Irish Blessings for Cards: Traditional Blessings and Toasts

Irish blessings are some of the best-loved lines to write in a card. They are short, warm and easy to remember, and many of them have been passed down for generations at weddings, birthdays, Christmas dinners and wakes.

Below are traditional Irish blessings in their common English forms, card messages written in the same style, classic Irish toasts and a few Irish phrases with their meanings.

Article contents

• How to Write an Irish Blessing in a Card
• Traditional Irish Blessings (the Classics)
• Short Irish Blessings for Cards
• Irish Birthday Blessings
• Irish Wedding Blessings
• Irish Anniversary Blessings
• Irish Christmas Blessings
• St. Patrick's Day Blessings and Wishes
• Irish Blessings for a New Home
• Irish Blessings for Sympathy and Funerals
• Irish Toasts
• A Few Irish Words for a Card
• Frequently Asked Questions

How to Write an Irish Blessing in a Card

An Irish blessing can carry the whole card or sit at the top of a short personal note.

1. Choose a blessing that fits the occasion. A playful toast suits a birthday, while a gentle blessing suits a sympathy card.
2. Write the blessing first, in quotation marks. Label it as a traditional Irish blessing if you like, since these blessings have no known author.
3. Add one or two lines of your own. Mention the person, the occasion or a memory you share.
4. Close warmly. "Love," "With warm wishes" or "Sláinte" all work, depending on the card.

Example: "May the road rise up to meet you, and may the wind be always at your back. Happy birthday, Sean. We hope this is your best year yet. Love, Maura and Kevin"

Traditional Irish Blessings (the Classics)

These are the Irish blessings most people know. The wording varies a little from one source to another, and the versions below are the common English forms.

Classic blessings without religious wording:

• "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." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to make enemies and quick to make friends." (Traditional Irish blessing)

Many traditional Irish blessings are short prayers. These classics are faith-based and mention God:

• "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "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." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May the Lord keep you in His hand and never close His fist too tight." (Traditional Irish blessing)

Short Irish Blessings for Cards

A short blessing fits a small note card. Several of these are single lines from the longer classics.

• "May the road rise up to meet you." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May the wind be always at your back." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May the sun shine warm upon your face." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May the luck of the Irish be with you." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May you get all your wishes but one, so you always have something to strive for." (Traditional Irish blessing)

Short card messages in the same spirit:

• Wishing you the luck of the Irish today and every day.
• May good news find you and good friends stay close.
• May your cup be full and your worries be few.
• Sending you a little Irish luck and a lot of love.

Irish Birthday Blessings

Irish birthday blessings often wish someone a long and happy life. A few are lighthearted, so match them to the person.

• "May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May the most you wish for be the least you get." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent." (Traditional Irish blessing)

Irish-style birthday messages for the card:

• Happy birthday! May your year be full of good luck, good friends and good craic.
• Happy birthday. May the year ahead be kinder than the last and twice as much fun.
• May the road ahead be smooth and the people beside you be true. Happy birthday.
• Happy birthday to someone who makes every gathering feel like a party. Sláinte!
• Lá breithe sona duit! Happy birthday, and may the luck of the Irish follow you all year.

Irish Wedding Blessings

An Irish wedding blessing is a lovely line to write above your congratulations.

• "May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace. May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase." (Traditional Irish blessing)

These traditional wedding blessings are faith-based and mention God:

• "May God be with you and bless you. May you see your children's children. May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May you have love that never ends, lots of money and lots of friends. Health be yours, whatever you do, and may God send many blessings to you." (Traditional Irish blessing)

Wedding card messages in the Irish style:

• May your home be warm, your table be full and your love grow stronger every year. Congratulations.
• May the two of you always walk the same road, side by side. Congratulations on your wedding.
• May the love you feel today be the smallest it ever is. Congratulations.
• Sláinte to the newlyweds! Wishing you a long and happy life together.

Irish Anniversary Blessings

Few traditional blessings are written only for anniversaries, so many people reuse a wedding blessing. These messages are written in the same spirit.

• Happy anniversary. May your mornings still bring joy and your evenings still bring peace.
• May the years ahead hold as much love and laughter as the years behind you.
• Here's to the two of you, the years you have shared and the ones still to come. Sláinte!
• May your home always be warm and your hands always be held. Happy anniversary.

Irish Christmas Blessings

In Ireland, a candle in the window on Christmas Eve is an old tradition of welcome, and it appears in this well-known Christmas blessing.

• "May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door, and happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May you never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is best forgotten." (Traditional Irish blessing)

Irish-style Christmas card messages:

• Nollaig Shona Duit! Wishing you a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.
• May your home be warm, your table be full and your heart be light this Christmas.
• May a candle in the window light the way home for everyone you love. Happy Christmas.
• Happy Christmas from our house to yours. May the new year bring you health and good luck.
• May the peace of Christmas stay with you long after the decorations come down.

Faith-based Christmas messages:

• May the blessings of Christmas fill your home with peace and joy.
• May God bless you and your family this Christmas and all through the new year.

St. Patrick's Day Blessings and Wishes

St. Patrick's Day falls on March 17. A short blessing makes a cheerful note for friends, coworkers or a classroom.

• "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." (Traditional Irish blessing)

St. Patrick's Day card messages:

• Happy St. Patrick's Day! May the luck of the Irish be with you today and all year.
• Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit! Wishing you a happy St. Patrick's Day.
• Happy St. Patrick's Day to someone who makes me feel lucky every day.
• You do not have to be Irish to be lucky, but it helps. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
• May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light. Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Irish Blessings for a New Home

Many traditional Irish blessings are about home and the friends who visit, which makes them a warm housewarming message.

• "May your home always be too small to hold all your friends." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all your heart might desire." (Traditional Irish blessing)

Housewarming card messages in the Irish style:

• Céad míle fáilte to your new home. May it always be full of friends.
• May your new home be warm in winter, cool in summer and happy all year round.
• Congratulations on your new home. May the kettle always be on and the door always be open.
• Wishing you a happy home with a full table, a warm fire and plenty of visitors.

Irish Blessings for Sympathy and Funerals

Irish blessings are often read at funerals and wakes, and a gentle one can say what is hard to put into your own words. Keep the rest of the message short and kind.

Gentle sympathy messages:

• Thinking of you and holding you close in our hearts.
• May you find comfort in the people who love you and in the memories you shared.
• May the days ahead be gentle with you.
• We are so sorry. Your mother was kind to everyone she met, and we will miss her.

These blessings and messages are faith-based. The classic "May the road rise up to meet you" blessing above is a common funeral reading, and many people write only its last line in a sympathy card.

• "And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand." (Traditional Irish blessing)
• "Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam." This traditional Irish phrase means "May his soul be at the right hand of God." For a woman, write "Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam."
• May she rest in peace, and may God give you comfort in the days ahead.
• Until we meet again, may God keep him close.

Irish Toasts

Irish toasts are made to be said with a raised glass, but they also work well in a birthday, retirement or wedding card. Some are playful, so choose one that suits the person.

• "Sláinte!" This is the most common Irish toast. It means "health."
• "May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends gathered below never fall out." (Traditional Irish toast)

These two playful toasts mention heaven and the Lord, so save them for someone who will enjoy the joke:

• "May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead." (Traditional Irish toast)
• "May the good Lord take a liking to you, but not too soon." (Traditional Irish toast)

Card messages written like a toast:

• Here's to you, to good friends and to many more years of laughing together. Sláinte!
• To health, to happiness and to the people who make life worth celebrating. Sláinte!

A Few Irish Words for a Card

A word or two in Irish adds a nice touch, especially for someone with Irish roots. Here are common phrases with their plain meanings. "Duit" is used when writing to one person, and "daoibh" is used for more than one person.

• Sláinte: "health," used like "cheers." It is said roughly like "SLAWN-cha."
• Lá breithe sona duit: "happy birthday to you."
• Nollaig Shona Duit: "happy Christmas to you." Write "Nollaig Shona Daoibh" for a family.
• Athbhliain faoi mhaise: "happy New Year."
• Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit: "happy St. Patrick's Day to you."
• Comhghairdeas: "congratulations."
• Go raibh maith agat: "thank you."
• Céad míle fáilte: "a hundred thousand welcomes."
• Tá grá agam duit: "I love you."
• Go n-éirí an bóthar leat: "may the road rise with you," a wish for success and a safe trip. It is the Irish phrase behind "May the road rise up to meet you."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most famous Irish blessing?

The best-known Irish blessing begins "May the road rise up to meet you" and ends "may God hold you in the palm of His hand." It is used at weddings, farewells and funerals, and it is a traditional blessing with no known author.

What is a good Irish blessing for a birthday card?

"May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live" is a popular choice. For a shorter line, write "May the luck of the Irish be with you" and add a personal happy birthday wish below it.

What does Sláinte mean?

Sláinte is the Irish word for "health," and it is used as a toast in the same way people say "cheers." It is a friendly way to sign off a birthday, retirement or party card.

Can I use an Irish blessing in a sympathy card?

Yes. "May the road rise up to meet you" is often read at Irish funerals, and its last line about meeting again brings comfort to many families. Follow the blessing with a short, personal note of sympathy.

For more ideas by occasion, see our guides to what to write in a birthday card, wedding card messages, Christmas card messages and what to write in a sympathy card. Our guide on how to write a card covers the basics for any occasion.

If you like to keep cards on hand for birthdays, holidays and thank-you notes, our Assorted Greeting Cards come in boxed sets with envelopes. Our Spring Florals Thank You Cards suit a thank-you note in March.