Irish Proverbs and Blessings
Every published record on the site, in one list. Each one is an Irish proverb, blessing, toast or prayer that we could tie to a printed dictionary, a state source or a historical collection. And each record page shows exactly which.
The collection is deliberately smaller than the lists of "Irish proverbs" you will find elsewhere. A great deal of what circulates online has no source behind it, and some of it is not Irish at all but a back-translation from English. Where we could not cite something, we left it out rather than pass it on.
Sayings still under review do not appear here. They exist in the repository as drafts and get no page until the question against them is settled.
92 sayings each with its source
- Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eileIt takes one to know one.
- An áit a mbíonn deatach bíonn tineThere is no smoke without fire.
- An ní nach bhfeiceann súil ní bhrónann croíWhat the eye sees not, the heart rues not.
- An té a bhuailfeadh mo mhadra bhuailfeadh sé mé féinWhoever strikes my dog strikes me.
- An té nach bhfuil láidir ní foláir dó bheith glicWhoever is not strong had better be clever.
- Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anamMay he rest at God’s right hand.
- Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanamMay she rest at God’s right hand.
- Ar mhaithe leis féin a bhíonn an cat ag crónánThe cat purrs for its own benefit.
- Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoineWe live in one another's shelter.
- Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoineWe live in one another's shelter.
- As an obair a thagann an fhoghlaimLearning comes out of the doing.
- Bainfidh an fharraige a cuid féin amachThe sea will have its own.
- Beannacht Dé lena anamGod rest his soul.
- Beannacht Dé lena hanamGod rest her soul.
- Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorachThere will come another day; there will be another chance.
- Bíonn siúlach scéalachThe traveller has the tales to tell.
- Bíonn súil le muir ach ní bhíonn súil le huaighAll may return but the dead.
- Cad é a dhéanfadh mac an chait ach luch a mharú?Like father, like son.
- Capall na hoibre an biaOne must eat to work.
- Céad míle fáilteA hundred thousand welcomes.
- Den cheird an cleachtadh; namhaid don cheird gan a cleachtadhPractice makes perfect.
- Dia duitHello.
- Fad saoil duitLong life to you.
- Fáilte roimh bhocht is nochtEverybody is welcome, whatever their circumstances.
- Go dté tú slánMay you go safely.
- Go dtí tú slánMay you come back safe.
- Go dtuga Dia grásta na buanseasmhachta dúinnMay God give us the grace of perseverance.
- Go gcasa Dia an tsláinte ortMay God restore your health.
- Go gcuire Dia an t-ádh ortMay God send you luck.
- Go gcuire Dia rath ortMay God prosper you.
- Go maire sibh bhur saol nuaMay you enjoy your new life together.
- Go maire tú an céadMay you live to be a hundred.
- Go maire tú an láMany happy returns of the day.
- Go maire tú is go gcaithe tú éMay you live to enjoy it and wear it.
- Go n-éirí an bóthar leatMay the road rise to meet you.
- Go n-éirí an bóthar leat Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl Go lonraí an ghrian go te ar d'aghaidh Go dtite an bháisteach go mín ar do pháirceanna Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís, Go gcoinní Dia i mbos A láimhe thú.May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
- Go n-éirí do bhóthar leatMay your journey go well.
- Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a hanamMay God have mercy on her soul.
- Go ndéana Dia trócaire orthuMay God have mercy on them.
- Go raibh maith agatThank you.
- Go saolaí Dia éMay God grant him a long life.
- Is binn béal ina thostSilence is golden.
- Is deacair ceann críonna a chur ar cholainn ógYou cannot put an old head on young shoulders.
- Is fada siar an rud a chuirfeadh Dia aniarNothing is beyond the reach of God.
- Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinteHealth is better than wealth.
- Is fearr focal sa chúirt ná bonn sa sparánA friend in court is better than a penny in the purse.
- Is fearr lán doirn de cheird ná lán mála d'órA handful of skill is better than a bagful of gold.
- Is fearr uaigneas maith ná droch-chuideachtaBetter good solitude than bad company.
- Is gaire cabhair Dé ná an dorasGod is never far away when you need help.
- Is maith an scéalaí an aimsirTime will tell.
- Is maith scéal gan drochscéalNo news is good news.
- Is minic a rinne bromach gioblach capall cumasachMany a ragged colt made a fine horse.
- Is olc an ghaoth nach séideann do dhuine éiginIt is an ill wind that blows nobody good.
- Is teann gach madra ag a dhoras féinEvery dog is bold at his own door.
- Is túisce deoch ná scéalOffer a drink before you ask for news.
- Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona DuitHappy St Patrick’s Day.
- Mair, a chapaill, agus gheobhaidh tú féarLive, horse, and you will get grass. Promised help that comes too slowly.
- Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh síPraise the young and they will flourish.
- Mol an óige is tiocfaidh síYouth responds to praise.
- Molann an obair an saorThe work praises the workman.
- Ná caith an t-uisce salach amach go mbeadh an t-uisce glan istighKeep what you have until the replacement is real.
- Ná déan nós agus ná bris nósNeither make nor break a custom.
- Ní bheidh a leithéid arís annWe shall not see his like again.
- Ní bhíonn an sonas gan an donas ina orlaí trídThere is no happiness without some misfortune woven through it.
- Ní bhíonn cóisir ar bith gan amadánThere is a fool at every party.
- Ní bhíonn cuimhne ar an arán a itearPast favours are soon forgotten.
- Ní bhíonn saoi gan lochtEven Homer nods; nobody is perfect.
- Ní buan cogadh na gcaradA quarrel between friends does not last.
- Ní dhéanfadh an saol capall rása d'asalYou cannot make a racehorse out of a donkey.
- Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na scolbThe windy day is not the day for thatching.
- Ní lúide an trócaire a roinntMercy is not diminished by being shared.
- Ní minic a bhíos bocht greannmharThe poor man’s jokes are seldom appreciated.
- Ní neart go cur le chéileThere is strength in unity.
- Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féinThere is no place like home.
- Níl bua gan duaThere is no success without effort.
- Níl cara ag cumha ach cuimhneMemory is the only friend that grief has.
- Níl maith a bheith ag caint faoi bhainne doirteThere is no use crying over spilt milk.
- Níl sa saol ach gaoth agus toitThe world is only wind and smoke.
- Níl tuile dá mhéad nach dtránnNothing lasts forever; things will settle.
- Níor dhún Dia doras riamh nár oscail Sé ceann eileGod never closed one door without opening another.
- Níor ordaigh Dia béal gan bhiaGod made food for everyone.
- Nollaig faoi shéan agus faoi mhaise duitA prosperous and joyous Christmas to you.
- Nollaig shonaHappy Christmas.
- Oíche mhaithGood night.
- Sláinte!Cheers.
- Sláinte mhaithGood health: cheers.
- Tá Dia láidir (agus tá máthair mhaith aige)God is strong, and he has a good mother - a powerful ally in trouble.
- Tarraingíonn scéal scéal eileOne story begets another.
- Tír gan teanga, tír gan anamA country without a language is a country without a soul.
- Troidfidh cailleach i gcruachásEven a worm will turn.
- Tús maith leath na hoibreWell begun is half done.
- Tús na heagna eagla an TiarnaWisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.