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CHAPTER 1
Blessings and Toasts
People from all parts of the world appreciate and appropriate Irish blessings and toasts. It's a testament to the emotions they engender, which run a wide gamut. Many of the blessings and toasts are heartfelt and touching, while others — it's the Irish after all — are distinctly droll and laugh-out-loud entertaining.
May the road rise to meet you.
May your joys be as deep as the oceans,
May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet,
May your day be touched by a bit of Irish luck,
May the lilt of Irish laughter Lighten every load.
May the power of God guide you,
May you have all the happiness And luck that life can hold.
May your mornings bring joy And your evenings bring peace.
May you have:
May your blessings outnumber The shamrocks that grow,
May your troubles be less And your blessings be more,
May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks,
May your neighbors respect you,
May you always have Walls for the winds,
May you have love that never ends,
May the sun shine all day long,
May you Live long,
May you always walk in sunshine,
May the blessing of the rain be on you,
May God grant you many years to live,
May you have the hindsight to know where you've been,
May peace and plenty bless your world With joy that long endures.
Always remember to forget The things that made you sad,
May you have warm words on a cold evening,
May the morning sun stir you from the bed,
May your faith be strong as a mountain wall And subtle as the early morning mists.
May the autumn leaves carpet beneath your feet And the angels lead you through the classday maze.
Dance as if no one were watching,
Here's a health to all those that we love.
Here's to health, peace, and prosperity.
Like the gold of the sun,
Bless the house And bless the hearth.
May your faith be strong,
May you be blessed with Warmth in your home,
May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light.
For each petal on the shamrock,
Good health, good luck, and happiness For today and every day.
Here's that we may always have A clean shirt,
May the frost never afflict your spuds,
May the embers from the open hearth warm your hands,
May you always have work for your hands to do,
Leprechauns, castles, good luck, and laughter,
Wishing you a rainbow For sunlight after showers,
May the good saints protect you And bless you today.
As the Lord sent His disciples into the world And assured them He would be with them until the end of time,
Whenever there is happiness Hope you'll be there too.
May you taste the sweetest pleasures That fortune ere bestowed,
May joy and peace surround you,
May good luck be your friend In whatever you do.
These things, I warmly wish for you:
May brooks and trees and singing hills Join in the chorus too.
Lucky stars above you,
When the first light of sun,
May a rainbow gladden your eyes,
May you enjoy the four greatest blessings:
May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun And find your shoulder to light on,
May you live a long life Full of gladness and health,
May the friendships you make,
May God be with you and bless you,
May you live as long as you want And never want as long as you live.
May you have food and raiment,
May the God of the dawn awaken you,
May your days be many And your troubles be few,
May your glass be ever full,
May your joys be as bright as the morning And your sorrows merely be shadows that fade In the sunlight of love.
May the blessing of God's soft rain be on you,
May the blessings of each day be the blessings you need most.
May God give you For every storm, a rainbow,
May the blessing of light be upon you:
May the sun shine all day long,
May love and laughter light your days And warm your heart and home.
The love and affection of the angels be to you,
May you never find trouble All crowdin' and shovin'.
May brooks and trees And singing hills Join in the chorus too,
Come and take potluck with me.
May good fortune be yours.
May your blessings be many,
Grant me a sense of humor, Lord,
Let's put on our dancin' shoes And wear our shamrocks green,
The future is not ours to know And it may never be,
I asked a leprechaun to bring A pot of gold to you.
Near a misty stream in Ireland In the hollow of a tree Live mystical, magical leprechauns Who are clever as can be.
Long live the Irish!
May God guard you Through each day and night And ever watch above you.
There's much in the Irish names,
Wishing you always A bright sky above,
May God in His wisdom and infinite love Look down on you always from Heaven above.
God needed laughter in the world,
May God bless you now and always With the gift of Irish cheer,
Here's a special Irish wish,
I wish you lots of good luck No matter what the day.
Irish wishes are prayers indeed,
All the little leprechauns In Ireland's sunny isle Couldn't bring you all the luck I'm wishing you the while.
May you always be wearing a big, happy smile And really enjoying each day.
Sure and this just isn't blarney For what I say is true.
There's the joy of old Killarney In these wishes meant for you.
May good luck befriend you And kind fortune send you Whatever your heart may be wishin'.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Irish Curses, Blessings, and Toasts"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Nicholas Nigro.
Excerpted by permission of Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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