Sayings as prints
Every saying in the collection, set as a print: the Irish large in the sky of a curated Irish painting, the meaning beneath, the same wording the citation backs. Six fixed paintings, never generated, and every composition can carry your own names and a date.
Nothing is for sale yet. Each print page offers a watermarked preview you can download, and an honest way to tell us you want one when they exist. The words come first on this site; the shop follows them.
The occasions
What are you trying to say?
Pick the feeling; we’ll suggest the sayings that carry it, each with its reason.
- ComfortFor someone carrying something heavy: words that sit beside them without pretending.
- LoveNot greeting-card romance: the Irish kind, which is about shelter and a shared life.
- LuckLuck in Irish usually names who is sending it, a wish, not a superstition.
- WelcomeThe words a door says. Irish is world-class at this.
- Pride in heritageFor the wall that says where a family is from. Name, county, language.
- EncouragementFor exams, first days, new starts: the tradition is firmly on the doer’s side.
- A bit of humourThe dry half of the tradition: proverbs that land with a raised eyebrow.
- RemembranceThe traditional prayers and the grief proverbs. Exact forms matter most here.
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Every print
- Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eileIt takes one to know one.The cottage
- An áit a mbíonn deatach bíonn tineThere is no smoke without fire.The cottage
- An ní nach bhfeiceann súil ní bhrónann croíWhat the eye sees not, the heart rues not.The oak
- An té a bhuailfeadh mo mhadra bhuailfeadh sé mé féinWhoever strikes my dog strikes me.The oak
- An té nach bhfuil láidir ní foláir dó bheith glicWhoever is not strong had better be clever.The oak
- Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anamMay he rest at God’s right hand.Misty hills
- Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanamMay she rest at God’s right hand.Misty hills
- Ar mhaithe leis féin a bhíonn an cat ag crónánThe cat purrs for its own benefit.Misty hills
- Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoineWe live in one another's shelter.Botanical
- Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoineWe live in one another's shelter.Botanical
- As an obair a thagann an fhoghlaimLearning comes out of the doing.The cottage
- Bainfidh an fharraige a cuid féin amachThe sea will have its own.Misty hills
- Beannacht Dé lena anamGod rest his soul.Misty hills
- Beannacht Dé lena hanamGod rest her soul.Misty hills
- Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorachThere will come another day; there will be another chance.The coast
- Bíonn siúlach scéalachThe traveller has the tales to tell.The coast
- Bíonn súil le muir ach ní bhíonn súil le huaighAll may return but the dead.Misty hills
- Cad é a dhéanfadh mac an chait ach luch a mharú?Like father, like son.Botanical
- Capall na hoibre an biaOne must eat to work.The oak
- Céad míle fáilteA hundred thousand welcomes.The cottage
- Den cheird an cleachtadh; namhaid don cheird gan a cleachtadhPractice makes perfect.Misty hills
- Dia duitHello.Botanical
- Fad saoil duitLong life to you.Botanical
- Fáilte roimh bhocht is nochtEverybody is welcome, whatever their circumstances.The cottage
- Go dté tú slánMay you go safely.The coast
- Go dtí tú slánMay you come back safe.The coast
- Go dtuga Dia grásta na buanseasmhachta dúinnMay God give us the grace of perseverance.The oak
- Go gcasa Dia an tsláinte ortMay God restore your health.Misty hills
- Go gcuire Dia an t-ádh ortMay God send you luck.The coast
- Go gcuire Dia rath ortMay God prosper you.The coast
- Go maire sibh bhur saol nuaMay you enjoy your new life together.Botanical
- Go maire tú an céadMay you live to be a hundred.Botanical
- Go maire tú an láMany happy returns of the day.The oak
- Go maire tú is go gcaithe tú éMay you live to enjoy it and wear it.Botanical
- Go n-éirí an bóthar leatMay the road rise to meet you.The coast
- 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.The coast
- Go n-éirí do bhóthar leatMay your journey go well.The coast
- Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a hanamMay God have mercy on her soul.Misty hills
- Go ndéana Dia trócaire orthuMay God have mercy on them.Misty hills
- Go raibh maith agatThank you.Misty hills
- Go saolaí Dia éMay God grant him a long life.Botanical
- Is binn béal ina thostSilence is golden.Botanical
- Is deacair ceann críonna a chur ar cholainn ógYou cannot put an old head on young shoulders.The oak
- Is fada siar an rud a chuirfeadh Dia aniarNothing is beyond the reach of God.The coast
- Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinteHealth is better than wealth.Botanical
- Is fearr focal sa chúirt ná bonn sa sparánA friend in court is better than a penny in the purse.Misty hills
- Is fearr lán doirn de cheird ná lán mála d'órA handful of skill is better than a bagful of gold.The coast
- Is fearr uaigneas maith ná droch-chuideachtaBetter good solitude than bad company.Misty hills
- Is gaire cabhair Dé ná an dorasGod is never far away when you need help.Misty hills
- Is maith an scéalaí an aimsirTime will tell.The valley
- Is maith scéal gan drochscéalNo news is good news.The cottage
- Is minic a rinne bromach gioblach capall cumasachMany a ragged colt made a fine horse.Botanical
- Is olc an ghaoth nach séideann do dhuine éiginIt is an ill wind that blows nobody good.The coast
- Is teann gach madra ag a dhoras féinEvery dog is bold at his own door.The cottage
- Is túisce deoch ná scéalOffer a drink before you ask for news.Misty hills
- Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona DuitHappy St Patrick’s Day.Botanical
- Mair, a chapaill, agus gheobhaidh tú féarLive, horse, and you will get grass. Promised help that comes too slowly.The coast
- Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh síPraise the young and they will flourish.Botanical
- Mol an óige is tiocfaidh síYouth responds to praise.Botanical
- Molann an obair an saorThe work praises the workman.Misty hills
- Ná caith an t-uisce salach amach go mbeadh an t-uisce glan istighKeep what you have until the replacement is real.The cottage
- Ná déan nós agus ná bris nósNeither make nor break a custom.Botanical
- Ní bheidh a leithéid arís annWe shall not see his like again.Misty hills
- Ní bhíonn an sonas gan an donas ina orlaí trídThere is no happiness without some misfortune woven through it.The coast
- Ní bhíonn cóisir ar bith gan amadánThere is a fool at every party.The coast
- Ní bhíonn cuimhne ar an arán a itearPast favours are soon forgotten.The oak
- Ní bhíonn saoi gan lochtEven Homer nods; nobody is perfect.The oak
- Ní buan cogadh na gcaradA quarrel between friends does not last.Botanical
- Ní dhéanfadh an saol capall rása d'asalYou cannot make a racehorse out of a donkey.The oak
- Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na scolbThe windy day is not the day for thatching.The coast
- Ní lúide an trócaire a roinntMercy is not diminished by being shared.Misty hills
- Ní minic a bhíos bocht greannmharThe poor man’s jokes are seldom appreciated.The coast
- Ní neart go cur le chéileThere is strength in unity.Botanical
- Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féinThere is no place like home.The cottage
- Níl bua gan duaThere is no success without effort.The oak
- Níl cara ag cumha ach cuimhneMemory is the only friend that grief has.Misty hills
- Níl maith a bheith ag caint faoi bhainne doirteThere is no use crying over spilt milk.The coast
- Níl sa saol ach gaoth agus toitThe world is only wind and smoke.Misty hills
- Níl tuile dá mhéad nach dtránnNothing lasts forever; things will settle.Botanical
- Níor dhún Dia doras riamh nár oscail Sé ceann eileGod never closed one door without opening another.The coast
- Níor ordaigh Dia béal gan bhiaGod made food for everyone.Botanical
- Nollaig faoi shéan agus faoi mhaise duitA prosperous and joyous Christmas to you.The oak
- Nollaig shonaHappy Christmas.The oak
- Oíche mhaithGood night.Misty hills
- Sláinte!Cheers.Botanical
- Sláinte mhaithGood health: cheers.Misty hills
- Tá Dia láidir (agus tá máthair mhaith aige)God is strong, and he has a good mother - a powerful ally in trouble.The coast
- Tarraingíonn scéal scéal eileOne story begets another.The valley
- Tír gan teanga, tír gan anamA country without a language is a country without a soul.Botanical
- Troidfidh cailleach i gcruachásEven a worm will turn.The oak
- Tús maith leath na hoibreWell begun is half done.The cottage
- Tús na heagna eagla an TiarnaWisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.The coast