SAN DIEGO – March 17, 2012 – Irish and Celtic toasts have been a legendary part of the island culture for centuries, and remain a celebrated part of life today. The Irish revere the spoken word, considering it a gift to inspire, to lighten the heart, and to lift one another up in hard times.
To list every enjoyable, clever Irish toast would take us through next St. Patrick’s Day. But you’ll need at least one authentic Irish toast as you raise a glass of your favorite beverage in a heartfelt salute to Irish culture and all it has contributed to American life.
Following are our Top Ten Favorite Irish Toasts for St. Patrick’s Day to charm your family and friends.
Slainte means To Your Health!
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 pint-and another one!
May the luck of the Irish possess you.
May the devil fly off with your worries.
May God bless you forever and ever.
Here’s to a sweetheart, a bottle, and a friend.
The first beautiful, the second full, the last ever faithful.
Saint Patrick was a gentleman,
Who through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see all those snakes again.
May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and heaven accept you.
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.
Slainte, St. Patrick!
May the luck of the Irish
Lead to happiest heights
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights.
There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
And may they always be.
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 the road rise with you…
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!
Here’s to the land of the shamrock so green,
Here’s to each lad and his darlin colleen,
Here’s to the ones we love dearest and most.
May God bless old Ireland, that’s this Irishman’s toast!
I have known many,
and liked not a few,
but loved only one
and this toast is to you.
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’ll know them by their limping.
May you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.
May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
We drink to your coffin. May it be built from the wood of a hundred year old oak tree that I shall plant tomorrow.
St. Patrick’s Day is a wonderful day to enjoy the company of treasured friends.
May the good Lord take a liking to you… But not too soon!
May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door.
May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up.
May you get all your wishes but one,
so that you will always have something to strive for!
Irish Shamrocks
Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.
If you’re enough lucky to be Irish… You’re lucky enough!
May we be alive at this same time again, or try it in Gaelic: Go mbeirimíd beo ar an am seo arís.
If you were counting, yes there are more than Ten Favorite Irish Toasts. But the Irish have a hard time stopping once they get started. And chances are good by the time you need these toasts, you will have enjoyed enough Irish revels that you didn’t even notice.
Beannachtam na Feile Padraig - Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is President/Owner of the Falcon Valley Group in San Diego, California. Read more Media Migraine in the Communities at The Washington Times. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego.
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