The Irish language has a few toasts or blessings that people have found endearing for generations. Actually, the language has a very rich tradition of proverbs, many of them witty and funny.
We’ll start with some simple Irish language toasts.
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Cheers!
Sláinte! /sloyn-cha/
A hundred thousand welcomes!
Céad míle fáilte /kayd mee-la foyl-cha/
This is a common phrases, and you would use this toast when inviting a close friend into your home, for example.
Good luck!
Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat.
/guh nire-ee on taw lyat/
St Patrick’s Day blessings upon you!
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!
/ban-ock-tee na fay-lah paw-rig ur-iv/
You can listen to a whole lot of St Patrick’s Day Irish sayings over at Irish-Sayings.com.
Happy New Year!
Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit!
/ah-vleen fwee vosh-ah ditch/
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There is a great toast often done at weddings – cant recall the start but says things such as “if you must cheat, cheat death…” Can you give us the Gaelic of this. I am told it was originally in Gaelic – and I would like to have it for my wedding. Maybe by then I will be able to pronounce it correctly!
Thanks and hello! Katie Spelman
Below is one version. There are several.
Seo sláinte an tséitéara, an ghadaí, an trodaí, agus an óltóra!
Má dhéanann tu séitéireacht, go ndéana tú séitéireacht ar an mbás,
Má ghoideann tú, go ngoide tú croí mná;
Má throideann tú, go dtroide tú i leith do bhráthar,
Agus má ólann tú, go n-óla tú liom féin.
Translation:
If you cheat, may you cheat death.
If you steal, may you steal a woman’s heart.
If you fight, may you fight for a brother.
And if you drink, may you drink with me.
or (alternative)
And if you drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
Another version, but I don’t have the Gaelic.
There are 4 things you must never do: lie, steal, cheat, or drink.
But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love.
If you must steal, steal away from bad company.
If you must cheat, cheat death.
And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away…
May you never lie, steal, or cheat:
But if you must lie, may you lie beside me all the nights of my life,
And if you must steal, may you steal away with my heart,
And if you must cheat, may you cheat death, for I could never live a day without you.