Sharing short Irish blessings and toasts is one of the simplest and most memorable ways
to express our Irish sides! A well-spoken (or written) word can lift the
spirit and tone of any important occasion.
Here you will find fun, memorable and ... short Irish blessings and toasts such as:
Ready for more? Here we go!
It should be no surprise that toasts and short Irish blessings are popular, both on the Emerald Isle and around the world.
In a culture that loves its drink, and believes deeply in the power of the spoken word, you will find a toast for just about everything.
You can find toasts for shaving in the morning
May your hair never fall out and may your beard be ever bushy
toasts for rolling out of bed
May the floor be toasty and your toasty floory
- huh?
and even toasts to toast a toast
May your toasts be funny and your mug be frothy
Experts have studied Irish blessings and toasts over the years, and they have all come to two conclusions: 1) the Irish are always thirsty and 2) they are rarely at a loss for words!
Let’s take a look at a few toasts and short Irish blessings for some special Irish occasions.
Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!
The toast above means “Happy St. Patrick’s Day”, and it is dished up along with the traditional corned beef and cabbage (and plenty of beer).
May there be prettier legs under your table table before the new crop is up
Being a bachelor in Ireland is considered bad luck, so this toast is for those bachelors who are hoping to end up hitched or hooked up before the next celebration. You may need the luck of the Irish, but it could happen!
If you’re enough lucky to be Irish...You’re lucky enough!
May you have food and rainment
A soft pillow for your head
May you be many years in heaven
Before the devil knows your dead!
“May your troubles be less and your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness come through your door.”
We love this blessing for weddings and other special occasions. Click here for many more ideas on Irish wedding toasts.
A bird with one wing can't fly
As depressing as this toast may sound at first, it's actually an example of Irish wit and double meaning; use it to encourage your companions to have a second drink!
Now, let's explore short Irish blessings for specific occasions. Each section offers one blessing, and a link to many more.
May flowers always line your path,
And sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you,
Every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you,
In a sky that's always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart,
Each day your whole life through.
May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.
May your heart be as light as a song.
May each day bring you bright, happy hours,
That stay with you all the year long.
Click the image to visit our article on Irish birthday blessings for many more examples - Breithlá Sona!
“The light of the Christmas star to you,
The warmth of 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.”
For much more, tap the image to check out our page on Irish Christmas Blessings!
Or just wish everybody you meet a Happy Christmas - Nollaig Shona Duit!
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May you have – walls for the wind,
A roof for the rain,
And drinks beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you
And those you love near you.
And all that your hearts may desire."
Don't look now – you’re expressing your Irish side! For many more examples of Irish wedding blessings, visit our article here.
May all the blessing of our Lord touch your life today
May He send His little angels
to protect you on your way
Such a wee little fit,
sent from above
Someone so precious
to cherish and love
If this leaves you wanting more, never fear!
You will find many, many more examples in our article on Irish Baby Blessings!
It is probably obvious - at Irish Expressions, we love Irish wit and wisdom! Knowing the perfect Irish 'thing to say' on any occasion gives us a deeper sense of connection with Ireland, wherever in the world we happen to be!
To help you build your own personal Irish vocabulary, we have over the years created many downloadable, share-able Irish games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, and much, much more.
Want them right now? Keep reading to learn about "Your Irish Expressions Playbook."
Short Irish blessings and toasts are an essential part of Irish culture and heritage. Share them during special occasions, to celebrate Irish culture and express your personal Irish side!
For more information of this type, you may want to pay a visit to our main section on Irish Sayings here!
Until then ...
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
Congratulations on learning more about the Emerald Isle and discovering what we like to call your "Irish Side." You may be thinking "I'd love to actually VISIT Ireland but that's really not in the cards right now. What am I supposed to do with the stuff I just learned?"
Well never fear! Since 2009 we have collected all of the best printable, shareable resources we could find, to help you put your new knowledge of Ireland to good use. We've put them all together in a single download we call "Your Irish Expressions Playbook," which contains over 50 pages of games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, travel guides and much, much more.
Purchase them ALL for one small price, print as many copies as you like and share them with your friends - with no limitations! But order soon - we are already adding to the Playbook for future editions and this price will not last long.
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