30 Irish Sayings For Saint Patrick's Day

The Irish like to say that there are only two types of people in the world: the Irish and those who wish they were. Never is that old saying more true than on Saint Patrick’s Day, when you’ll find all sorts of people drinking green beer and proudly wearing Kiss Me, I’m Irish t-shirts. Not to question anyone’s heritage, but let’s just say that some of these folks have a dubious connection to the Emerald Isle.

It just goes to show that you don’t have to be Irish to appreciate Irish culture. As further evidence, here’s a list of 32 famous Irish sayings that everyone can enjoy. Use them to toast your boon companions, or just to spread a wee bit o’ cheer on Saint Paddy’s Day.

Irish Blessings

Irish blessings can be funny, touching, insightful, or even bawdy. Here’s an assortment of well-known blessings that have been passed down over the years.

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

May your troubles be less,
And your blessing be more.
And nothing but happiness,
Come through your door.
May neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and Heaven accept you.
May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.
May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends beneath it never fall out.

May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up.
May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
May God grant you always…
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering Angel
So nothing can harm you.
Laughter to cheer you.
Faithful friends near you.
And whenever you pray,
Heaven to hear you.

As you slide down the banisters of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.
May the Lord keep you in His hand and never close His fist too tight.
May you die in bed at ninety-five years, shot by a jealous husband.
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 your mornings bring joy,
And your evenings bring peace.
May your troubles grow few,
And your blessings increase.
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.
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 Drinking Toasts

There’s a lot of overlap between Irish blessings and Irish toasts. However, we think these sayings sound particularly good when accompanied by the clink of glasses.

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!

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.
May we get what we want,
May we get what we need,
But may we never get what we deserve.
Here’s to the wine we love to drink,
And the food we like to eat.
Here’s to our wives and sweethearts,
Let’s pray they never meet.

Here’s to me, and here’s to you.
And here’s to love and laughter.
I’ll be true as long as you.
And not one moment after.
Here’s to being single,
Drinking doubles,
And seeing triple!
Here’s champagne for our real friends, and real pain for our sham friends.
I have known many,
Liked not a few,
Loved only one,
I drink to 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.
Dance as if no one were watching.
Sing as if no one were listening.
Live each day as if it’s your last.

Irish Witticisms

Finally here are five well-known Irish witticisms. Neither blessings nor toasts, these funny Irish sayings belong in a category of their own.

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

In heaven there is no beer. That’s why we drink ours here.
The older the fiddle, the sweeter the tune.
If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, then you’re lucky enough.
It is better to spend money like there’s no tomorrow than to spend tonight like there’s no money.