Irish Blessing?

[Revert07]

I don’t know if this belongs here or not. My apologies if I’m wrong.

I’ve been asked about a particular saying which I believe to be an old Irish blessing. I don’t know if that is correct or not. The saying is “May you be in heaven an hour (or half hour according to another person) before the devil knows you’re dead.”

Is it an Irish blessing? Is this the full text of it or is there more? Does anyone know anything else about it?

Thanks!

 

[mercygate]

I think it goes:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warmly on your face,
And the rain fall gently on your fields,
And may you be in Heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.

It is considered Irish. I don’t know how old it is, where it came from, or whether it really is Irish, but it shows up on a lot of Irish catalogs and on Irish themed greeting cards and wall plaques.

 

[TOP]

I think it goes:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warmly on your face,
And the rain fall gently on your fields,
And may you be in Heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.

It is considered Irish. I don’t know how old it is, where it came from, or whether it really is Irish, but it shows up on a lot of Irish catalogs and on Irish themed greeting cards and wall plaques.

I have it on a beer mug in the freezer. More like a Irish toast.

 

[baltobetsy]

I recently sang a setting of a similar Irish blessing. The last line, instead of the one about the devil, was, “And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

Betsy

 

[LDNCatholic]

I recently sang a setting of a similar Irish blessing. The last line, instead of the one about the devil, was, “And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

Betsy

Thats more familiar to me too. And to the OP yes it is Irish.

 

[Linnyo]

I’ve got a good one

As you slide down the banister of life, let not the splinters be pointing the wrong way!

 

[TOP]

Yeah, I just checked the mug. It says an Irish toast " May you be in Heaven…" I think the blessing and the toast are getting mixed up. Tim

 

[PJR]

“Let’s raise our cup and make a toast to all those who wish us well…everyone else can go to hell.”

Patrick Gabriel King “Da”

Another toast from the pubs in Ireland shortly after 9/11…
“Aye and it’s our cousins the Yanks…f*** Bin Ladin, just F*** him!”

The f word by the way was said with an ‘e’ instead of a ‘u’ but it sure seemed like it was PROBABLY the same translation due to the fervor in which it was used…couldn’t argue with the sentiment at the time however.

 

[Revert07]

Didn’t really want the question to deteriorate into a list of drinking songs but we all find our amusement where we can. Sometimes we all need a little pick me up (pun intended).

I’ll just punt and tell the 10 year old girl that asked me that it is a traditional Irish saying, maybe adding the rest of the words as mentioned in one of the earlier posts, without implying that her grandmother may be a drunkard.

Thanks.

 

[Red_Meg]

There are loads of these floating around-- some are more poetic, like “May the Road Rise Up to Meet You” or St. Patrick’s Breastplate PRayer.

Others are just examples of fine Irish wit. My favorite:

May those that love us, love us.
And those that don’t, may God turn their hearts,
Or at least turn their ankles,
That we may know them by their limping.
**

**
Margaret, who is at least Irish enough to know how to write her name properly in Gaelic…

 

[Linnyo]

Didn’t really want the question to deteriorate into a list of drinking songs but we all find our amusement where we can. Sometimes we all need a little pick me up (pun intended).

I’ll just punt and tell the 10 year old girl that asked me that it is a traditional Irish saying, maybe adding the rest of the words as mentioned in one of the earlier posts, without implying that her grandmother may be a drunkard.

Thanks.

lol - you are asking about ‘Irish’ blessings. I hope you enjoyed some of the blessings given as well as getting your answer. The Irish have a great sense of humour and most of my Irish relatives have a great love of alcohol too!

 

[Em_in_FL]

There are loads of these floating around-- some are more poetic, like “May the Road Rise Up to Meet You” or St. Patrick’s Breastplate PRayer.

Others are just examples of fine Irish wit. My favorite:

May those that love us, love us.
And those that don’t, may God turn their hearts,
Or at least turn their ankles,
That we may know them by their limping.
**

**
Margaret, who is at least Irish enough to know how to write her name properly in Gaelic…

This one hangs prominently in my parents’ kitchen!
LOVE IT!

 

[Revert07]

Others are just examples of fine Irish wit. My favorite:

May those that love us, love us.
And those that don’t, may God turn their hearts,
Or at least turn their ankles,
That we may know them by their limping.
**

**
…

love it