice, and that's not a bad thing. :)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews