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The Best Irish Birthday Blessings and Toasts

Valentia Island, County Kerry with irish blessing
Valentia Island, County Kerry. (Photo: powerofforever via Canva)

Irish Birthday Blessing

The Irish are said to have a way with words and when it comes to good wishes, Irish birthday blessings and celebratory toasts, they have quite a selection to choose from. Whether you are looking for a meaningful Irish birthday blessing, funny irish birthday wishes or an appropriate birthday toast, this is where you will find it. 

Happy Birthday in Irish

Happy birthday in Irish with a cake
Happy birthday in Irish. Photo: nrqemi via Canva

For many people, a happy birthday in Gaelic Irish will be a thoughtful way to mark their birthday. Anyone with a special affinity to Ireland, be it through their birth, heritage, or interests in Ireland and Irish culture will appreciate the kind gesture of an Irish birthday blessing.

There are several ways to wish someone a happy birthday in Irish Gaelic

The most simple way to say Happy birthday in Irish is:

Lá breithe sona duit!

(Pronounced: Law breh-ha sun-ah ditch)

This is used if you are wishing one person a happy birthday.

Irish Happy Birthday Wishes to Multiple People

If you want to wish multiple people a happy birthday in Irish, then you should use the plural form which is: 

 

Lá breithe sona daoibh!

(Pronounced: Law breh-ha sun-ah jeeve)

This birthday wish literally means “Day of birth happy to you”

Bonus information: 

If you have seen different spellings of this Irish birthday phrase such as Lá breithe shona duit and Lá breithe shona dhuit and would like to know about the differences in regional dialects, then check out Happy Birthday in Irish

Roadshide flowers with a blessing
Dingle Peninsula Photo: AIMSTOCK via Canva

Some other good ways to express happy birthday wishes in Irish include:

 

Go maire tú an céad

May you live to be a hundred

 

Go maire tú i bhfad 

Long life to you or Congratulations

 

Go maire tú an lá

Many happy returns of the day (which directly translates to “may you live the day”)

Irish Happy Birthday Song

The Irish Gaelic for Happy birthday can be sung with the following words: 

Lá breithe sona duit
Lá breithe sona duit
Lá breithe, Lá breithe
Lá breithe sona duit

 (The Irish birthday song is probably only ever sung rarely. The traditional English version of “Happy Birthday” is usually the birthday celebration song of choice for the vast majority of people.) 

Irish Blessings Birthday

Ballycroy National Park; County Mayo with a blessing
Ballycroy National Park; County Mayo. Photo: levers2007 via Canva

Here are a selection of happy birthday Irish blessings for birthday cards, gift cards or to even accompany the card with a bouquet of flowers.  (Irish blessings for other occasions you will find on our blog.)

Whether you are trying to find Irish birthday blessings for a daughter, mother, sister, other family member or just a close friend, these blessings will provide some useful inspiration.  

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks,
May your heart be as light as a song,
May each day bring you bright, happy hours,
That stay with you all the year long.

May you be blessed with warmth in your home,
love in your heart, peace in your soul, and joy in your life 

Tourmakeady Waterfall, County Mayo with a blessing
Tourmakeady Waterfall, County Mayo. Photo: Kathryn Conway via Canva

May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.

May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch to your door
And happiness be your guest today and evermore.

May there be a generation of children on the children of your children.

 This short Irish birthday poem is the perfect little blessing to add to a birthday card:

May God give you for every storm, a rainbow. 
For every tear, a smile. 
For every care, a promise. 
And a blessing in each trial. 
For every problem life may send, 
may he send a faithful friend. 
For every sigh, a sweet song. 
And an answer for every prayer. 
Happy birthday!

This is a fitting Irish blessing for son’s birthday (or for that of a daughter):

May luck be your friend in whatever you do,
And may trouble always be a stranger to you.

These are some examples of thoughtful Irish birthday blessings for granddaughter or grandson

May you get all your wishes but one,
So you always have something to strive for.

 

Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.

 

Irish Birthday Wishes for a long life

A tatched cottage in Ireland with a blessing
A thatched cottage in Ireland. Photo: p-pix via Canva

There are some very fitting Irish birthday greetings and sayings, which remind us that growing old need not be that bad and that we should enjoy each day as it comes.  

May you have a long life, a wet mouth and may you be buried in Ireland. 

May the Good Lord take a liking to you,

But not too soon!

May the Lord keep you in His hand and never close His fist too tight.

May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.

May good health be yours, and may your happiness never end.

A young oak sapling with a blessing
A young oak sapling. Photo: sol_studio via Canva

 

We drink to your coffin.
May it be built from the wood of a hundred year old oak tree
that I shall plant tomorrow.

 

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

Do not resent growing old as many are denied that privilege. 

Irish Birthday Blessing Funny

Spiral staircase with a blessing
Photo: viewbug via Canva

Funny Irish birthday blessings can certainly add some unique humor to a birthday greeting.

The Irish are known for their wit and this certainly shines through in some of their Irish sayings for birthdays!

Here is some good examples of Irish birthday humor:

 

May the doctor never earn a pound of you. 

 

May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, but never catch up! 

 

May your troubles be as few and as far apart
As my Grandmother’s teeth.

This is one of the more humorous Irish birthday wishes!

As you slide down the banister of life,
May the splinters never be directed in the wrong way. 

And finally, here is a funny Irish birthday blessing for sisters or brothers who are younger than you!

You’ve got to do your own growing,
No matter how tall your grandfather was!

Irish Blessing for Birthday of a Friend

Raindrops on leaves with an Irish blessing
Photo: jeonsango via Canva

Irish birthday wishes for a friend are thoughtful ways to remember an important day and mark a special friendship. Here are some good wishes Irish birthday cards sometimes include:

 

For each leaf on the shamrock,
I bring a prayer your way,
wishes of good energy, luck,
and joy for this day and all day,
happy birthday my dear friend.

Bonus tip: If you like to make handmade presents, then the Irish birthday wishes images on this page might provide you some inspiration to create your own thoughtful handmade card or gift for a loved one.

One idea would be to combine an Irish blessing or saying with an image or symbol connected with Ireland, such as a Celtic symbol or Celtic knot for a truly unique Celtic birthday blessing themed gift

Irish Birthday Toasts and Irish Birthday Blessing Quotes

Connemara landscape with a blessing
Connemara, Ireland. Photo: Cedric Maes via Canva

Birthday party celebrations are usually not complete without the obligatory toast in honor of the special day. When looking for a suitable toast, some well known Irish quotes sometimes come in useful as birthday quotes.

Here are some of the most fitting Irish blessing birthday toasts and quotes that are perfect for spreading good wishes and Irish birthday cheer!

May the saddest day of your future,
be no worse than the happiest day of your past.

May the roof above us never fall in. 
And may the friends gathered below it never fall out.

May your pockets be heavy, and your heart be light,
may good luck pursue you each morning and night.

God between us and all harm.

Here’s to the health of your enemies’ enemies.

May you be half an hour in Heaven, 
Before the Devil knows you’re dead.

Errif Valley, County Mayo with a blessing
Errif Valley, County Mayo. Photo: Adam Kaczmarek via Canva

May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been,
the foresight to know where you’re going,
and the insight to know when you’re going too far.

Happy Birthday from Ireland!

For some more ideas about how to write an Irish Gaelic happy birthday message, learn which birthday Irish people find significant, or read about some happy Irish birthday traditions, check out Happy Birthday in Irish

If you are looking for more short Irish blessings and Irish wishes, not just Irish happy birthday ones, we have an extensive guide about that too. Enjoy!

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