Irish Toasts & Quotes

Here are over 300 Irish toasts, quotes, blessings, proverbs, and assorted other quotations about Ireland and the Irish people. For more history, see Irish History.

Youth does not mind where it sets its foot.

Youth sheds many a skin. The steed does not retain its speed forever.

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

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.

Beannachtam na Femle Padraig ("Happy St. Patrick's Day!")

May I see you grey
And combing your grandchildren's hair.

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

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

May you never be without a drop at Christmas.

May the Lord keep you in his hand and never close his fist too tight on you, and may the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be toward us in the New Year.

May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.

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!

Best while you have it use your breath
There is no drinking after death.

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

Go n-eiri an t-adh leat. ("Good luck.")

Here's to eyes in your heads and none in your spuds.

I wish you health, I wish you well, and happiness galore.
I wish you luck for you and friends; what could I wish you more?
May your joys be as deep as the oceans, your troubles as light as its foam.
And may you find, sweet peace of mind, where ever you may roam.

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

May friendship, like wine, improve as time advances.
And may we always have old wine, old friends, and young cares.

May misfortune follow you the rest of your life,
but never catch up.

May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.

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.

May the Devil cut the toes off our foes, that we may know them by their limping.

May the Devil say a prayer for you.

May the enemies of Ireland never meet a friend.

May the face of every good news
And the back of every bad news
Be toward us.

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.

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.

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

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

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

May the rocks in your field turn to gold.

May the ships at sea never be bottoms up.

May the strength of three be in your journey.

May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rains fall soft upon your fields.

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 there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,
May a 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 there be a fox on your fishing hook
And a hare on your bait
And may you kill no fish
Until St. Brigid's Day.

May you always have a cool head and a warm heart.

May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
And quick to make friends.
But rich or poor, quick or slow,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May you die in bed at 95 years,
Shot by a jealous wife!

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

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 you have the health of a salmon -- a strong heart and a wet mouth.

May you live long,
Die happy,
And rate a mansion in heaven.

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

May you look back fifty years from now
and agree that today was the worst
day of your married life.

May you taste the sweetest pleasures that fortune ere bestowed,
and may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed.

May your bank account always be bigger than your troubles.

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

May your health be like the capital of Ireland --
Always Dublin!

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

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

May your laugh, your love and your wine be plenty,
thus your happiness will be nothing less.

May your neighbors respect you,
trouble neglect you,
angels protect you,
and heaven accept you!

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

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 your troubles be less
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.

Merry met, and merry part,
I drink to thee with all my heart.

No wasps near your honey, but bees in your hive.

The health of all Ireland
and of County Mayo,
And when that much is dead,
may we still be on the go.

From the County of Meath,
the health of the hag.
Not of her but her drink
is the reason we brag.

Your health one and all,
from one wall to the other,
And you outside there--
speak up, brother!

A toast to your coffin.
May it be made of 100 year old oak.
And may we plant the tree together, tomorrow.

Bless your little Irish heart -- and every other Irish part.

Fad saol agat. ("Long life to you.")

Four blessings upon you...
Older whiskey
Younger women
Faster horses
More money

Here's a toast to your enemies' enemies!

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

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.

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 a sweetheart, a bottle, and a friend.
The first beautiful, the second full, the last ever faithful.

Here's to all of the women who have used me and abused me...
And may they continue to do so!

Here's to beefsteak when you're hungry,
Whiskey when you're dry,
All the women you'll ever want,
And heaven when you die.

More on Ireland & the Irish

Irish history

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Irish books

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