Irish Quotes, Sayings, Toasts, Proverbs

Irish Quotes, Sayings, Toasts & Proverbs St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time -- a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic. Adrienne Cook Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat. Alex Levine An Irishman is the only man in the world who will step over the bodies of a dozen naked women to get to a bottle of stout. Anonymous For the young Gaels of Ireland Are the lads that drive me mad, For half their words need footnotes And half their rhymes are bad. Arthur Guiterman An Irishman can be worried by the consciousness that there is nothing to worry about. Austin O'Malley Other people have a nationality. The Irish and the Jews have a psychosis. Brendan Behan I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society, except that which makes to road safer, the beer stronger, the old men and women warmer in the winter, and happier in the summer. Brendan Behan Ireland is where strange tales begin and happy endings are possible. Charles Haughey Irishness is not primarily a question of birth or blood or language; it is the condition of being involved in the Irish situation, and usually of being mauled by it. Conor Cruise O'Brien For an Irishman, talking is a dance. Deborah Love Like an Irishman's obligation, all on the one side, and always yours. English saying I showed my appreciation of my native land in the usual Irish way by getting out of it as soon as I possibly could. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Put an Irishman on the spit and you can always get another Irishman to turn him. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) An Irishman's heart is nothing but his imagination. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) My one claim to originality among Irishmen is that I have never made a speech. George Moore When Irish eyes are smiling, watch your step. Gerald Kersh The Irish do not want anyone to wish them well; they want everyone to wish their enemies ill. Harold Nicolson The problem with Ireland is that it's a country full of genius, but with absolutely no talent. Hugh Leonard But the greatest love -- the love above all loves, Even greater than that of a mother... Is the tender, passionate, undying love, Of one beer drunken slob for another. Irish ballad May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand. Irish blessing Holy Mother take the harm of the years away from you. Irish blessing Health and a long life to you. Land without rent to you. A child every year to you. And if you can't go to heaven, May you at least die in Ireland. Irish blessing 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. Irish blessing May the roof above us never fall in. And may the friends gathered below it never fall out. Irish blessing May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past. Irish blessing 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. Irish blessing May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live. Irish blessing May you live to be a hundred years, With one extra year to repent! Irish blessing May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, May good luck pursue you each morning and night. Irish blessing Walls for the wind, And a roof for the rain, And drinks beside the fire -Laughter to cheer you And those you love near you, And all that your heart may desire! Irish blessing 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. Irish blessing May those who 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'll know them by their limping. Irish curse May the curse of Mary Malone and her nine blind illegitimate children chase you so far over the hills of Damnation that the Lord himself can't find you with a telescope. Irish curse The future is not set, there is no fate but what we make for ourselves. Irish proverb Two shorten the road. Irish proverb God's help is nearer than the door. Irish proverb Praise the child and you praise the mother. Irish proverb A boy's best friend is his mother and there's no spancel stronger than her apron string. Irish proverb Mothers hold their children's hands for just a little while... And their hearts forever. Irish proverb It is the good horse that draws its own cart. Irish proverb It's easy to halve the potato where there's love. Irish proverb A Christmas wish -- may you never forget what is worth remembering, or remember what is best forgotten. Irish proverb Your feet will bring you where your heart is. Irish proverb Always remember to forget The friends that proved untrue. But never forget to remember Those that have stuck by you. Irish proverb Twenty years a child; twenty years running wild; twenty years a mature man -- and after that, praying. Irish proverb Now sweetly lies old Ireland Emerald green beyond the foam, Awakening sweet memories, Calling the heart back home. Irish proverb 'Tis better to buy a small bouquet And give to your friend this very day, Than a bushel of roses white and red To lay on his coffin after he's dead. Irish proverb Humor to a man is like a feather pillow. It is filled with what is easy to get but gives great comfort. Irish proverb Many an Irish property was increased by the lace of a daughter's petticoat. Irish proverb A wild goose never reared a tame gosling. Irish proverb If you lie down with dogs you'll rise with fleas. Irish proverb To the raven her own chick is white. Irish proverb Marry a mountain girl and you marry the whole mountain. Irish proverb As you ramble through life, whatever be your goal; Keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole. Irish proverb Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege. Irish proverb God is good, but never dance in a small boat. Irish proverb Life is like a cup of tea, it's all in how you make it Irish proverb A drink precedes a story. Irish proverb A friend's eye is a good mirror. Irish proverb A hen is heavy when carried far. Irish proverb A hound's food is in its legs. Irish proverb A light heart lives long. Irish proverb A little kinship is better than a lot of charity. Irish proverb A lock is better than suspicion. Irish proverb A penny gets another penny. Irish proverb A scholar's ink lasts longer than a martyr's blood. Irish proverb A ship often sank beside the harbour. Irish proverb A silent mouth is melodious. Irish proverb A trade not properly learned is an enemy. Irish proverb A trout in the pot is better than a salmon in the sea. Irish proverb A watched kettle never boils. Irish proverb A windy day is not a day for thatching. Irish proverb A word is more enduring than worldy wealth. Irish proverb Age is honorable and youth is noble. Irish proverb An empty sack does not stand. Irish proverb An Irishman is never at peace except when he's fighting. Irish proverb An Irishman is never drunk as long as he can hold onto one blade of grass and not fall off the face of the earth. Irish proverb An old broom knows the dirty corners best. Irish proverb As the big hound is, so will the pup be. Irish proverb As the old cock crows so the young cock learns. Irish proverb Bad as I like ye, it's worse without ye. Irish proverb Be neither intimate nor distant with the clergy. Irish proverb Better be quarreling than lonesome. Irish proverb Both your friend and your enemy think you will never die. Irish proverb Broken Irish is better than clever English. Irish proverb Distant hills look green. Irish proverb Do not mistake a goat's beard for a fine stallion's tail. Irish proverb Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you fight with your neighbor. It makes you shoot at your landlord, and it makes you miss him. Irish proverb Even a small thorn causes festering. Irish proverb Every patient is a doctor after his cure. Irish proverb Every terrier is bold in the doorway of its own house. Irish proverb Every tide has an ebb save the tide of graces. Irish proverb Everyone is wise till he speaks. Irish proverb Face the sun, but turn your back to the storm. Irish proverb Firelight will not let you to read fine stories but it will warm you and you won't see the dust on the floor. Irish proverb Food is a good workhorse. Irish proverb God made time, but man made haste. Irish proverb Good as drink is, it ends in thirst. Irish proverb Have a mouth of ivy and a heart of holly. Irish proverb He who comes with a story to you brings two away from you. Irish proverb He who gets a name for early rising can stay in bed until midday. Irish proverb He'd offer you an egg if you promised not to break the shell. Irish proverb Hoping to recoup ruins the gambler. Irish proverb If you do not sow in the spring you will not reap in the autumn. Irish proverb If you want to be criticized, marry. Irish proverb Instinct is stronger than upbringing. Irish proverb It is a bad hen that does not scratch herself. Irish proverb It is a long road that has no turning. Irish proverb It is better to be a coward for a minute than dead the rest of your life. Irish proverb It is better to exist unknown to the law. Irish proverb It is not a secret if it is known to three people. Irish proverb It is often that a person's mouth broke his nose. Irish proverb It is sweet to drink but bitter to pay for. Irish proverb It is the quiet pigs that eat the meal. Irish proverb It's for her own good that the cat purrs. Irish proverb It's no use boiling your cabbage twice. Irish proverb Its no use carrying an umbrella if your shoes are leaking. Irish proverb It's not a matter of upper and lower class but of being up a while and down a while. Irish proverb It's the deaf people that create the lies. Irish proverb Lack of resource has hanged many a person. Irish proverb Let your bargain suit your purpose. Irish proverb Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout. Irish proverb Love all men -- except lawyers. Irish proverb Make the fence or you will pay the plundering. Irish proverb May you have a bright future -- as the chimney sweep said to his son. Irish proverb Mere words do not feed the friars. Irish proverb Nature breaks through the eyes of the cat. Irish proverb Need teaches a plan. Irish proverb Neither give cherries to pigs nor advice to a fool. Irish proverb Patience is a poultice for all wounds. Irish proverb People live in each other's shelter. Irish proverb Praise the ripe field, not the green corn. Irish proverb Put silk on a goat, and it's still a goat. Irish proverb Quiet people are well able to look after themselves. Irish proverb Snuff at a wake is fine if there's nobody sneezing over the snuffbox. Irish proverb Soft words butter no parsnips but they won't harden the heart of a cabbage either. Irish proverb The beginning and end of one's life is to draw closer to the fire. Irish proverb The best way to keep loyalty in a man's heart is to keep money in his purse. Irish proverb The day will come when the cow will have use for her tail. Irish proverb The heaviest ear of grain bends its head the lowest. Irish proverb The hole is more honorable than the patch. Irish proverb The light heart lives long. Irish proverb The longest road out is the shortest road home. Irish proverb The man with the boots does not mind where he places his foot. Irish proverb The mills of God grind slowly but they grind finely. Irish proverb The old pipe gives the sweetest smoke. Irish proverb The older the fiddle, the sweeter the tune. Irish proverb The raggy colt often made a powerful horse. Irish proverb The smallest thing outlives the human being. Irish proverb The thief is no threat to the beggar. Irish proverb The three sharpest things in the world: a thorn in the mud, a hemp rope, a fool's word. Irish proverb The tiredness leaves but the profit remains. Irish proverb The treachery returns to the betrayer. Irish proverb The wearer best knows where the shoe pinches. Irish proverb The well fed does not understand the lean. Irish proverb The work praises the man. Irish proverb The world would not make a racehorse of a donkey. Irish proverb There are two tellings to every story. Irish proverb There is hope from the sea, but none from the grave. Irish proverb There is no fireside like your own fireside. Irish proverb There is no luck except where there is discipline. Irish proverb There is no need like the lack of a friend. Irish proverb There is no wise man without fault. Irish proverb There is often the look of an angel on the Devil himself. Irish proverb There tends to be a black sheep in even the whitest flock. Irish proverb There's no need to fear the wind if your haystacks are tied down. Irish proverb There's no worth to a story without an author. Irish proverb Thirst is the end of drinking and sorrow is the end of drunkenness. Irish proverb Three diseases without shame: Love, itch and thirst. Irish proverb Time is a good storyteller. Irish proverb Twenty years a child; twenty years running wild; twenty years a mature man, and after that, praying. Irish proverb Two people see a thing that an individual does not see. Irish proverb Two thirds of the work is the semblance. Irish proverb Walk straight, my son -- as the old crab said to the young crab. Irish proverb What butter and whiskey will not cure there's no cure for. Irish proverb What fills the eye fills the heart. Irish proverb When a twig grows hard it is difficult to twist it. Every beginning is weak. Irish proverb When fire is applied to a stone it cracks. Irish proverb When the apple is ripe it will fall. Irish proverb When the cat is outside, the mouse does be dancing. Irish proverb When the drop is inside, the sense is outside. Irish proverb When the liquor was gone the fun was gone. Irish proverb You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Irish proverb You must live with a person to know a person. If you want to know me come and live with me. Irish proverb You'll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind. Irish proverb You'll not find a thrush in a hawk's nest. Irish proverb Your friend and your enemy think you will never die. Irish proverb Your son is your son today, but your daughter is your daughter forever. Irish proverb Youth does not mind where it sets its foot. Irish proverb Youth sheds many a skin. The steed does not retain its speed forever. Irish proverb You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was. Irish proverb May the leprechauns be near you, To spread luck along your way. And may all the Irish angels, Smile upon you St. Patrick's Day. Irish toast Beannachtam na Femle Padraig ("Happy St. Patrick's Day!") Irish toast May I see you grey And combing your grandchildren's hair. Irish toast May there be a generation of children On the children of your children. Irish toast To all the days here and after May they be filled with fond memories, happiness, and laughter. Irish toast May you never be without a drop at Christmas. Irish toast May the Lord keep you in his hand and never close his fist too tight on you, and may the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be toward us in the New Year. Irish toast May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty. Irish toast When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let's all get drunk, and go to heaven! Irish toast Best while you have it use your breath There is no drinking after death. Irish toast For each petal on the shamrock This brings a wish your way-Good health, good luck, and happiness For today and every day. Irish toast Go n-eiri an t-adh leat. ("Good luck.") Irish toast Here's to eyes in your heads and none in your spuds. Irish toast I wish you health, I wish you well, and happiness galore. I wish you luck for you and friends; what could I wish you more? May your joys be as deep as the oceans, your troubles as light as its foam. And may you find, sweet peace of mind, where ever you may roam. Irish toast May brooks and trees and singing hills Join in the chorus, too. And every gentle wind that blows Send happiness to you. Irish toast May friendship, like wine, improve as time advances. And may we always have old wine, old friends, and young cares. Irish toast May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, but never catch up. Irish toast May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future. Irish toast May the blessings of light be upon you, Light without and light within. And in all your comings and goings, May you ever have a kindly greeting From them you meet along the road. Irish toast May the Devil cut the toes off our foes, that we may know them by their limping. Irish toast May the Devil say a prayer for you. Irish toast May the enemies of Ireland never meet a friend. Irish toast May the face of every good news And the back of every bad news Be toward us. Irish toast May the Good Lord take a liking to you, ... but not too soon! Irish toast May the grass grow long on the road to hell for want of use. Irish toast 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. Irish toast May the joys of today Be those of tomorrow. The goblets of life Hold no dregs of sorrow. Irish toast May the luck of the Irish Lead to happiest heights And the highway you travel Be lined with green lights. Irish toast May the most you wish for Be the least you get. Irish toast May the rocks in your field turn to gold. Irish toast May the ships at sea never be bottoms up. Irish toast May the strength of three be in your journey. Irish toast May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rains fall soft upon your fields. Irish toast May the winds of fortune sail you, May you sail a gentle sea. May it always be the other guy who says, "this drink's on me." Irish toast May there always be work for your hands to do, May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane, May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. Irish toast May there be a fox on your fishing hook And a hare on your bait And may you kill no fish Until St. Brigid's Day. Irish toast May you always have a cool head and a warm heart. Irish toast May you be poor in misfortune, Rich in blessings, Slow to make enemies, And quick to make friends. But rich or poor, quick or slow, May you know nothing but happiness From this day forward. Irish toast May you die in bed at 95 years, Shot by a jealous wife! Irish toast May you get all your wishes but one so you always have something to strive for! Irish toast May you have food and raiment, A soft pillow for your head, May you be forty years in heaven Before the devil knows you're dead. Irish toast May you have the health of a salmon -- a strong heart and a wet mouth. Irish toast May you live long, Die happy, And rate a mansion in heaven. Irish toast May you live to be a hundred years with one extra year to repent. Irish toast May you look back fifty years from now and agree that today was the worst day of your married life. Irish toast May you taste the sweetest pleasures that fortune ere bestowed, and may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed. Irish toast May your bank account always be bigger than your troubles. Irish toast May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, And may trouble avoid you wherever you go. Irish toast May your health be like the capital of Ireland -Always Dublin! Irish toast May your heart be warm and happy With the lilt of Irish laughter Every day in every way And forever and ever after. Irish toast May your home always be too small to hold all your friends. Irish toast May your laugh, your love and your wine be plenty, thus your happiness will be nothing less. Irish toast May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, angels protect you, and heaven accept you! Irish toast May your right hand always Be stretched out in friendship And never in want. Irish toast May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks. May your heart be as light as a song. May each day bring you bright happy hours, That stay with you all year long. Irish toast May your troubles be less And your blessings be more. And nothing but happiness Come through your door. Irish toast Merry met, and merry part, I drink to thee with all my heart. Irish toast No wasps near your honey, but bees in your hive. Irish toast The health of all Ireland and of County Mayo, And when that much is dead, may we still be on the go. From the County of Meath, the health of the hag. Not of her but her drink is the reason we brag. Your health one and all, from one wall to the other, And you outside there-speak up, brother! Irish toast A toast to your coffin. May it be made of 100 year old oak. And may we plant the tree together, tomorrow. Irish toast Bless your little Irish heart -- and every other Irish part. Irish toast Fad saol agat. ("Long life to you.") Irish toast Four blessings upon you... Older whiskey Younger women Faster horses More money Irish toast Here's a toast to your enemies' enemies! Irish toast Here's that we may always have A clean shirt A clean conscience And a punt in our pocket. Irish toast Here's to a fellow who smiles When life runs along like a song. And here's to the lad who can smile When everything goes dead wrong. Irish toast 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! Irish toast Here's to a sweetheart, a bottle, and a friend. The first beautiful, the second full, the last ever faithful. Irish toast Here's to all of the women who have used me and abused me... And may they continue to do so! Irish toast Here's to beefsteak when you're hungry, Whiskey when you're dry, All the women you'll ever want, And heaven when you die. 0 Irish toast