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Did you know that Oscar Wilde was one of the greatest Irish poets? Other poets originally came from Ireland, such as Katharine Tynan, William Butler Yeats, James Joyce, Seamus Heaney, Eavan Boland, and Alice Kinsella.
Irish people are wildly known for their poems, not just about their country or heritage but also their Christian faith. This is because the Irish people always have a strong Christian faith and love of prayer, which dates back to the great times of the Bishop and St. Patrick—the Patron Saint of Ireland.
The authors of this widely known Irish Blessings were unknown, and it was initially written in the Irish language. In the Irish language, the first line goes “Go n-éirí an bóthar leat” and translates as “May you succeed on the road.”
Irish Prayers for Healing
In some traditions, the Irish Blessing can be used as an Irish Prayer for Healing. This prayer offers healing (of emotional, physical, and spiritual wounds), hope, and strength to those who recite it.
This is a short but the most traditional Irish Blessing. There are different versions with additional verses, but these are the most famous words commonly spoken today.
Short Version:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home,
And may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Complete Full Version:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
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.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
An Irish Blessing for a Wedding
Irish Blessing is the most traditional Irish prayer, and it’s usually used in a wedding where the bride's or groom's mother recites the Irish Blessing.
(Short Version):
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.
(Complete Full Version):
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!
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.
By the power that Christ brought from heaven, mayst thou love me.
As the sun follows its course, mayst thou follow me.
As light to the eye, as bread to the hungry, as joy to the heart, may thy presence be with me, oh one that I love,
’til death comes to part us asunder.
May your joys be as bright as the morning, and your sorrows merely be shadows that fade in the sunlight of love.
May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet, enough trials to keep you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to keep you happy, enough failure to keep you humble, enough success to keep you eager, enough friends to give you comfort, enough faith and courage in yourself to banish sadness, enough wealth to meet your needs and one thing more; Enough determination to make each day a more wonderful day than the one before.
Irish Prayer for Strength
Below presents a famous prayer in honor of the most loved Saint in Ireland, Saint Patrick. Unfortunately, the author is unknown, and this prayer has been passed down for generations.
This prayer is known as a powerful prayer through the intercession of Saint Patrick and is often printed on holy cards. Like Native Americans praying to God, pray this to find union with God and gain spiritual strength for all the challenges that you will face in your journey.
Hail, glorious St. Patrick! We, honor your name, Tho’ Erin may claim you, the world knows your fame. The faith of our fathers is our treasure too, how holy the thought, that they learned it from you. Thru crosses and trials its fires burn bright, they show us the way, and the truth, and the light, Great Saint! Intercede, that we always may be devoted and loyal, true children of yours. Our love and devotion be ever like yours, Our thought be of Jesus, our heart be His shrine. And when to the end of life’s path, we have trod, be near us great Bishop, Anointed of God.
Irish Prayer for the Departed
“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear.”
This powerful reminder that those you love are never gone and still with you (spiritually), engraved from a headstone in Ireland. Blessings using poetry and toasts are one of the Irish traditions but were rarely used in modern day.
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”
You may have heard this familiar prayer usually prayed during All Soul’s Day. This is a special remembrance for the departed—a prayer to ask for God’s mercy and for the eternal rest for all those who has transcended life.
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
Saint Patrick’s influence on the Irish beliefs remains to this day. His relatively long and most popular Irish Blessing is carved on his breastplate.
It is no evidence that it was written on his breastplate (with its long poem, the breastplate could fit a giant!), and it is probably a representation to express that the ideals are close to his heart.
There was no proof that he wrote this, but all of this was undoubtedly in his teachings and ideology!
The second to the last verse is the most quoted poem. Here presents the full version.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
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In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
I arise today, through
God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
Here presents other Irish Blessings for specific intentions that is commonly used. Irish people are amazing with their wits, poem and blessings to express their devotion and faith to God!
An Irish Blessing to Wish Good Luck:
May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
An Irish Blessings for Friendship:
Wishing you a rainbow for sunlight after showers— Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours— Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too, and a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through! May God give you…
For every storm, a rainbow, For every tear, a smile, For every care, a promise, And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends, A faithful friend to share, For every sigh, a sweet song, And an answer for each prayer.
May the friendships you make, be those which endure, and all of your grey clouds Be small ones for sure.
And trusting in Him to Whom we all pray, may a song fill your heart, Every step of the way.
May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.
An Irish Blessings for Children:
Lucky stars above you, Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you, Joy in work and play- Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your heart a song- And gladness waiting everywhere All your whole life long!
May you have: A world of wishes at your command.
God and his angels close to hand. Friends and family their love impart, and Irish blessings in your heart!
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.
O Thou, to whom to love and be are one, hear my faith cry for them Who are more thine than mine.
Give each of them what is best for each. I cannot tell what it is. But Thou knowest.
I only ask Thou love them and keep them with the loving and keeping Thou didst Show to Mary's Son and Thine.
An Irish Blessing for a New Home:
May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.
An Irish Blessings for the Home:
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.
May joy and peace surround you, Contentment latch your door, and happiness be with you now, and bless you ever more.
Bless you and yours as well as the cottage you live in.
May the roof overhead be well thatched and those inside be well matched.
May your neighbors respect you, Trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and heaven accept you.
An Irish Blessing for Long Life:
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.
May God grant you many years to live, for sure He must be knowing the earth has angels all too few and heaven is overflowing.
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!
An Irish Blessing for All Occasions:
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
An Irish Blessing for Christmas:
May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door, and may happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas.
An Irish Blessing for St Paddy’s Day:
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.
Karen Hyman
Karen is a Psychic Medium, a Professional Astrologer, a Spiritual Advisor, and a Life Coach who has been in this career for 19+ years. She specializes in numerology, tarot and oracle cards, twin flames, love & relationships, zodiac, horoscope, dreams interpretation, and astrology. She aims to provide comfort and assurance using her abilities to offer answers to those who seek professional guidance. Read More About Karen Here.
