75 Irish Blessings in 9 Categories
Frauke Geuking
(Senior Editor)
Irish blessings give us positive energy, strength, wisdom, and motivation. These wise and positive messages are suitable for various occasions. We have collected 75 Irish and Old Irish blessings here for you in nine different categories.
These days you will often encounter Irish blessings on wedding cards, greetings cards and on gravestones and funeral cards. They are also often used as poems, prayers, or even songs.
Irish Blessings for Strength and Motivation
Irish Blessings for Strength and Motivation
The Irish blessings in this first section are traditional, especially motivational, and will give you strength. Read through them and let them motivate you or give them to a loved one along the way.
- May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours! - May joy and peace surround you,
Contentment latch your door,
And happiness be with you now,
And bless you evermore. - May your home be filled with laughter
May your pockets be filled with gold
And may you have all the happiness
Your Irish heart can hold. - May luck be a friend to ye,
And be with ye in all yer days,
And may trouble be to ye,
A stranger, always. - May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire. - May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you. - Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad. - Here’s to a fellow who smiles
When life runs along like a song.
And here’s to the lad who can smile
When everything goes dead wrong.
Did you know?
An (Irish) blessing can help you go through life more positively. By focusing on positive things while being blessed, your subconscious mind detaches from negative thoughts.
Irish Blessing Quotes, Toasts and Sayings
Irish Blessing Quotes and Sayings
The next section holds Irish blessings for everyday life. Many of them are more than just good blessings; they are can be understood as guides or pieces of wisdom for life.
You can use the blessings not just in your everyday life, but also for celebrations. For example, you can use them for a toast on New Year’s Eve.
- My Friends are the best friends
Loyal, willing and able.
Now let’s get to drinking!
All glasses off the table! - May the roof above us never fall in.
And may the friends gathered below it never fall out. - May your troubles be less and your blessings be more,
And nothing but happiness come through your door. - May the blessings of each day be the blessings you need the most.
May the enemies of Ireland never meet a friend. - Remember that there are a hundred roads to run to destruction, but only one road to heaven.
- The best way to keep loyalty in a man’s heart is to keep money in his purse.
- When we drink, we get drunk.
When we get drunk, we fall asleep.
When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.
When we commit no sin, we go to heaven.
So, let’s all get drunk, and go to heaven! - Happiness being a dessert so sweet,
May life give you more than you can ever eat. - There are only two kinds of people in the world: the Irish,
And those who wish they were. - May your feet never sweat,
your neighbor gives you ne’re a treat.
When flowers bloom, I hope you’ll not sneeze,
and may you always have someone to squeeze! - Here’s health and prosperity,
To you and all your posterity,
And them that doesn’t drink with sincerity,
That they be damned for all eternity. - Ireland, it’s the one place on earth
That heaven has kissed
With melody, mirth,
And meadow and mist. - May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you. - For the test of the heart is trouble
And it always comes with years.
And the smile that is worth the praises of earth
Is the smile that shines through the tears. - May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven half an hour
Before the devil knows you’re dead.
Irish Blessings and Texts for Funerals
Prayers and Texts for Funerals
Irish blessings also deal with the topic of death. Therefore, you can write them on a mourning card to express your condolences. Sometimes in such cases it is easier to make use of existing texts than to try to find the right words yourself.
- Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
- Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear.
- The grief of our loss may be with us for a long time, but the joy of our memories will stay forever.
- May joy and peace surround you, contentment latch your door. And happiness be with you now and bless you evermore.
- May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you. - Death leaves a heartache
no one can heal;
Love leaves a memory
no one can steal.
You can find even more sayings for a condolence message here.
Irish Blessings for Christmas
Irish Blessings for Christmas
Some Irish blessings are especially suitable at Christmas time. We have collected a few heartwarming blessings in this section.
- May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door, and may happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas.
- May the Blessings of Christmas be with you,
May the Christ Child light your way,
May God’s holy angels guide you,
And keep you safe each day. - The light of the Christmas star to you
The warmth of a home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and
God’s peace to you. - May the songs of the season rise to greet you.
May the winter wind be always at your back.
May the frost shimmer soft upon your fields.
And, until we meet again,
May the love of God shine warm upon your home. - May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night and the road downhill all the way to your door!
Irish Blessings for Different Stages of Life
Below we have gathered many Irish blessings that are suitable as congratulations for big life events.
For Birth and Baptism
For Birth and Christening
If you are looking for a blessing to give to a child right at birth, you’ll find it in this section. An Irish blessing can also be used as a baptism wish.
- May you have:
A world of wishes at your command.
God and his angels close to hand.
Friends and family their love impart,
and Irish blessings in your heart! - Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.
- May you have a sunbeam to warm you
Good luck to charm you
An angel to protect you
Laughter to cheer you
And faithful friends near you. - May God grant you many years to live
For sure He must be knowing
The earth has angels all too few
And Heaven is overflowing. - Lucky stars above you
Sunshine on your way
Many friends to love you
Joy in work and play
Laughter to outweigh each care
In your heart a song
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long.
Irish Birthday Blessings
For Your Birthday: Beautiful Irish Blessings
You can also use Irish blessings as birthday wishes. Who wouldn’t be happy to hear an encouraging saying on his birthday? Below you will find Irish blessings that work great on a birthday card.
- May God grant you many years to live,
For sure He must be knowing
The earth has angels all too few
And heaven is overflowing. - May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live. - May you have a long life, a wet mouth and may you be buried in Ireland.
- May you have rye bread to do you good,
Wheaten bread to sweeten your blood,
Barley bread to do you no harm
And oatmeal bread to strengthen your arm. - May you grow old in the face
Be treasured and cared for with grace. - May friendship, like wine, improve as time advances. And may we always have old wine, old friends, and young cares.
- May you live to be a hundred years,
With one extra year to repent! - May God give you for every storm, a rainbow. For ever tear, a smile. For every care, a promise. And a blessing in each trial. For every problem life may send, may he send a faithful friend. For every sigh, a sweet song. And an answer for every prayer. Happy birthday!
- May you walk tall through the sunshine, may you never want for more. May worry never be your lifeline may the Irish angels rest their wings on your door. Happy birthday, my friend.
- May the winds of fortune sail you,
May you sail a gentle sea.
May it always be the other guy
who says, "this drink’s on me."
If you’re looking for more happy birthday wishes, check out this article.
Irish Blessings and Prayers
Traditional Irish Blessings and Prayers
Irish blessings can be used to express congratulations on Christian celebrations such as a first communion or confirmation. Many of the wishes in the next list relate to the work of God.
- May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow.
May the soft winds freshen your spirit.
May the sunshine brighten your heart
May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you.
And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love. - May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
- Like the goodness of the five loaves and two fishes,
Which God divided among the five thousand men,
May the blessing of the King who so divided
Be upon our share of this common meal. - May the luck of the Irish possess you.
May the devil fly off with your worries.
May God bless you forever and ever. - May the grace of God’s protection
And His great love abide
Within your home-within the hearts
Of all who dwell inside. - May those who love us love us.
And those that don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we’ll know them by their limping. - May you have:
A world of wishes at your command.
God and his angels close to hand.
Friends and family their love impart,
And Irish blessings in your heart. - May the friendships you make,
Be those which endure,
And all of your grey clouds
Be small ones for sure.
And trusting in Him
To Whom we all pray,
May a song fill your heart,
Every step of the way. - For this home and all therein be blessed with God’s love.
- May their soul be on God’s right hand.
Irish Wedding Blessings
Irish Wedding Blessings
The following Irish blessings can be written in a greetings card for a wedding.
- By the power that Christ brought from heaven, mayst thou love me.
As the sun follows its course, mayst thou follow me.
As light to the eye,
as bread to the hungry,
as joy to the heart,
may thy presence be with me,
oh one that I love,
’til death comes to part us asunder. - May you have love that never ends,
lots of money, and lots of friends.
Health be yours, whatever you do,
and may God send many blessings to you! - May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet, enough trials to keep you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to keep you happy, enough failure to keep you humble, enough success to keep you eager, enough friends to give you comfort, enough faith and courage in yourself to banish sadness, enough wealth to meet your needs and one thing more; Enough determination to make each day a more wonderful day than the one before.
- May joy and peace surround you both, contentment latch your door, and happiness be with you now, and God bless you evermore. May you live your life with trust, and nurture lifelong affection, May your lifelong dreams come true for you, move ever that direction.
- May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness.
From this day forward. - May your joys be as bright as the morning, and your sorrows merely be shadows that fade in the sunlight of love.
Funny Irish Blessings and Sayings
Funny Irish Blessings and Sayings
The following Irish blessings will make you smile. Some of them are more of a joke than a serious blessing.
- Here’s to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one.
A pretty girl and an honest one.
A cold beer – and another one! - Don’t let the door hit you on the arse on the way out!
- May your coffee be strong and your Monday be short.
- If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, then you’re lucky enough.
- He who keeps his tongue keeps his friends.
- You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.
- This isn’t a hangover – it’s the Irish flu.
- May your troubles be as few and as far apart as my grandmother’s teeth.
- As you slide down the bannister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.
- You must take the small potato with the big potato.
If you’re looking for more funny quotes, check out this article.
Worth knowing about Irish blessings
Things to Know about Irish Blessings
Irish blessings are centuries-old pieces of wisdom and guidance. This means that they can sometimes sound old-fashioned. Nevertheless, Irish blessings are timeless and still relate well to life today.
These wise blessings can still give strength, courage, comfort, make you think and spread good wishes and positivity.
That is why they are used for many different occasions. For example, some Irish blessings can be used to spread good wishes for everyday life.
Meanwhile, some other Irish blessings and pieces of wisdom are perfect for writing in greetings cards for significant life events such as weddings, births, confirmation, first communion, baptisms or for funerals. They also find a place in religious songs or rituals.
In your own life, you could also use them as a guide or motto.
Since the Irish blessings were mostly passed down orally, their origins are not always clear. But what is clear is that they have their roots in Celtic spirituality. However, the origin of the blessings will not necessarily always be in Ireland.
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