Irish/Celtic

The richness of our Irish/Celtic heritage has seen many fine words written over the centuries; it is a culture which means a lot to us and our verses find a way of capturing the deep meaning of that tradition to us.

Verses

The Meeting of the Waters - Verse 277

There is not in this wide world a valley so sweet 
As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet!
Oh the last rays of feeling and life must depart
Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade from my heart


Thomas Moore

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Prayer of St. Patrick - Verse 101

I bind to myself to God’s power to guide me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to teach me, God’s eye to watch over me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to shelter me, God’s host to secure me... Against the snares of demons, against the seductions of vices, against the lusts of nature, against everyone who mediates injury to me, whether far or near, few or many.

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Rest in Peace (Irish Version for Woman) - Verse 078

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam

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Until we meet again (Irish Version) - Verse 080

Beannachtaí libh go bhfeictear arís sibh

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Rest in Peace (Irish Version Plural for Man and Women) - Verse 079

Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad

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Rest in Peace (Irish Version for Man) - Verse 077

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

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Irish Blessing - Verse 165

May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your window pane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
Their hearts full of warmth and gladness to cheer you.

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A Celtic Blessing - Verse 043

May the blessing of light be on you,
Light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine upon you
And warm your heart,
So that the stranger and the friend are always welcome.
May the light shine out from your eyes
So that people may come to you
As a wanderer takes shelter from a storm.
May the blessing of rain be upon you,
Soft and sweet;
May it fall upon your spirit and your fields
So that all good things may grow.
May the blessing of the earth be upon you,
So that you may ever have a kindly greeting for
People you meet.
And may the blessing of the stars be upon you
So that you may know that the
Lord blesses you always
In your sleeping and in your waking.
Amen.

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An Irish Blessing - Verse 044

May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the rain fall soft upon your fields,

And may the sun shine warm upon your face,

Until we meet again.

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Irish Blessing - Verse 205

May St. Patrick guard you wherever you go,
and guide you in whatever you do -
and may his loving protection
be a blessing to you always.

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Irish Blessing - Verse 206

May you have love that never ends,
lots of money, and lots of friends.
Health be yours, whatever you do,
and may God send
many blessings to you!

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Irish Blessing - Verse 209

May God grant you many years to live,
For sure he must be knowing.
The earth has angels all too few.
And heaven is overflowing.

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Irish Blessing - Verse 212

These things, I warmly wish for you-
Someone to love, some work to do,
A bit of o’ sun, a bit o’ cheer.
And a guardian angel always near.

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Irish Blessing - Verse 211

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.

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Irish Blessing - Verse 208

May you alway walk in sunshine.
May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their
wings right beside your door.

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Irish Blessing - Verse 210

For each petal on the shamrock.
This brings a wish your way
good health, good luck, and happiness
for today and every day.

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Irish Blessing - Verse 207

May you have a world
of wishes at your command.
God and his angels close to hand.
Friends and family their love impart,
and Irish blessings in your heart!

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May the road rise up to meet you - Verse 161

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And rains fall softly upon your fields.
And until we meet again
May the Good Lord hold you
In the palm of His hand.

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Irish Blessing - Verse 214

May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow.
May the soft winds freshen your spirit.
May the sunshine brighten your heart
May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you.
And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love.

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Irish Blessing - Verse 213

Whenever there is happiness
Hope you’ll be there too,
Wherever there are friendly smiles
Hope they’ll smile on you,
Whenever there is sunshine,
Hope it shine especially for you
to make each day for you
as bright as it can be.

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The Hills of Donegal - Verse 274

When I was young and in my prime
My mind being free from care
Whilst leaving all in Donegal to wander far away
Whilst leaving all in Donegal to wander far away
That I might plough the raging main, going to Amerikay.

In Creeslough town my friends stood round
And I bad adieu to all
In Creeslough town my friends stood round
And I bad adieu to all
And down Lough Foyle, and away I went
From the hills of Donegal.

The night being dark and stormy
And loud the waves did roar
Our captain cries, “Hold off, me boys
Our vessels going ashore!”
Our captain cries, “Hold off, me boys
To deck you one and all!”
And I rued the day I sailed away
From the hills of Donegal.

My father he’s a farmer
I mean to tell you all
Between Moville, near Derry
And the hills of Donegal.
I, being like many’s the foolish young lad
I thought I’d sail away
That I might plough the raging main
Going to Amerikay.

Here’s farewell unto Castlerock
Likewise unto Donhill
And to that spot where we sailed by
They call it sweet Moville
From sweet Culmore to that foreign shore
Where waves do rise and fall
Adieu, adieu to my wee lass
On the hills of Donegal

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An Old Irish Blessing - Verse 218

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

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A Wish for a Friend - Verse 217

Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!

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Irish Blessing - Verse 216

May you live a long life
Full of gladness and health,
With a pocket full of gold
As the least of you wealth.
May the dreams you hold dearest,
Be those which come true,
The kindness you spread,
Keep returning to you.

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Irish Blessing - Verse 215

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun.
And find your shoulder to light on.
To bring you luck, happiness and riches.
Today, tomorrow and beyond.

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When Irish Eyes Are Smiling - Verse 273

There’s a tear in your eye, And I’m wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such pow’r in your smile, Sure a stone you’d beguile,
So there’s never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter’s Like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be;
You should laugh all the while And all other times smile,
And now, smile a smile for me.

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, ‘tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

For your smile is a part Of the love in your heart,
And it makes even sunshine more bright.
Like the linnet’s sweet song, Crooning all the day long,
Comes your laughter and light.
For the springtime of life Is the sweetest of all
There is ne’er a real care or regret;
And while springtime is ours Throughout all of youth’s hours,
Let us smile each chance we get.

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An Irish Lullaby - Verse 271

Over in Killarney
Many years ago,
Me Mither sang a song to me
In tones so sweet and low.
Just a simple little ditty,
In her good ould Irish way,
And l’d give the world if she could sing
That song to me this day.

    “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
    Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don’t you cry!
    Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
    Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that’s an Irish lullaby.”

Oft in dreams I wander
To that cot again,
I feel her arms a-huggin’ me
As when she held me then.
And I hear her voice a -hummin’
To me as in days of yore,
When she used to rock me fast asleep
Outside the cabin door.

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I Wish You Enough - Verse 204

I wish you enough sun
to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain
to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness
to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain
so that the smallest joys
in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain
to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss
to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough “Hello’s”
to get you through the final
“Goodbye

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Fiddler’s Green - Verse 272

As I roved by the dockside one evening so fair
To view the salt waters and take in the salt air
I heard an old fisherman singing a song
Oh, take me away boys me time is not long

    Wrap me up in me oilskin and blankets
    No more on the docks I’ll be seen
    Just tell me old shipmates, I’m taking a trip mates
    And I’ll see you someday on Fiddlers Green

Now Fiddler’s Green is a place I’ve heard tell
Where the fishermen go if they don’t go to hell
Where the weather is fair and the dolphins do play
And the cold coast of Greenland is far, far away

Now when you’re in dock and the long trip is through
There’s pubs and there’s clubs and there’s lassies there too
And the girls are all pretty and the beer is all free
And there’s bottles of rum growing on every tree.

Where the skies are all clear and there’s never a gail
And the fish jump on board with one swish on their tail
Where you lie at your leisure, there’s no work to do
And the skipper’s below making tea for the crew

Now I don’t want a harp nor a halo, not me
Just give me a breeze and a good rolling sea
I’ll play me old squeeze-box as we sail along
With the wind in the riggin to sing me a song

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