The 80 Best Irish Birthday Wishes, Blessings, & Toasts

If you have an Irish friend, colleague, or loved one with a birthday coming up, it’s a wonderful idea to give them a birthday toast, message, or blessing that pays homage to their country of origin. Along with being the land of shamrocks and leprechauns, green fields and Guinness, Ireland is well-known for its folklore, proverbs, and esteemed poets—which leaves us with many options for touching, funny, and brief birthday blessings. Read on for more traditional Irish birthday messages, quotes, prayers, and more!

Good Irish Wishes for Birthdays

May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back.
May you live to be a hundred years (and an extra year to repent).
May the roof above us never fall in, and those gathered beneath it never fall out.
May you grow old in the face, be treasured and cared for with grace.
May your thoughts and blessings overcount the shamrocks that grow.

Section 1 of 9:

Traditional Irish Birthday Blessings

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Use a traditional Irish blessing like “may the road rise up to meet you.” There are many phrases and expressions that are endemic to Ireland, particularly given the nation’s rich history and proud culture. Some of these expressions are actually written in Irish Gaelic (the native language of Ireland), while others are Irish blessings that have been commonly told and retold through the generations:^{[1]
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- Lá breithe shona duit. (Irish Gaelic for “Happy birthday to you”).
- Go maire tú i bhfad. (Irish Gaelic for “May you live a long life”).
- Go maire tú an lá. (Irish Gaelic for “Many happy returns of the day”).
- Go maire tú an céad. (Irish Gaelic for “Wishing another century of life for you”).
- May the Lord grant you plenty of years to live.
- May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to make enemies, and fast to make friends!
- May your heart be light and happy, may your smile be big and wide, and may your pockets always have a coin or two inside.
- May you live a long life full of gladness and health, with a pocket full of gold as the least of your wealth. May the dreams you hold dearest be those which come true, may the kindness you spread keep returning to you.
- May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rain fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
- Many glad returns I wish thee of this birthday. Happy, sweet—may the years that thou shalt see make thy life with joy complete.
- May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun and find your shoulder to light on, to bring luck, happiness, and riches to today, tomorrow, and beyond.

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Funny Irish Birthday Blessings

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Give some good craic with a funny birthday blessing. Irish people certainly have a reputation for being witty and clever, so the same should extend to any Celtic birthday blessing. Below, you’ll find a collection of traditional and hilarious birthday blessings that are well known among most Irishmen and Irishwomen:
- May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load, may the mist of Irish magic shorten every road, and may all your friends remember all the favours you are owed!
- 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!’”
- Here’s to me and here’s to you, and here’s to love and laughter—I’ll be true as long as you, and not one moment after!
- May your glass be ever full, may the roof over your head always be strong, and may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
- May those who love you love you, and those who don’t love you, may God turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so you’ll know them by their limping.
- Here’s to a long life and a merry one, a quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl/fine lad and an honest one. A cold pint—and another one!
- May you live to be a hundred years (and an extra year to repent).
- May the grass grow long on the road to hell for the want of use.
- May the good Lord take a liking to you…but not too soon!
- May the doctor never earn a pound out of you.

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Sweet Irish Birthday Blessings

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Treat someone to a grand birthday with a sweet, sentimental message. A cute and heartfelt birthday blessing works for any person in your life—from colleagues and teachers to family members and significant others. And these particular Irish birthday blessings are perfect for anyone you know with Irish roots, heritage, or simply a fascination with all things Gaelic:^{[2]
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- May the roof above us never fall in, and those gathered beneath it never fall out.
- May you grow old in the face, be treasured and cared for with grace.
- May the look of every good news and the other side of every bad news be towards you.
- May you have all the happiness and luck that life can hold—and at the end of all your rainbows, may you find a pot of gold.
- May green be the grass you walk on, May blue be the skies above you, That pure be the joys that surround you, May true be the hearts that love you.
- 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.
- For each petal on the shamrock, this brings a wish your way. Good health, good luck, and happiness, for today and every day.
- May you always walk in sunshine, may you never want for more. May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.
- May your day be touched with a bit of Irish luck, brightened by a song in your heart, and warmed by the smiles of the people you love.
- 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 may desire.

Section 4 of 9:

Short Irish Birthday Blessings

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Choose a short but sound birthday message for a text or card. Sometimes, less is more! A birthday blessing can be just as meaningful while still being concise, and you sometimes don’t need to say too much to express your affection and well wishes. Especially for someone you don’t know too well, a simple message like “wishing you good luck in all your future endeavors” can be more than appropriate, says etiquette coach Tami Claytor.^{[3]
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Tami Claytor
Etiquette Coach

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- May the heavenly sunlight glimmer on you.
- May the openings in your net not exceed the fish in it.
- May Saint Patrick not weaken your hand.
- May your thoughts and blessings overcount the shamrocks that grow.
- May you be poor in adversity and rich in good fortune.
- May the luck of the Irish be with you on your special day.
- May the most you wish for be the least you get.
- May you have a long life, a wet mouth, and be buried in Ireland.
- May you have the health of the salmon.
- May bad luck follow you for the rest of your life, but never catch up.
- May I see you grey and combing your grandchildren’s hair.
- May the Lord keep you in His hand and never close His fist too tight.

Section 5 of 9:

Irish Birthday Blessings for Family Members

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Wish your clan of loved ones a wonderful birthday with these blessings. Whether it’s the birthday of your parent, sibling, grandparent, child, or anyone else in your family, you should definitely use an Irish birthday wish to celebrate their big day. These blessings work great for any member of your teaghlach that you hold dear:^{[4]
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- May you have all of life’s happiness and the luck that you can hold—and at the end of all your beautiful rainbows, may you find a pot of gold.
- I hope the blessings of St. Patrick will be upon you and your loved ones on your birthday.
- I hope the love and shelter that Saint Patrick can give will be yours in abundance as long as you live.
- I wish that the good saints secure you and bless you today—may worries ignore you each step of the way.
- 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 you never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is best forgotten.
- May you have rye bread to do you good, wheaten bread to sweeten your blood, barley bread to do you no harm, and oatmeal bread to strengthen your arm.
- May the sun shine all day long, everything go right and nothing wrong. May those you love bring love back to you, and may all the wishes you wish come true!
- May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace. May your troubles grow few as your Irish blessings increase. May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
- To live above with the Saints we love, Ah, that is the purest glory. To live below with the Saints we know, Ah, that is another story.
- May your blessings be many, the sunshine above you, your life bring you gladness, and always, God love you!

Section 6 of 9:

Irish Birthday Blessings for Friends

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Wish your mate a blessed birthday with a fitting Irish message. The Irish have a saying that best friends are like four-leaf clovers—hard to find and lucky to have. We agree wholeheartedly with this message, which is why we’ve put special thought into these Irish birthday toasts for your nearest and dearest chosen family (or chairde, as they say on the Emerald Isle).^{[5]
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- Wishing you a rainbow for sunlight after showers, and miles and miles of Irish smiles for golden happy hours.
- Wishing you shamrocks after your doorway, for luck and laughter, too, and a host of friends that never ends each day your whole life through.
- May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks, may your heart be light as a song. May each day bring you bright, happy hours that stay with you all the year long.
- We drink to your coffin. May it be built from the wood of a hundred-year-old oak tree that I shall plant tomorrow.
- May you always have work for your hands to do. May your pockets always hold a coin or two. May the sun shine bright on your windowpane. May the rainbow be certain to follow every rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, and may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
- May your hands be forever clasped in friendship and your hearts joined forever in love. Your lives are very special, and God has touched you in many ways. May his blessings rest upon you and fill all your coming days.
- 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 brooks and trees and singing hills join in the chorus, too. And every gentle wind that blows send happiness to you.
- For each leaf on the shamrock, I bring a prayer your way. Wishes of good energy, luck, and joy for each and every day.
- May you always have these blessings—a soft breeze when summer comes, a warm fireside in winter, and always the warm, soft smile of a friend.

Section 7 of 9:

Irish Quotes for Birthdays

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Borrow a significant quote from an Irish poet, author, or public figure. For a relatively small country, Ireland has had a massive impact on the world of arts and literature. From celebrated authors like Oscar Wilde and James Joyce to philosophers and playwrights like Iris Murdoch and George Bernard Shaw, the Irish people can count many incredible writers and thinkers among their numbers. So why not borrow one of their lines for your birthday message? Just be sure to choose one that fits the recipient’s personality, interests, and attitude:^{[6]
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- “May you live all the days of your life.” – Jonathan Swift
- “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw
- “Think where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends.” – William Butler Yeats
- “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” – Samuel Beckett
- “We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality.” – Iris Murdoch
- “Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.” – Oliver Goldsmith
- “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
- “With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?” – Oscar Wilde
- “It's lovely to know that the world can't interfere with the inside of your head.” – Frank McCourt
- “When you are old and gray and full of sleep, and nodding by the fire, take down this book. And slowly read, and dream of the soft look your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep.” – William Butler Yeats
- “Think you're escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home.” – James Joyce

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Irish Birthday Prayers

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Select a birthday prayer for a loved one who’s both religious and Irish. Faith and religion is a big part of Ireland’s culture and history, so you may want to go with an actual prayer for your friend or family member’s birthday blessing. You could choose a classic Irish blessing that nods to spirituality, opt for a relevant Bible verse, or select a specific prayer for one of Ireland’s patron saints (e.g., Saint Brigid):^{[7]
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- “Notice everything / Correct a little / Cherish the brethren. / In thought – Faith / In word – Truth / In Deed – Courage / In life – Service.” — St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- “May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord let his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you; May the the Lord uncover his face to you, and bring you peace. Amen.” – The Holy Bible, Numbers 6:24-26.
- “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.” – Traditional Irish Blessing
- “Brigid of the Mantle, encompass us,
  Guide our hands in yours,
  Remind us how to kindle the hearth.
  To keep it bright, to preserve the flame.
  Your hands upon ours,
  Our hands within yours,
  To kindle the light,
  Both day and night.” – Hearth Keeper Prayer (Excerpt)^{[8]
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- “May the blessing of light be on you,
  Light without and light within.
  May the blessed sunlight shine upon you and warm your heart
  Till it glows like a great fire,
  And strangers may warm themselves as well as friends.
  And may the light shine out of the eyes of you
  Like a candle set in the window of a house,
  Bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.
  May you ever have a kindly greeting for people
  As you’re going along the roads.
  And now may the Lord bless you,
  And bless you kindly.
  Amen.
  May God give us the light and glory of heaven. Amen.” – Irish Blessing of Light
EXPERT TIP

Fr. Scott Bailey
Catholic Priest
Father Scott Bailey is a Catholic Priest based in Denver, Colorado. He currently serves as a Pastor at Risen Christ Catholic Parish in Denver. Father Scott is the face of Risen Christ’s YouTube channel, where he creates a variety of engaging content explaining aspects of Catholicism. He is known for his brief but meaningful sermons, and for making Catholic teaching and spirituality accessible to all. He has a Masters of Divinity from St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, an S.T.B. from the Lateran University, and a BA in philosophy from Regis University.

Fr. Scott Bailey
Catholic Priest

To write a blessing for another person, focus on affirmation and encouragement. Affirm the goodness you already see in the person. Recognize their virtues and strengths. Encourage them by sharing your hopes and prayers for their spiritual journey. Keeping it personal and heartfelt will make it meaningful.

Section 9 of 9:

How do you say “Happy Birthday” in Irish?

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The best way to say “happy birthday” in Irish is “Lá breithe shona duit.” This Irish Gaelic phrase literally translates to “Happy birthday to you” and is pronounced as law breh-ha shun-ah ditch. You can also use the abbreviated version, which is “Breithlá shona duit.”^{[9]
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- Keep in mind that most Irish people nowadays use English as their first language, so they’re likely to also use “happy birthday” and other English expressions.