In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, we bring you a collection of Irish toasts and blessings. Two of the most famous, are the Gaelic phrases ‘Erin Go Bragh’ and ‘Slainte.’
Erin Go Bragh, is most often translated as ‘Ireland forever.’ Sláinte!” (pronounced ‘slawn-cha’, means ‘Health!,’ a common toast in Ireland – the equivalent of ‘Cheers!’
Irish Saint Patrick’s Day toast:
Saint Patrick was a gentleman,
Who through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see all those snakes again.
‘Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!’
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
More Irish toasts and blessings below.
Irish drinking toasts:
A bird with one wing can’t fly. (to encourage someone to take a second drink)
It is better to spend money like there’s no tomorrow
than to spend tonight like there’s no money!My friends are the best friends
Loyal, willing and able.
Now let’s get to drinking!
All glasses off the table!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 pint– and another one!Here’s to a temperance supper,
With water in glasses tall,
And coffee and tea to end with–
And me not there at all!When money’s tight and hard to get,
and your horse is also ran,
When all you have is a heap of debt,
a pint of plain is your only man.Here’s to being single…
Drinking doubles…
And seeing triple!I drink to your health when I’m with you,
I drink to your health when I’m alone,
I drink to your health so often,
I’m starting to worry about my own!Here’s to women’s kisses,
and to whiskey, amber clear;
Not as sweet as a woman’s kiss,
but a darn sight more sincere!
Irish toasts for luck:
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.
Irish toasts for everyday:
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!
Irish toasts to family and friends:
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.
Here’s to you and yours,
And to mine and ours,
And if mine and ours ever come
Across 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!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 favours 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.