500 Plus Irish Blessings, Proverbs, Toasts, and More!

There’s no shortage of inspiring quotes out there about luck, fortune, friendship, and paving your own way towards success. Here’s a selection of some of our favorite St. Patrick’s Day quotes from celebrities, writers, and famous figures.

Irish blessings, sayings, and proverbs are an Irish tradition that dates back in time. Storytelling and language have a very strong tradition in Ireland. The Irish have preserved their traditions and culture because of various factors, including the unique language, which existed long before English was spoken.

Second, storytelling dominated Irish entertainment before pen and paper, literacy, and television. In addition, Irish people are naturally friendly and love nothing more than a good chat!

Here is the most extensive list of Irish blessings, sayings, and proverbs you’ll find anywhere!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure and privacy policy for more information.

Irish Blessings

We all need a little luck occasionally to achieve success and well-being in life. It is a way to express your emotions and positive energy, and it is also a way to invoke divine intervention and a connection to God through a written verse and a prayer. Irish blessings demonstrate faith and compulsion to pursue spiritual hope, regardless of how they have evolved over time.

Celtic folk and druidic traditions gave way to Christian interpretations of Irish blessings in ancient times. The most well-known and eminent blessing is thought to have been written by St. Patrick, which is a stretch of the truth. It is likely, however, that he borrowed and translated an already existing Celtic verse as it fits his writing style. Irish verses and sentiments such as this are considered to be iconic. 

Irish Blessings For Luck

It is said that four-leaf clovers symbolize faith, hope, love, and luck. If you find a four-leaf clover, look for more! The phrase “the luck of the Irish” comes from Ireland having the most four-leaf clovers.

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

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.

For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.

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

Leprechauns, castles, good luck, and laughter.
Lullabies, dreams, and love ever after.
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes…
That’s the Irish for You!
May good luck be your friend
In whatever you do.
And may trouble be always
A stranger to you.

May good luck be your friend,
In whatever you do.
And may trouble be always,
A stranger to you.

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.

May the leprechauns be near you,
To spread luck along your way.
And may all the Irish angels,
Smile upon you St. Patrick’s Day.

May the most you wish for
Be the least you get.

Irish Blessings For Health

Health and long life to you,
Land without rent to you,
A child every year to you,
If you can’t go to Heaven,
May you die in Ireland.
May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.

Health and long life to you,
The woman of your choice to you,
A child every year to you, Land without rent to you,
And may you die in Ireland.

Irish Blessings For Friendship

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.

Tis better to buy a small bouquet And give to your friend this very day,
Than a bushel of roses white and red To lay on his coffin after he’s dead.

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.

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.

Irish Blessings For All Occasions

Here’s that we may always have
A clean shirt
A clean conscience
And a punt in our pocket.

May your troubles be less and your blessings be more,
And nothing but happiness come through your door.

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 year long.

May the blessings of each day be the blessings you need the most.
May the enemies of Ireland never meet a friend.

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.

That joy and peace surround you, contentment latches your door, and
happiness be with you now and bless you evermore.

May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load,
May the mist of Irish magic shorten every road,
And may you taste the sweetest pleasures
That fortune ere bestowed,
And may all your friends remember.
All the favors you are owed.

These things, I warmly wish for you: Someone to love, some work to do,
a bit of o’ sun, a bit o’ cheer, and a guardian angel always near.

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.

May joy and peace surround you,
Contentment latch your door,
And happiness be with you now,
And bless you evermore.

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks,
May your heart be as light as a song,
That each day bring you bright, happy hours,
That stay with you all the year long.

Whenever there is happiness
Hope you’ll be there too,
Wherever there are friendly smiles
Hope they’ll smile on you,
Whenever there is sunshine,
Hope it shines especially for you to make each day
for you as bright as it can be.

May your troubles be less,
And your blessing be more.
And nothing but happiness,
Come through your door.

May brooks and trees and singing hills
Join in the chorus too,
And every gentle wind that blows
Send happiness to you.

When the first light of the sun bless you.
When the long day is done, bless you.
In your smiles and your tears bless you.
Through each day of your years, bless you.

May the sunshine, all day long,
everything goes right, and nothing wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
and may all the wishes you wish come true!

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow.
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

May you live a long life
Full of gladness and health,
With a pocket full of gold
As the least of your wealth.

He who loses money loses much;
He who loses a friend loses more;
And he who loses faith loses all.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
That pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.

May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch to your door
And happiness be your guest today and evermore.

May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow.
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
That pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.

May your troubles be less,
And your blessing be more.
And nothing but happiness,
Come through your door.

May joy and peace surround you,
contentment latch your door,
and happiness be with you now
and bless you evermore.

At a hearth during winter,
And in the hearts of friends throughout all your years.

When a twig grows hard it is difficult to twist it.
Every beginning is weak.

May peace and plenty bless your world
With a joy that long endures
And may all life’s passing seasons
Bring the best to you and yours.

Always remember to forget
things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.

May you escape the gallows, avoid distress,
And be as healthy as a trout.

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!

Happiness being a dessert so sweet,
May life give you more than you can ever eat.

My seven blessings on you.
May you live long,
Die happy,
And rate a mansion in heaven.

There are only two kinds of people in the world: the Irish,
And those who wish they were.

May the frost never afflict our spuds,
May the leaves of your cabbage always be free from worms,
May the crows never pick your haystack,
And may your donkey always be in foal.

Wishing you a rainbow for sunlight after showers,
miles and miles of Irish smiles for golden happy hours,
shamrocks at your doorway for luck and laughter too,
and a host of friends that never ends,
each day your whole life through.

When the first light of sun, Bless you.
When the long day is done, Bless you.
In your smiles and your tears, Bless you.
Through each day of your years, Bless you.

May there be a generation of children.
On the children of your children.

Bless you and yours, As well as the cottage you live in.
May the roof overhead be well thatched, And those inside be well matched.

Wishing you a pot o’ gold,
And all the joy your heart can hold.

Bless you and yours,
As well as the cottage you live in.
May the roof overhead be well thatched,
And those inside be well matched.

May you always find three welcomes in life
In a garden during summer,

As you slide down the banister of life,
May the splinters never point the wrong way.

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 you get all your wishes but one
So you always have something to strive for.

There’s the joy of ole’ Killarney, in these wishes meant for you; There’s a bit of Irish blarney, and a touch of magic too. There’s a wish of lots of laughter, and good luck, be sure o’ that; And a wish that all your dreams may come true in no time flat.

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun.
And find your shoulder to light on.
To bring you luck, happiness, and riches.
Today, tomorrow, and beyond.
May the dreams you hold dearest,
Be those which come true,
The kindness you spread,
Keep returning to you.

May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load,
May the mist of Irish magic shorten every road,
And may you taste the sweetest pleasures that fortune ere bestowed,
And may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed.

May the blessing of light be on you,
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire.

Irish Fire For Blessings

That you live a long life Full of gladness and health, With a pocket full of gold As the least of your wealth. May the dreams you hold, dearest, Be those which come true, The kindness you spread, Keep returning to you.

These things, I warmly wish for you-
Someone to love, some work to do,
A bit of o’ sun, a bit o’ cheer.
And a guardian angel always near.

Health and long life to you,
Land without rent to you,
A child every year to you,
If you can’t go to Heaven,
May you die in Ireland.

That the ten toes of your feet
Might always steer you clear of misfortune.

When the first light of sun,
Bless you.
When the long day is done,
Bless you.
In your smiles and your tears,
Bless you.
Through each day of your years,
Bless you.

May the blessings of light be upon you,
Light without and light within.
And in all your comings and goings,
May you ever have a kindly greeting
From them you meet along the road.

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.

May the joys of today
Be those of tomorrow.
The goblets of life
Hold no dregs of sorrow.

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

He who loses money, loses much;
He who loses a friend loses more;
And he who loses faith loses all.

You’ve got to do your own growing,
No matter how tall your grandfather was.

May you know nothing but happiness.
From this day forward.

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.

May the mist of Irish magic shorten every road
And may your friends remember the favors you are owed.

The Irish

May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.

May your heart be warm and happy
With the lilt of Irish laughter
Every day in every way
And forever and ever after.

May the blessings of each day
Be the blessings you need most.

May you have:
No frost on your spuds,
No worms on your cabbage.
May your goat give plenty of milk.
And if you inherit a donkey,
May she be in foal.

May brooks and trees and singing hills
Join in the chorus, too.
And every gentle wind that blows
Send happiness to you.

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.

May all your troubles be little ones
and all your little ones be trouble free.

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.

These things, I warmly wish for you-
Someone to love, some work to do,
A bit of o’ sun, a bit o’ cheer.
And a guardian angel always near.

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.

As you slide down the banisters of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.
May the saddest day of the future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.

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.

Ireland, it’s the one place on earth
That heaven has kissed
With melody, mirth,
And meadow and mist.

Irish Blessings For Funerals

Tis better to buy a small bouquet
And give to your friend this very day,
Than a bushel of roses white and red
To lay on his coffin after he’s dead.

We cannot share this sorrow
If we haven’t grieved a while.
Nor can we feel another’s joy
Until we’ve learned to smile.

Irish Blessings The “One Liners”

May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.

May your bed be made in heaven.

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

May brooks and trees and singing hills join in the chorus too, And every gentle wind that blows sends happiness to you.

May the Good Lord take a liking to you — but not too soon.

May the grass grow long on the road to hell for want of use.

Bless your little Irish heart and every other Irish part.

May the Lord keep you in His hand and never close His fist too tight.

May you be a half-hour in heaven before the Devil knows your dead.

When I count my blessings, I count you twice. May God bless you.

May your troubles be as few and as far apart as my Grandmother’s teeth.

May you die in bed at ninety-five years, shot by a jealous husband.

Here’s to your coffin!

May your coffin have six handles of finest silver!

May your coffin be carried by six fair young maids!

And may your coffin be made of finest wood from a 100-year-old tree that I’ll go plant tomorrow!

God is good, but never dance in a small boat.

May the enemies of Ireland never meet a friend.

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

God between us and all harm.

May the grass grow long on the road to hell for want of use.

Good health to you.

Every man is sociable until a cow invades his garden.

Bless your little Irish heart and every other Irish part.

The man with the boots does not mind where he places his foot.

May your bed be made in heaven.

It is not a secret if it is known by three people.

May the strength of three be in your journey.

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

There is no fireside like your own fireside.

A trade not properly learned is an enemy.

Put silk on a goat, and it’s still a goat.

May peace and plenty bless your world with a joy that long endures and may all life’s passing seasons bring the best to you and yours.

For each petal on the shamrock, this brings a wish your way: Good health, good luck, and happiness for today and every day.

May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow.

May the soft winds freshen your spirit.

Health and long life to you.

May you have the health to wear it.

May the leprechauns dance over your bed and bring you sweet dreams.

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

Luck is all around you; you just have to look:

Bless your little Irish heart and every other Irish part.

May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of St. Patrick behold you.

May your blessings outweigh the number of shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go. 

May your neighbors respect you, troubles neglect you, the angels protect you, and heaven accept you. 

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, may good luck pursue you each morning and night. 

May your troubles be less, your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door. 

May luck be your friend in whatever you do, and may trouble be always a stranger to you.

May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you.

May the leprechauns dance over your bed and bring you sweet dreams.

May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

May the luck of the Irish lead to happiest heights and the highway you travel be lined with green lights.

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.

May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you are going, and the insight to know

May you get all of your wishes but one, so you’ll always have something to strive for.

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

For this home and all therein be blessed with God’s love.

Irish Blessings For Travel

May the road rise up to meet you.

May good luck be with you Wherever you go, and your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.

If you do not sow in the spring,
You will not reap in the autumn.

May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been
the foresight to know where you’re going
and the insight to know when you’re going too far.

May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been
the foresight to know where you’re going
and the insight to know when you’re going too far.

Charming Irish Blessings 

Looking for a touching saying for a party invitation or a saying that will wish loved ones a happy St. Patrick’s Day? These St. Patrick’s Day greetings are perfect for sending warm wishes to loved ones.

Charmed to know you.

Green looks good on you.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I don’t need luck — I have you

I’m not lucky — I’m blessed.

It’s the luck of the Irish!

Let’s toast to a life filled with good fortune and good company

Luck o’ the Irish

Lucky me, lucky you, lucky together.

May every petal on the shamrock bring you joy and good luck.

May the luck of the Irish enfold you.

May you be blessed with luck this St. Patrick’s Day.

May your clovers have leaves of four and your luck last forevermore.

May your day be touched by some Irish luck.

The luck is in believing you’re lucky.

We make our own luck.

Wishing you a pot of gold this St. Patrick’s Day

You’re as rare and as lucky as a four-leaf clover.

You’re my lucky charm.

You’re the cutest clover in the patch.

Funny Irish Blessings & Sayings

Sometimes a St. Patrick’s Day party invitation or card calls for a little humor. If you want to make your invitees smile, here are a few funny St. Patrick’s Day sayings to use on their own or to use as inspiration for your own hilarious message.

Eat, drink, and be Irish.

Everyone’s Irish tonight.

Irish you a happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Keep calm and shamrock on!

Let the shenanigans begin!

Let’s shamrock and roll!

The leprechauns made me do it.

What’s the greenest holiday on the planet? St. Patrick’s Day!

Irish Blessings and Sayings For Weddings

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 the embers from the open hearth warm your hands,
May the sun’s rays from the Irish sky warm your face,
May the children’s bright smiles warm your heart,
May the everlasting love I give you warm your soul.

May there be a generation of children
On the children of your children.

Here’s to our wives,
And here’s to our sweethearts,
May the two never meet!

When the roaring flames of your love have burned down to embers,
May you find that you’ve married your best friend.

Irish Wedding

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 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 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.

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.

Religious Irish Blessings

May the Good Lord take a liking to you,
But not too soon!

May God grant you always…
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.

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.

For this home and all therein be blessed with God’s love.

May their soul be on God’s right hand.

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.

May your days be many and your troubles be few, May all God’s blessings descend upon you, May peace be within you, May your heart be strong, May you find what you’re seeking wherever you roam.

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 your neighbors respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accepts you.

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 the good saints protect you,
And bless you today.
And may troubles ignore you,
Each step of the way.

May the roads rise to meet you.
May the wind be at your back.
(And) May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rainfall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

May you have the 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 the grace of God’s protection
And His great love abide
Within your home-within the hearts
Of all who dwell inside.
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!

May God gives you:
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
And or every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

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 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 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 up 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 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:
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.

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 you enjoy the four greatest blessings:
Honest work to occupy you.
A hearty appetite to sustain you.
A good woman to love you.
And a wink from the God above.

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

That the sun shines all day long,
May those you love bring love back to you
And may all the wishes you wish come true.
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 the saint protect ye-
An’ sorrow neglect ye,
An’ bad luck to the one
That doesn’t respect ye
t’ all that belong to ye,
A long life t’ yer honor-
That’s the end of my song t’ ye!

If God sends you down a stony path,
May He give you strong shoes.

The grace of God on you.

May the good saints protect you,
And bless you today.
And may troubles ignore you,
Each step of the way.

May the Lord keep you in His hand
And never close His fist too tight.

Grant me a sense of humor, Lord,
The saving grace to see a joke,
To win some happiness from life,
And pass it on to other folk.

May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings.

When I count my blessings, I count you twice.
May God bless you.

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.

A world of wishes at your command,
God and his angels close at hand,
Friends and family, their love impart,
And Irish blessings in your heart.

May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

May God grant you always…
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel,
so nothing can harm you.

May you always 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 grace of God’s protection and His great love abide within your home and within the hearts of all who dwell inside.
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 God give you:
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
And or every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

Irish Blessings From St. Patrick

St. Patricks Irish Blessing Poem

St. Patrick was attributed with engraving this on his breastplate. Considering the poem’s length, it’s either Patrick was a giant, or he never wrote it on a breastplate. In fact, it’s probably more a way for him to convey the fact that these concepts were important to him.

Patrick may not have written this poem (there is no evidence he did), but it incorporates his teachings and philosophy. Here is the entire poem, which is usually quoted as the second last verse.

St. Patrick’s Breastplate

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through
God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

Saint Patrick

I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

St. Patrick Day Irish Blessings

St. Patrick was a gentleman
Who through strategy and stealth
Drove all the snakes from Ireland.
Here’s toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good St. Patrick
And see all those snakes again.

May pleasure walk with you;
That luck smile upon you; and
May joy be at home in your heart.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

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.

Irish Proverbs

A best friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.

The best way to keep loyalty in a man’s heart is to keep money in his purse.

It’s no use boiling your cabbage twice.

Do not resent growing old, for many, are denied the privilege.

God is good but never dance in a small boat.

You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.

A craftsman’s son may grow up in ignorance of his father’s skills.

A drink precedes a story.

A fat Christmas makes for a tight graveyard.

A good friend is like a four-leaf clover — hard to find, lucky to have.

And a word more lasting than the wealth of the world.

Don’t become broke by trying to look rich. Don’t become broke trying to look rich.

Every patient is a doctor after his cure.

Forgetting a debt doesn’t mean it’s paid.

It is as easy to catch a cold in a King’s castle as in a shepherd’s hut. It is as easy to catch a cold in a King’s castle as a shepherd’s hut best.

It’s a lonely washing that has no man’s shirt in it

A good word never broke a tooth and warm your heart and home.

A tune is more lasting than the song of the birds.

Lose an hour in the morning, and you will be looking for it all day. Lose an hour in the morning, and you will be looking for it all day.

May good and faithful friends be yours, May love and laughter light your days, May peace and plenty bless your world No man ever wore a scarf as warm as his daughter’s arm around his neck.

Sleep is the first sign of recovery.

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

Men are like bagpipes – no sound comes from them until they are full.

Beauty doesn’t boil the kettle.

Better to be fortunate than rich.

Bring the best to you and yours!

Do not take the thatch from your own roof to buy slates for another man’s house. Do not take the thatch from your own roof to buy slates for another man’s house.

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

Never scald your lips with another man’s porridge.

No matter how many rooms you have in your house, you’re only able to sleep in one bed. No matter how many rooms you have in your house, you’re only able to sleep in one bed.

Take the world nice and easy, and the world will take you the same.

The light heart lives long.

The well-fed does not understand the lean.

There is no use boiling your cabbage twice.

Wherever you may roam.

You can’t kiss an Irish girl unexpectedly. You can only kiss her sooner than she thought you would.

Youth does not mind where it sets its foot.

Irish Sayings

An Irish method for tackling problems:
There comes a time when you must take the bull
By the tail and face the situation squarely.

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 your troubles be as few and as far apart
As my Grandmother’s teeth.

Go way outta that!

I complained that I had no shoes
Until I met a man who had no feet.

The reason the Irish are always fighting each other
Is they have no other worthy opponents.

An old Irish recipe for longevity:
Leave the table hungry.
Leave the bed sleepy.
Leave the bar thirsty.

If I had a flower for every time I thought of you,
I could walk through my garden forever.

Let your heart be glad for the harvest done
And may your winter be warm the whole season long.

Will you have a mineral?

I’m knackered.

I’m going to the jacks.

Your oul fella and your oul wan.

A whale of a time!

Away with the fairies.

Story horse?

Quit acting the maggot.

Happy out.

My the clouds in your life be only a background for a lovely sunset.

Tis better by far at the rainbows end to find not a pot of gold but the heart of a friend.

May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.

When we drink, we get drunk.
When we get drunk, we fall asleep.
When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.

May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.

As the big hound is, so will the pup be.

When we commit no sin, we go to heaven.

So, let’s all get drunk and go to heaven!

A friend’s eye is a good mirror.

Top of the morning to ye!

There is no luck except where there is discipline.

There is luck in leisure.

There are only two kinds of people in the world: the Irish and those who wish they were.

May God bless and keep in good health your enemies’ enemies.

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.

The reason the Irish are always fighting each other is they have no other worthy opponents.

One thought of the shamrock makes the whole world akin.
Saint Patrick was a gentleman who, through strategy and stealth, drove all the snakes from Ireland; here’s a toast to his health. But not too many toasts, lest you lose yourself and then forget the good Saint Patrick and see all those snakes again.

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

What is Irish diplomacy? It’s the ability to tell a man to go to Hell so that he will look forward to making the trip.

An old Irish recipe for longevity: Leave the table hungry. Leave the bed sleepy. Leave the bar thirsty.

Forgetting a debt doesn’t mean it’s paid.

Ireland has one of the world’s heaviest rainfalls. If you see an Irishman with a tan, it’s rust.

Long live the Irish; long live their cheer. Long live our friendship, year after year.

Slainte!

A drink precedes a story.

It’s no use boiling your cabbage twice.

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.

More power to your elbow.

Do not resent growing old.
Many are denied the privilege.

Life is like a cup of tea. It’s all in how you make it.

The best way to keep loyalty in a man’s heart is to keep money in his purse.

If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk through my garden forever.

When the roaring flames of your love have burned down to embers, may you find that you’ve married your best friend.

Happiness being a dessert so sweet, May life gives you more than you can ever eat.

Time is a great storyteller.

Experience is the comb that life gives a bald man.

Irish Toasts

Health and a long life to you. Land without rent to you. A child every year to you. And if you can’t go to heaven, may you at least die in Ireland.

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!

Here’s to you and yours
And to mine and ours.
And if mine and ours
Ever come across to you and yours,
I hope you and yours will do
As much for mine and ours
As mine and ours have done
For you and yours!

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.
May the sunshine, all day long,
everything goes right, and nothing wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
and may all the wishes you wish come true.

That the ten toes of your feet might always steer you clear of misfortune.
May good fortune be yours, and may your joys never end.

May your right hand always be stretched out in friendship,
And never in want.

Here’s to the health of your enemies’ enemies.

May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

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.

Here’s to good Irish friends—never above you, never below you, always beside you.

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!’

Here’s to you, and here’s to me; I pray that friends we’ll always be, but if by chance we disagree, the heck with you, and here’s to me.

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

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

To all the days here and after, may they be filled with fond memories, happiness, and laughter. 

Here’s to our wives and girlfriends: May they never meet!

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

May the grass grow long on the road to hell for want of use.

Health and long life to you.

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.

May you get the reward in Heaven that’s been denied you for your goodness here on earth.

I have known many, liked not a few, loved only one; I drink to you.

May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.

May you be half an hour in Heaven before the Devil knows you’re dead.

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.

Irish Quotes By People

A wish for a kiss on St. Patrick’s Day! Catch a leprechaun but don’t let him run. Nay, kiss him right away! Richelle E. Goodrich

As I write this, St. Patrick’s Day is in full bore in Midtown. It’s delightful how celebrating a heritage requires you to pick fights with strangers and then pee in a parking garage. Greg Gutfeld

Be still and know that I am. Be still and know. Be still. Be. St. Patrick

Be sure to wear green on March seventeen, or else Irish leprechauns pinch your bones clean! Richelle E. Goodrich

Being Irish is very much a part of who I am. I take it everywhere with me. Colin Farrell

Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy. William Butler Yeats

Steal a quick kiss from the lasses in red, a tin whistle tune off the top of my head. Friends, raise a goblet and offer this toast—’The luck of the Irish and health to our host!’ Richelle E. Goodrich

Do you think anybody knows that I’m Irish? Niall Horan

Even when they have nothing, the Irish emit a kind of happiness, a joy. Fiona Shaw

Every St. Patrick’s Day every Irishman goes out to find another Irishman to make a speech to. Shane Leslie

Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but if your name is Eisenhower, you’ve got to wear something green to show it. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Few Americans have heard of Wales. All of them have heard of Ireland and many of them think they are Irish. Peter Hitchens

Beautiful Ireland

For the whole world is Irish on the seventeenth o’ March! Thomas Augustine Daly

For you can’t hear Irish tunes without knowing you’re Irish, and wanting to pound that fact into the floor. Jennifer Armstrong

Here is the enigma of Patrick: he looms large on the imaginative horizon of so many people, yet he saw himself as a Christian bishop from the embattled edge of a crumbling empire. Thomas O’Loughlin

I think being a woman is like being Irish… Everyone says you’re important and nice, but you take second place all the time. Iris Murdoch

I will tell you, my body immediately responds to being in Ireland because every single cell in my body says yes. —Conan O’Brien
I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. Thomas Jefferson

I’m Irish! When I feel well I feel better than anyone, when I am in pain I yell at the top of my lungs, and when I am dead I shall be deader than anybody. Morgan Llywelyn

I’m of Ireland, and I’ll stay in Ireland until I die. Tom Cruise

I’ve always believed in luck. I love the fact that people can change their lives instantly. Fiona Barton

If he laid on the Irish any thicker, she’d be drowning in shamrocks. Nallini Singh

If you have two friends in your lifetime, you’re lucky. If you have one good friend, you’re more than lucky. S. E. Hinton

If you’re Irish, it doesn’t matter where you go—you’ll find family. Victoria Smurfit

O, Ireland isn’t it grand you look,
Like a bride in her rich adornin’
And with all the pent-up love of my heart,
I bid you top o’ the mornin’. John Locke

The rose and the shamrock will always remind me,
Of lanes in the hills that I left far behind me.E. Gary Brooks

St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time — a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic. A. Cook

I’m Irish!…When I feel well I feel better than anyone, when I am in pain I yell at the top of my lungs, and when I am dead I shall be deader than anybody. Morgan Llywelyn

Ireland

Imagine if we were all magical leprechauns, and every wish ever made on a four-leaf clover obliged us to help others obtain their wishes. Now imagine if people simply lived like this were true. Richelle E. Goodrich

Ireland has always been the home of the dreamer, the poet and the storyteller. Jordan Richard

Ireland is a land of poets and legends, of dreamers and rebels. Nora Roberts

It is St Patrick’s Day and here at Scranton, that is a huge deal… It is the closest that the Irish will ever get to Christmas. Steve Carell (as Michael Scott) in The Office

It’s simply this: the Irish kiss, a snog o’ bliss, be blessed luck from any miss. Richelle E. Goodrich

St. Patrick had only got rid of the land snakes according to Nolan’s mother, but he had no power over the huge snakes calling themselves eels which came in on beaches all over the country. Maeve Binchy

It’s an Irish story, love…We don’t do happy endings. Kersten Hamilton

It’s not that the Irish are cynical. It’s rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody. Brendan Behan

It’s St. Paddy’s Day, everyone’s Irish tonight. Why don’t you just pull up a stool and have a drink with us? Norman Reedus (as Murphy MacManus) in The Boondock Saints

I’ve always thought you’ve got to believe in luck to get it. Victoria Holt

Legend says that each leaf of the clover has a meaning: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and, if you can find a 4-leaf clover, the fourth leaf represents luck. Jean LeGrand

Leprechauns were once fierce warriors who protected the coast from marauders and defended the land. Then Christianity showed up and decided to do away with all that, and they downplayed the heroic actions of those warriors to the extent that we see them as the iconic little guys with pots of gold today. Nothing quite like a group of gossiping Christians to turn the tide on historical events, huh? Paula Millhouse

Love is never defeated, and I could add, the history of Ireland proves it. Pope John Paul II

Love

Luck can only get you so far. J. K. Rowling

Luck is great, but most of life is hard work. Iain Duncan Smith

May everything turn green today, except your gills! Lester B. Dill

May you always walk in sunshine. May you never want for more. May Irish angels rest their wings beside your nursery door. Susi Hawke

Never iron a four-leaf clover because you don’t want to press your luck. Unknown

On St. Patrick’s Day, the traditional Irish family would rise early and find a solitary sprig of shamrock to put on their somber Sunday best. Then they’d spend the morning in church listening to sermons about how thankful they should be that St. Patrick saved such a bunch of ungrateful sinners. Nobody wore green clothing as it was considered an unlucky color not suitable for church.
Rashers Tierney.

Luck is not chance, it’s toil. Fortune’s expensive smile is earned. Emily Dickinson

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Roman Philosopher Seneca

Shamrocks and roses in an evergreen flock, now up to your noses turning into a high stock! Ana Claudia Antunes

St. Paddy’s Day is our celebration day for Ireland’s favorite saint who both saved us from the snakes, and gave us our own day to celebrate our Irish heritage. Paddy O’Furniture

Related: Where To Celebrate St. Patricks Day!

St. Patrick’s Day is a day to celebrate our green heritage. The ancestry of Ireland. It is a day to celebrate what it means to be Irish and of Irish descent. Anthony T. Hicks

Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity. Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Luck is believing you’re lucky. Tennessee Williams

St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time. It’s a day to begin transforming Winter’s dreams into Summer’s magic. Adrienne Cook

Thankfully the rest of the world assumed that the Irish were crazy, a theory that the Irish themselves did nothing to debunk. They had somehow got it into their heads that each fairy lugged around a pot of gold with him wherever he went. While it was true that LEP had a ransom fund, because of its officers’ high-risk occupation, no human had ever taken a chunk of it yet. This didn’t stop the Irish population in general from skulking around rainbows, hoping to win the supernatural lottery. Eoin Colfer

That’s right, there’s free beer in Irish paradise. Everyone’s jealous. Kevin Hearne

Green Irish Beer For St. Patricks Day

That’s what the holidays are for—for one person to tell the stories and another to dispute them. Isn’t that the Irish way? Lara Flynn Boyle

That’s what the prom is—St. Patrick’s Day for the young. Tim Tharp

The amount of good luck coming your way depends on your willingness to act. Barbara Sher

The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself. Douglas MacArthur

The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad / For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad. G.K. Chesterton

The heart of an Irishman is nothing but his imagination. George Bernard Shaw

The Irish celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in gratitude for the service which he did them in bringing to the Irish their most priceless possession—the gift of faith. Therese Duffy

The Irish have gained a reputation over the centuries for being very warm, kind and hospitable people (though sometimes a bit too fond of the drink!). These characteristics are most in evidence at St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th every year, when people of Irish descent organize parades and parties. Shannon Ferrell

The leprechauns made me do it! —Unknown

The one thing us Irish have is the ability to laugh at ourselves. God bless us all. Ann Kennedy

The only sure thing about luck is that it will change. Wilson Mizner

The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper. William Butler Yeats

There is no language like the Irish for soothing and quieting. John Millington Synge

To anyone with a drop of Irish blood in them the land they live on is like their mother. It’s the only thing that lasts, that’s worth working for, worth fighting for. Alexandra Ripley

We are all a great deal luckier than we realize, we usually get what we want—or near enough. Roald Dahl

We may have bad weather in Ireland, but the sun shines in the hearts of the people and that keeps us all warm. Marianne Williamson

Ireland In Winter

We survive. We’re Irish. We have the souls of poets. We love our misery, we delight in the beauty of strange places and dark places in our hearts. Ellis Flynn

When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenacious. Edna O’Brien

When it comes to luck, you make your own. Bruce Springsteen

When you make a wee wish on a green four-leafed clover, may your belly stay full and your cup runneth over. Richelle E. Goodrich

Whether I drink often or just once in a whole; I’m always sure to raise a glass to the dear old Emerald Isle. Pat Maloney

Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or not, everyone has a little luck o’ the Irish in them. Laura Sommers

Yeah, it’s St. Paddy’s Day. Everyone’s Irish tonight. Norman Reedus, The Boondock Saints

You don’t believe in magic spells or longings coming true. Yet, head-to-toe you dress in green on Patty’s Day, you do. Richelle E. Goodrich

You gotta try your luck at least once a day, because you could be going around lucky all day and not even know it. Jimmy Dean

You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from. Cormac McCarthy

You’ve got to think lucky. If you fall into a mud hole, check your back pocket. You might have caught a fish. Darrell Royal

C.E. Murphy Sums Up The Quotes Best:

In Ireland, you go to someone’s house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you’re really just fine. She asks if you’re sure. You say of course you’re sure, really, you don’t need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don’t need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble.

Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn’t mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it’s no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting. In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don’t get any damned tea. I liked the Irish way better. C.E. Murphy

Irish Greetings

May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends gathered below never fall out.

That the enemies of Ireland never meet a friend.

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!

Ireland

May the good saints protect you and bless you today,
And may troubles ignore you each step of the way.

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

Like the warmth of the sun And the light of the day, may the luck of the Irish shine bright on your way.

May your troubles be less, And your blessings be more, and nothing but
happiness come through your door.

May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you’re going, and the insight to know when you’re going too far.

God between us and all harm.

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

Wishing you a pot o’ gold and all the joy your heart can hold.

May the most you wish for be the least you get.

May you get all your wishes but one so you always have something to strive for.

If God sends you down a stony path, may He give you strong shoes.

May happiness often enter your gate and stay very late. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Christmas Irish Blessings

May the blessing of Christmas be with you,
May the Christ Child light your way,
And may God’s holy angels guide you,
And keep you safe each day.

May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door,
And happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas.

The magic of Christmas lingers on,
Though childhood days have passed,
Upon the common round of life
A Holy Spell is cast.

May you be contented as Christmas finds you all year-round.

May peace and plenty be yours,
For many, a Christmas to come.

May the Virgin and her Child lift your latch on Christmas night.

May your hearth be warm,
Your holidays grand,
And your heart held gently
In the good Lord’s hand.

Closing Thoughts

Well, that’s got to be the longest post, and it’s for sure the longest list of Irish Greetings, Irish Sayings, Irish Toasts, and Proverbs on the Internet!

Got any that were missed – drop them in the comments below. 

Looking for more posts on Ireland and Irish Traditions? Start here:

• About St. Patrick’s Day
• Belfast – Explore The Peace Lines
• Belfast – A Guide To The History
• Where To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day In Florida

We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Share with others!