"May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light.
May good luck pursue you each morning and night."
If you’re engaged or planning a wedding, Irish and Celtic toasts and blessings have particular resonance for those with even the most distant Irish connections. As the verse above shows, the Irish are simply the best when it comes to the right line for the right occasion, with the perfect mix of humor and sentiment.
Ireland is famous for its literature, mystical and spiritual stories handed down through the generations and Rings from Ireland includes many inscriptions on pieces from its Irish and Celtic jewelry collections, continuing this tradition.
We look at our top five powerful Irish and Celtic blessings and toasts:
1. Irish Marriage Blessing
One marriage blessing that is part of the rich heritage of Ireland that has been passed down through the generations is still used and hugely popular at Irish weddings today:
May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortunes
And rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but
happiness from this day forward.
2. Famous Irish Blessing
Most familiar in Gaelic as ‘Go nEiri an bothar leat’, it is thought that this may have originated with Saint Patrick, but it is no longer clear. It is an age-old blessing and prayer to keep on the journey through life:
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rain fall soft upon your fields.
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
3. A Popular Irish Toast
Another popular Irish toast that shows off the wit, wisdom and endurance of the Irish people is used across all occasions from birthdays to Christmas, to Christenings to Weddings and Engagements:
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
Quick to make friends,
But rich or poor, quick or slow,
May you know nothing but
happiness from this day forward.
4. A Toast to a New Bride and Groom
One of the most popular toasts to a new Bride and Groom at Irish weddings is an emotional and evocative short message that is often delivered by the father of the groom and has stood the test of time as a true message of Irish wisdom:
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.
5. An Irish Blessing For All Occasions
Ireland is often known as the land of a hundred thousand welcomes and this is manifested through its verses and songs that have been passed down through the generations. The following blessing is one that is commonly quoted in the company of Irish people around the world, as it is appropriate for any occasion:
May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you,
the angels protect you and heaven accept you.
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.