Every blessing here is given in the Irish it is actually said in, with a pronunciation you can follow and what it literally means. That matters more than it sounds: a great many “Irish blessings” in circulation have never existed in Irish at all.
Almost all of them open with go and a subjunctive verb — a form English lost centuries ago and Irish kept for exactly this purpose. Once you hear the go at the front, a blessing is coming:
The negative blessing is worth noticing. Irish often wishes by warding off the opposite, which is a different cast of mind from wishing for the good directly.
The ones woven into ordinary speech, said without anybody noticing they are blessings.
What you say coming upon somebody working — in a field, at a wall, over an engine. Not saying it was once close to rude, because a blessing withheld was a blessing withheld.
The everyday good-luck. The same verb, éirigh, is doing the work in 'may the road rise to meet you': it means both to rise and to succeed.
The other everyday good-luck, and the one you will hear shouted after somebody heading for an exam or a match.
Said to someone doing good work — the Irish equivalent of 'more power to your elbow'.
An old blessing of thanks, said to somebody who has given you something. Increase in health, in family, in whatever you are short of.
Ó Dónaill (under ádh) gives it two senses: 'may God prosper you', and, said warmly, 'God love you!'
The full form behind the everyday greeting Dia duit, which is this blessing with the verb dropped. Ó Dónaill (under Dia) prints both together.
Said on coming in the door of a house. Ó Dónaill (under Dia) gives it alongside Dia anseo, 'God here', with the same meaning.
Rath is luck, prosperity and abundance at once. Ó Dónaill (under rath) also records the ironic use: rath Dé ar an obair lae sin! — 'if that is a day's work, then God help us!'
A blessing with an edge. Ó Dónaill (under rath) gives both meanings: 'may you prosper at your trade' and 'may you get your deserts'. Tone of voice decides which.
Bracken takes over any ground it is given, which is exactly what is being wished on them. Ó Dónaill (under raithneach): 'long may they flourish!'
Not a farewell but a cheer: Ó Dónaill (under beannacht) translates it 'Bravo! Good for you!'
For someone's health, and for thanking them.
Glossed by Ó Dónaill (under Dia) as 'God grant you health'.
A way of saying thank you: Ó Dónaill (under sláinte) marks it 'as expression of thanks'. You are paid for a favour in health rather than money.
Said to somebody who is ill. Cas is to turn or return; Ó Dónaill (under cas) translates it 'may God give you back your health'.
Another thank-you that hands the debt to God. Ó Dónaill (under Dia): 'God requite you for it'.
Saolaigh is built on saol, life. Ó Dónaill (under Dia): 'God grant him length of life'.
Said back to somebody who has wished you well, or who is asking for something — may your prayer be granted. Ó Dónaill (under éist): 'may God hear your voice, grant what you ask'.
A goodnight for somebody who is unwell. Ó Dónaill (under codladh): 'may your sleep be a healthy sleep'.
For arriving, for pouring, for sitting down together.
On the door of half the pubs in Ireland, and on the arch of a good many towns.
Literally just 'health'. Sláinte mhaith is 'good health'; the answer is sláinte agatsa, 'health to you too'.
A toast, and a complete philosophy in nine words: live long, never be thirsty, and die at home. The third wish was the one the emigrant ships took away.
Said to somebody wearing something new, or moving into a house. The full version for new clothes is go maire tú do nuacht — may you outlast your newness.
A fuller toast than sláinte on its own. Ó Dónaill (under sláinte): 'health and long life to you!'
Long life is only half a blessing without the health to go with it, and the Irish says so. Ó Dónaill (under aice): 'long life and good health to you'.
Ó Dónaill (under crann) also gives it as a reply: 'Good yourself!'
For the days that come round, and the ones that come once.
The Irish birthday wish. Ó Dónaill (under mair): 'many happy returns of the day'. The answer he gives for any congratulation is go maire tú do shláinte, 'may you enjoy good health'.
Said to a newly married couple. Ó Dónaill (under mair): 'may you enjoy your new life; congratulations on your marriage'.
From Ó Dónaill, under céad.
Against harm, and for whoever brings good news.
Said on hearing of an accident or a misfortune, to keep it at a distance. Ó Dónaill (under anachain): 'God between us and all harm'.
Ó Dónaill (under síocháin): 'may the peace of God be among us'.
What you say to whoever brings good news. Ó Dónaill (under scéalaí): 'God bless the bringer of good news'.
For anyone leaving — which, in Ireland, has always been a great many people.
The most famous Irish blessing in the world — and a translation that improved on the original by accident. The Irish literally means 'may the road succeed with you'; éirigh means both to rise and to succeed, and the English took the wrong one and made poetry of it.
What you say to someone leaving at the end of a night. It is the sign at the edge of many Irish towns, facing outward.
A parting blessing. Beannacht is the ordinary word for a blessing, and it is the root of the beannachtaí, greetings, at the end of a letter.
Cumhdaigh is to cover or shelter, so the sense is closer to 'may God keep you covered' than to anything martial.
Christmas, Patrick's Day, and the turn of the year. More on 17 March, and what is and isn't old about it →
Not 'St Patty's'. Pádraig shortens to Paddy, never Patty — Patty is short for Patricia.
Said at Christmas and at New Year, and at the end of a good night. It is a toast that quietly admits nothing is promised.
The older Christmas wish beside Nollaig shona. Maise is grace or prosperity; Ó Dónaill (under maise) gives 'a happy Christmas to you', and for the new year go mbeire bliain ó inniu faoi mhaise orainn, 'may we prosper in the year to come'.
What is said in Ireland when the news comes.
The standard Irish way of speaking of the dead, said and written at every funeral and in every death notice.
Said on hearing that somebody has died, alongside ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. For a woman, dá hanam.
Said of the dead, like ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Ó Dónaill (under beannacht): 'God rest his soul'. For a woman, lena hanam.
Search for Irish blessings and you will mostly be shown English poetry on a green background. Some of it descends from real Irish; some of it does not. Being clear about which is which is not pedantry — it is the difference between handing on a tradition and handing on a greeting card.
Pronunciations are written for an English speaker and give the commonest Irish-English form; Ulster, Connacht and Munster differ. Sources: Wikipedia — List of English words of Irish origin, Online Etymology Dictionary, Foclóir — the New English-Irish Dictionary, Teanglann — Irish dictionary and pronunciation, Dúchas — the Schools' Folklore Collection. Know a blessing your family says? Send it to us →
Irish sayings & seanfhocail · Words English took from Irish · How to pronounce Irish · St Patrick's Day · The Irish year