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Irish Blessings
page Three

This page was inspired by a comment from the O'Doud family who suggested that with so many beautiful Irish blessings in existence, we could probably post a different one each day. The O'Doud's, bless them, are so right - we've found a wealth of blessings. We'd like to invite readers to send us their favorites and we'll list those, too.

Previous Blessings page - Next Blessings page


Easter Sunday Blessing
At the breaking of the Easter dawn
may the Risen Saviour bless your home
with grace and peace from above,
with joy and laughter, and with love
And when night is nigh, and day is done
Make He keep you safe from all harm.
Photo Credit: Pat Kiely’s Mainly Catholic Page/Croagh Patrick


Fr. Greeley's March Saints Blessing
May you dance a reel for St. Patrick's sake,
And toast the many united in one.
May St. Joseph guard you as soon as you wake,
And safely lead you home when day is done.
From Aquinas may you learn wisdom and truth,
And from Gregory tradition's faithful way.
May Casimir teach you courage and hope,
And Gabriel surprise you each new day.
From A Book of Irish-American Prayers & Blessings
Photo Credit: Windy Willow/St. Srephen's Green, Dublin


A farmer's invocation to St. Brigid
Dear Saint Brigid, my hope of spring,
Bless these little fields of mine;
Bless The pastures and the trees;
Bless the butter and the cheese;
Bless the cows with coats of silk;
Bless the brimming pails of milk;
Bless the hedgerows, and I pray;
Bless the seed beneath the clay;
Bless the hay and bless the grass;
Bless the seasons as they pass;
with your blessings, we will prevail,
Dear St, Brigid, Mary of the Gael.
Image Credit: All Saints parish

God bless the house in which you dwell.
Bless every window and every wall.
Bless every soul beneath its rafters,
Bless every heart that brings it laughter.
Bless every foot that walks through its doors,
God bless the house that shelters you and yours

Blessing for St. Valentine's Day
May the saint of romance
intercede on your behalf
and God grant you
the love and affection
of a true Irish heart.
Happy St. Valentine's Day!
Beannachtaí na Fhéle Vailintín
Pronunciation: Ban-ochth-thee na Fay-leh val-in-theen
Literally, Blessings of St. Valentine
Image Credit: St Valentine's day.org

For every petal on the shamrock,
May these three blessings
come your way:
God grant you
love health and happiness
today and every day.

A Blessing for going out and about
The belt of Christ about you
on your going out
and your coming in
And God be on your road
every way you go.

Blessing for a Winter Wedding
As warm bread is sliced by a gleaming knife
May sunlight cut through harsh winter cold;
May God's love shine brightly on your life
And may your romance never grow old.
May He bless you with laughter and song
and find you always in love when day is done
And may lengthening days reflect your love,
An eternal springtime, blessed from above.
Edited and adapted from a blessing
by Fr. Andrew Greeley

May God make safe to you each step,
May God make open to you each pass,
May God make clear to you each road,
And may He take you in this clasp
to keep you safe, keep you warm and
protect you and yours from all harm.
From Carmina Gadelica (Vol. III, p. 203)

May you see God's light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear, in time of sorrow,
The singing of the lark.
When times are hard, may hardness
Not turn your heart to stone,
For when shadows fall, remember,
You do not walk alone.

May hungry July find your haggard full
And may the God of plenty watch over us all.

May the rains sweep
gentle across your fields,
May the sun warm the land,
May every good seed you
have planted bear fruit,
And late summer find you
standing in fields of plenty.

Traditional Irish Wedding Blessing
May God be with you and bless you,
May you see your children's children,
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in joy,
And may you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
Photo Credit: Brady's Music

A Father's Day Blessing
Lá na nAthair Faoi Shona Dhuit
Happy Father's Day
On Father's Day, and every day
may all the lads who are dads
share love, joy and laughter
with every son and daughter.
Photo Credit: Central Fisheries Board Ireland

A Blessing for Whitsuntide
May the warm promise of the rising sun
Flame all our hearts in Spirit's gracious fire
May God's invitation that we rise higher
Be confirmed in bright glory when day is done
May Pentecost faith burn like summer heat
That we speak with courage and prudent zeal
And the Gospel by word and deed reveal
Of Gods love to kith and kin and all we meet.
Fr. Andrew M. Greeley
Image Credit: Speaking in tongues at Whisuntide

May the blessing of God's soft rain
be on you, falling gently on your head,
refreshing your soul with the sweetness
of summer flowers newly blooming.
Anonymous

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you.
Anonymous

Bless you and yours
and the house you live in.
May the roof overhead be well thatched
And those inside be well-matched.
Anonymous

O Virgin most tender,
Our homage we render,
Thy love and protection,
Sweet Mother, to win;
In danger defend us,
In sorrow befriend us,
And shield our hearts
From contagion and sin.
From the hymn "Queen of The May"

Our voices ascending,
In harmony blending,
Oh! thus may our hearts turn
Dear Mother, to thee;
Oh! thus shall we prove thee
How truly we love thee,
How dark without Mary
Life's journey would be.
From the hymn "Queen of The May"

God and Mary and St. Patrick and St Augustine and all the saints and angels to you, the very host of heaven come to your door, the cherubim and seraphim lead you to a seat at the right hand of God himself to you.
An old Aran Isle blessing

Easter Blessing
May God bless you at Easter,
and keep you all year through.
May God give you all the faith you need,
to make your dreams come true.
May His love and wisdom always help,
to guide you on your way.
May His light shine down upon you now,
to bless your Easter Day.
-Author Unknown
Beannachtaí Ná Cásca oraibh
May the blessings of Easter be on you

May your doctor never earn a penny from you;
May your heart never give out;
May the ten toes of your feet steer you clear of misfortune
And before you’re much older,
May you hear better blessings than this one!”

May you have food and raiment,
A soft pillow for your head,
And may you be forty years in heaven
Before the devil knows you're dead!

May God bless your rosary beads,
And you who with them devoutly prays.
May He be kind to all your needs
On this and all your remaining days.
In glory, sorrow and every joy,
May Mary be with you on the way;
May no evil your peace destroy,
And each month glow as bright as May.
Fr. Andrew Greeley

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

May the sun shine bright on your joyous days
And the rain refresh you through peaceful nights
May summer show you God's wondrous ways
And prepare you for heaven's grand delights.
Fr. Andrew Greeley

May your parades be drenched by the cheerful sun
May your loves be smiled on by the friendly moon
May Jesus wait for you when life is done
And may God grant that it not be soon.
Ibid

May those that 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 will know them by their limping.

A special Irish blessing from the heart of a friend:
May good fortune be yours, may your joys never end.
May your blessings be many, the sun shine above you,
Your life bring you gladness, and always... God love you!

May the sound of Irish music
And the lilt of Irish laughter
Fill your heart with gladness
That stays forever after.

May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load,
May the mist of Irish magic shorten every road,
May you taste the sweetest pleasures that fortune 'ere bestowed,
And may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed.

A Prayer for Mary's Month & Mother's Day
Mother Mary, during this the fairest month of all the year, may we always remember that you reveal to us the mother love of God and that the image of Madonna and child is also an image of God and us. Help us to see that God loves each of us with a mother's passion, even greater than the one you experienced when you held Jesus in your arms. And, should St. Peter lock us out of the front door of heaven, please be on guard at the back door so that we may be safe with you, as the Irish say, a half hour before the devil knows we're dead. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Greeley

God bless three times, and three spits for luck.
Said at the birth of a calf

May the love and protection
Jesus, His mother and St. Patrick can give,
be yours in abundance
as long as you live.

The blessing of Mary and the blessing of God,
the blessing of the sun and the moon on their road,
of the man in the east and the man in the west,
and my blessing with thee and be thou blest.
From the Religious Songs of Connacht

May the flower of love never be nipped by the frost of disappointment,
nor shadow of grief fall among your family and friends.

May your neighbours respect you,
trouble neglect you,
angels protect you,
and heaven accept you.

May your joys be as deep as the oceans,
your troubles as light as its foam.
And may you find sweet peace of mind,
wherever you may roam.

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrock,
May your heart be as light as a song,
May each day bring you bright happy hours,
that stay with you all the year long.

When your eyes shall be closing
And your mouth be opening
And your senses be slipping away.
When your heart shall grow cold
And your limbs be old
God comfort your soul that day.

Like the warmth of the sun
And the light of the day,
May the luck of the Irish
shine bright on your way.

May the grace of God’s protection
And His great love abide
Within your home and within the hearts
Of all who dwell inside.

May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load,
May the mist of Irish magic shorten every road,
May you taste the sweetest pleasures that fortune ere bestowed,
lucky stars above you,
sunshine on your way,
many friends to love you,
joy in work and play.
Laughter to outweigh every care,
In your heart a song.
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long!

May your home be filled with laughter
May your pockets be filled with gold.
And may you have all the happiness,
Your Irish heart can hold.

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