Blessings Toasts And Proverbs

Blessings

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there… I do not sleep.
I am the thousand winds that blow…
I am the diamond glints on snow…
I am the sunlight on ripened grain…
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you waken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of gentle birds in circling flight…
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry—
I am not there… I did not die…

Here's Céad Míle Fáilte to friend and to rover
That's a greeting that's Irish as Irish can be
It means you are welcome
A thousand times over
Wherever you come from, Whosoever you be

Go n-eírí an bóthar leat.
May the road rise with you.

'Go mbeire muid beo ar an am seo arís.'
May we be alive at this time next year.

'Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit!'
A prosperous New Year!

Irish Wedding Toasts

'Sliocht sleachta ar shliocht bhur sleachta.'
May there be a generation of children on the children of your children.

Health and long life to you, land without rent to you, a child every year to you, and death in Old Ireland.

May the roof above you never fall in,
And those gathered beneath it never fall out.

Here's to health, peace and prosperity. May the flower of love never be nipped by the frost of disappointment, nor shadow of grief fall among your family and friends.

May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to make enemies and quick to make friends. And may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.

May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.

May I see you grey and combing your grandchildren’s hair.

'Sláinte go saol agat,
Bean ar do mhian agat.
Leanbh gach blian agat,
is solas na bhflaitheas tareis antsail seo agat.'
Health for life to you,
A wife of your choice to you,
Land without rent to you,
A child every year to you,
And the light of heaven after this world for you.

Here's an Irish toast to your wedding:
May the roof over your heads be as well thatched
As those inside are well matched.

Irish Birthday Toasts

May you live to be 100 years, with one extra year to repent.

We drink to your coffin. May it be built from the wood of a hundred year old oak tree that I shall plant tomorrow.

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 the doctor never earn a pound out of you.

May the good Lord take a liking to you…
But not too soon!

May you die in bed at 95, shot by a jealous spouse.

Irish Toasts to Friends & Family

May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door.

There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
And may they always be.

May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.

To live above with the Saints we love,
Ah, that is the purest glory.
To live below with the Saints we know,
Ah, that is another story!

May the lilt of Irish laughter
lighten every load.
May the mist of Irish magic
shorten every road…
And may all your friends remember
all the favors you are owed!

Here's to the land of the shamrock so green,
Here's to each lad and his darlin Colleen,
Here's to the ones we love dearest and most.
May God bless old Ireland, that's this Irishman's toast!

I have known many,
and liked not a few,
but loved only one
and this toast is to you.

Irish Everyday Toasts

May you be in heaven a full half hour
before the devil knows your dead.

May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.

May your heart be light and happy,
May your smile be big and wide,
And may your pockets always have
a coin or two inside!

Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

May you always have a clean shirt, a clear conscience, and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint!

May the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be towards us.

May neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been,
The foresight to know where you are going,
And the insight to know when you have gone too far.

May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.

May those that 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 misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up.

May you have food and raiment, a soft pillow for your head. May you be forty years in heaven before the devil knows you’re dead.

May your mornings bring joy
and your evenings bring peace…
May your troubles grow less
as your blessings increase!

May you get all your wishes but one,
so that you will always have something to strive for!

'Lucky' Irish Toasts

May the luck of the Irish
Lead to happiest heights
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights.

Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.

If you’re enough lucky to be Irish…
You’re lucky enough!

May you have all the happiness
and luck that life can hold—
And at the end of all your rainbows
may you find a pot of gold.

May your pockets be heavy—
Your heart be light,
And may good luck pursue you
Each morning and night.

Everyday Toasts in the Irish Language

'Sláinte!'
(pronounced 'slawn-cha', meaning Health! A common toast in Ireland, the equivalent to ‘Cheers’)

'Sláinte chuig na fir, agus go mairfidh na mná go deo.'
Health to the men, and may the women live forever!

'Faol saol agat, gob fliuch, agus bás in Éirinn.'
Long life to you, a wet mouth, and death in Ireland.

Irish Proverbs: Drinking

Dá fheabhas é an t-ól is é an tart a dheireadh.
Good as drink is, it ends in thirst.

Ní ólann na mná leann ach imíonn sé lena linn.
Women do not drink liquor but it disappears when they are present.

Is milis dá ól é ach is searbh dá íoc é.
It is sweet to drink but bitter to pay for.

Nuair a bhíos an braon istigh bíonn an chiall amuigh.
When the drop is inside the sense is outside.

An rud nach leigheasann im ná uisce beatha níl aon leigheas air.
What butter or whiskey does not cure cannot be cured.

Seachain teach an tabhairne nó is bairnigh is beatha duit.
Beware of the public house or limpets will be your food.

Is túisce deoch ná scéal.
A drink precedes a story.

Irish Proverbs: Work & Idleness

Mura gcuirfidh tú san earrach ní bhainfidh tú san fhómhar.
If you do not sow in the spring, you will not reap in the autumn.

Cé gur beag díol dreoilín caithfidh sé a sholáthar.
Little as a wren needs, it must gather it.

An té a dtéann cáil na mochéirí amach dó ní miste dó codladh go méanlae.
He who gets a name for early rising can stay in bed until midday.

Is olc an chearc nach scríobann di féin.
It is a bad hen that does not scratch for itself.

Obair ó chrích obair bean tí.
Work without end is housewife's work.

Dhá thrian den obair í an chosúlacht.
Two thirds of the work is the semblance.

Is fearr lán doirn de cheird ná lán mála d’ór.
A handful of skill is better than a bagful of gold.

Ní thuirsítear fear na héadála.
One does not tire of a profitable occupation.

Is crua a cheannaíonn an droim an bolg.
The back must slave to feed the belly.

Snathán fada, táilliur falsa.
A long stitch, a lazy tailor.

Mac antsaoir ábhar an tuata.
A craftsman’s son may grow up in ignorance of his father’s skills.

Molann an obair an fear.
The work praises the man.

Irish Proverbs: Youth & Old Age

Bí go maith leis an ngarlach agus tiocfaidh sé amárach.
Be good to the child and he will come to you tomorrow.

Is cuma leis an óige cá leagann sí a cos.
Youth does not mind where it sets its foot.

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.
Praise the young and they will blossom.

Is minic a rinne bromach gioblach capall cumasach.
Many a ragged colt made a noble horse.

Bionn ceann caol ar an óige.
You cannot put an old head on the young.

Níl a fhios ag aon duine cá bhfuil fód a bháis.
Nobody knows where his sod of death is.

Irish Proverbs: Romance & Marriage
Is folamh, fuar teach gan bean.
Empty and cold is the house without a woman.

Ón lá a bpósfaidh tú beidh do chroí i do bhéal agus do lámh i do phóca.
From the day you marry your heart will be in your mouth and your hand in your pocket.

Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá ach pósadh.
The only cure for love is marriage.

Is uaigneach an níochán nach mbíonn léine ann.
It is a lonely washing that has no man's shirt in it.

Is é do mhac do mhac go bpósann sé ach is í d'iníon go bhfaighidh tú bás.
Your son is your son until he marries, but your daughter is your daughter until you die.

Irish Proverbs: Character & Honour

Drochubh, drochéan.
A bad egg, a bad bird.

Is onórai poll ná paiste.
A hole is more honourable than a patch.

Irish Proverbs: Fortune & Wealth

An beagán, go minic, a fhágas rioc sa sparán.
A little, often, leaves wrinkles in the purse.

Ní thuigeann an sách an seang.
The well-fed does not understand the lean.

Is fearr bothán biamhar ná caisleán gortach.
A cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle.

Is buaine port ná glór na n-éan,
Is buaine focal ná toice an tsaoil.
A tune is more lasting than the song of the birds,
And a word more lasting than the wealth of the world.

De réir a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin.
It takes time to build castles.

Irish Proverbs: Human Nature

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoine.
People live in one another's shelter.

Bíonn chuile dhuine lách go dtéann bó ina gharraí.
Everyone is sociable until a cow invades his garden.

An áit a bhuil do chroí is ann a thabharfas do chosa thú.
Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.

Is maith an scáthán súil charad.
A friend's eye is a good mirror.

Maireann croí éadrom i bhfad.
A light heart lives long.

Ag duine féin is fearr a fhios cá luíonn an bhróg air.
The wearer best knows where the shoe pinches.

Cuir síoda ar ghabhar agus is gabhar i gcónaí é.
Put silk on a goat and it is still a goat.

Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.
There is no fireside like your own fireside.

Irish Proverbs: Life's Ups & Downs

Is fada an bóthar nach mbíonn casadh ann.
It is a long road that has no turning.

Níl aon suáilce gan a duáilce féin.
There are no unmixed blessings in life.

Is gaire cabhair Dé ná an doras.
God's help is nearer than the door.

Mair, a chapaill, agus gheobhaidh tú féar.
Live, horse, and you will get grass.

Is ceirín do gach créacht an fhoighne.
Patience is a poultice for all wounds.

Irish Proverbs: Miscellaneous

An nì chì na big, ‘s e nì na big.
What the little ones see, the little ones do.

Cha deoch-slàint, i gun a tràghadh.
It’s no health if the glass is not emptied.

Cha bhi fios aire math an tobair gus an tràigh e.
The value of the well is not known until it goes dry.

Cha dèan ‘Tapadh leis an fhìdhlear’ am fìdhlear a phàigheadh.
A ‘thank you’ doesn’t pay the fiddler.

Cha b’e là na gaoithe là nan sgolb.
The windy day is not the day for thatch-wattles.

Bidh an t-ubhal as fheàrr air a’mheangan as àirde.
The best apple is on the highest bough.

Ge milis am fìon, tha e searbh ri dhìol.
The wine is sweet, the paying bitter.

Fear sam bith a loisgeas a mhàs, ‘s e fhèin a dh’fheumas suidhe air.
Whoever burns his backside must himself sit upon it.

Gluais faicilleach le cupan làn.
Go carefully with a full cup.

Is e ‘n t-ionnsachadh òg an t-ionnsachadh bòidheach.
The learning in youth is the pretty learning.

An làmb a bheir, ‘s i a gheibh.
The hand that gives is the hand that gets.

Chan ann leis a’chiad bhuille thuiteas a’chraobh.
It is not with the first stroke that the tree falls.

Bidh mìr a’ ghill’ èasgaidh air gach mèis.
The smart fellow’s share is on every dish.

Cha bhi fios aire math an tobair gus an tràigh e.
The value of the well is not known until it goes dry.

Chan fhiach cuirm gun a còmhradh.
A feast is no use without good talk.

Cha tuit caoran à cliabh falamh.
Peats don’t fall from empty creels.

Cha toir a’bhòidhchead goil air a’ phoit.
Beauty won’t boil the pot.

Far an taine ‘n abhainn, ‘s ann as mò a fuaim.
Where the stream is shallowest, it is noisiest.

Na toilich do mhiann gus am feuch thu do sporan.
Check your purse before you please yourself.

Is uaisle am breid na toll.
A patch is better than a hole.

Tachraidh na daoine, ach cha tachair na cnuic.
Men will meet, but the hills will not.

Dùnan math innearach, màthair na ciste-mine.
A good dungheap is mother to the meal chest.

Am feur a thig a-mach sa Mhàrt, thèid e staigh sa Ghiblean.
The grass that grows in March disappears in April.

Bàthaidh uisge teth teine.
Hot water will quench fire.

Cha robh dithis riamh a’ fadadh teine nach do las eatarra.
Two never kindled a fire but it lit between them.

Chan eil deathach an taigh na h-uiseig.
There is no smoke in a lark’s house.

Cha chinn feur air an rathad mhòr.
Grass does not grow on the high road.

Cha d’dhùin doras nach d’fhosgail doras.
No door ever closed, but another opened.

Cùm do chù ri leigeadh.
Hold back your dog till the deer falls.

Cha dèan cas làidir nach ith brù mhòr.
The strong foot will not find more than the big belly will devour.

Cha d’fhuair sùil ghionach riamh cunnradh math.
A covetous eye never got a good bargain.

Cha do bhrist fear riamh a bhogha nach d’fheum fear eile ‘n t-sreang.
No man ever broke his bow but another man found a use for the string.

Chan iongnadh boladh nan sgadan a bhith den t-soitheach sam bi iad.
No wonder the cast smells of the herrings that it holds.

Cha tèid nì sam bith san dòrn dùinte.
Nothing can get into a closed fist.

Ge milis a’ mhil, cò dh’imlicheadh o bhàrr dri i?
Honey may be sweet, but no-one licks it off a briar.

Gabhaidh an connadh fliuch, ach cha ghabh a’ chlach.
Wet fuel may kindle, but a stone never will.

Is sleamhainn leac doras an taigh mhòir.
The chief’s house has a slippery doorstep.

Ge b’e thig gun chuireadh, suidhidh e gun iarraidh.
Who comes uninvited will sit down unbidden.

Is truagh a’bhantrach a’ phiob.
Poor is the bagpipe when widowed.

Is fheàrr teine beag a gharas na teine mòr a loisgeas.
The little fire that warms is better than the big fire that burns.

Is àrd ceann an fhèidh sa chreachann.
Lofty is the deer’s head on the top of the mountain.

Is luath fear doimeig air fàire, latha fuar Earraich.
Swift is the slut’s husband over the hill, on a bleak day in Spring.

Bàthaidh toll beag long mhòr.
A little hole will sink a big ship.

Eiridh tonn air uisge balbh.
A wave will rise on quiet water.

Dèan maorach fhad ‘s a bhios an tràigh ann.
Dig your bait while the tide is out.

An nì a thig leis a’ghaoith, falbhaidh e leis an uisge.
What comes with the wind will go with the water.

Cha sgeul-rùin e ‘s fios aig triùir air.
It’s no secret if three know it.

Is ann den aon chlò an cathdath.
The tartan is all of the one stuff.

Socraichidh am pòsadh an gaol.
Marriage takes the heat out of love.

Is math an sgàthan sùil caraide.
A friend’s eye is a good looking-glass.

Breac à linne, slat à coille is fiadh à fìreach - mèirle às nach do ghabh gàidheal riamh nàire.
A fish from the river, a staff from the wood and a deer from the mountain - thefts no Gael was ever ashamed of.

Suirghe fada bhon taigh, ‘s pòsadh am bun an dorais.
Go courting afar, but marry next door.

Teine chaoran is gaol ghiullan - cha do mhair iad fada riamh.
A fire of broken peat, and a boy’s love, do not last.

Furain an t-aoigh a thig, greas an t-aoigh tha falbh.
Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.

Nì òigear leisg bodach brisg.
A lazy youth will make an active old man.

Cha dèan aon smeòrach Samhradh.
One mavis doesn’t make summer.

Cha dèan cat miotagach sealg.
A cat in mittens won’t catch mice.

Cha chòir an t-each glan a chur uige.
The willing horse should not be spurred.

Chan i bhò ‘s àirde geum as mò bainne.
The loudest cow is not the best milker.

Cha shoirbh triubhas a chur air cat.
It’s not easy to put trews on a cat.

Is ladarna gach cù air a shitig fhèin.
Every dog is bold on his own midden.

The iongantas air a chat earball a bhith air.
The cat wonders at its own tail.

Cha sgal cù roimh chnàimh.
A dog yells not when hit with a bone.

Is bean-taighe ‘n luchag air a taigh fhèin.
The mouse is mistress in her own house.

Gach madadh air a’ mhadadh choimheach.
Every dog sets upon the stranger dog.

Cha mhisd’ a’ ghealach na coin a bhith comhartaich rithe.
The moon is none the worse for the dogs’ barking at her.

Bu gheur an cù a bheireadh an t-earball uaithe.
Sharp would the dog be that could snatch his tail from him.

Cha tàinig eun glan riamh à nead a’chlamhainn.
A clean bird never came out of a kite’s nest.

Gheibh cearc an sgrìobain rudeigin, is chan fhaigh cearc a’ chrùbain dad idir.
The scraping hen will find something, but the creeping hen will find nothing.

Am fear a bhios a’ riarachadh na maraig, bidh an ceann reamhar eige fhèin.
The man that divides the pudding will have the thick end to himself.

Am fear dan dàn a’chroich, cha tèid gu bràth a bhàthadh.
Who is born to be hanged will never be drowned.

Cha dèanar sagart gun fhoghlam, ‘s cha dèan foghlam sagart.
A priest should be learned, but learning won’t make a priest.

Chan eil saoi air nach laigh leòn.
No hero is proof against injury.

Fear gu aois, is bean gu bàs.
A son is a son until he comes of age; a daughter is a daughter all her life.

Is i mhàthair bhrisg a nì ‘n nighean leisg.
The active mother makes the lazy daughter.

Seachnaidh duin’ a bhràthair, ach cha sheachain e choimh-earsnach.
A man may do without a brother, but not without a neighbour.

Is fad’ an oidhche gu latha do dh’fhear na droch mhnatha.
The night is long for the husband of a bad wife.

Saoilidh an duin’ air mhisg gum bi a h-uile duin’ air mhisg ach e fhèin.
The drunk man thinks himself the only one sober.

Is treasa dithis a’ dol thar àn àtha na fad’ o chèile.
Two should stay together when crossing a ford.

An uair a thèid na mèirlich a throd, thig daoin‘ ionraic gu ‘n cuid fhèin.
When thieves dispute, honest men will get their own.

Am fear nach dèan cur sa Mhàrt, cha bhuain e san Fhoghar.
He who will not sow in March will not reap in autumn.

Am fear nach cuir a shnaidhm, caillidh e chiad ghrèim.
The man who puts not a knot on his thread loses the first stitch.

Am fear a thèid a ghnàth a-mach le lìon, gheibh e eòin air uairibh.
The man who always goes out with his net will catch birds sometimes.

Gabhaidh fear na sròine mòire a h-uile rud ga ionnsaigh fhèin.
The man with a big nose thinks everyone talks of it.

Bidh cron duine cho mòr ri beinn mun lèir dha fhèin e.
A man’s fault will be as big as a mountain before he sees it.

Ged bheir thu bean o Ifrinn, bheir i dhachaigh thu.
Though you should take a wife from Hell, yet she will bring you home.

Is ioma nì a chailleas fear na h-imrich.
Many a thing drops from the man who often flits.

Is fheàrr teicheadh math na droch fhuireach.
Better a good retreat than a bad stand.

Is ann an ceann bliadhna a dh’innseas iasgair a thuiteamas.
It is at the year’s end that the fisher can tell his luck.

Mol an latha math mu oidhche.
Praise the good day at the close of it.

Brìgh gach cluiche gu dheireadh.
The essence of a game is at its end.

Cuimhnichibh air na daoine bho'n d'thainig sibh
Remember the people whom you come from.

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