Irish travel blessings are words of hope and protection to wish someone well on their new adventure.
The Irish are certainly known for their travels.
For a country with such a small population, it is quite amazing to see the extent of the Irish cultural footprint abroad. Most major cities in the world have an Irish pub of some sorts!
These thoughtful Irish blessings are messages of goodwill wishing the traveler a safe journey, as well as luck on their travels.
Whether you are looking for a travel blessing for a short trip away, or a long adventure, you will find a range of different suitable Irish blessings here.
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The Irish Blessing
The Irish Blessing, also known as May the Road Rise to Meet You, is the blessing that most people associate with travel.
This popular Irish blessing does indeed wish someone well on their travels.
It can also be interpreted as a message of goodwill for any new chapter in one’s life.
Due to its broad meaning and widespread appeal, it is frequently recited at a lot of different occasions.
These include wedding speeches, funeral service prayers and everything in between.
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be 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 Irish version of this blessing is:
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.
There is also a slightly different version of the Irish blessing prayer, which is also popular.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Irish Blessing for Travel
Travel allows us to open our minds and step outside of our safety comfort zone.
Embarking on something new can have many rewards, but may also entail some risks. For some, this is part of the allure of going to far off places and experiencing something new.
Leaving home can bring about a mixed bag of emotions.
While there is usually excitement about the journey ahead, there may also be some concerns about venturing into the unknown.
Here are some travel blessings to wish someone well on their journey.
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 you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May you find the right road
That leads you to your destination.
May you have the strength to change direction
When you can no longer walk the old road.
Related Article: Irish Farewell Blessings Wishes
Irish Blessings for Safe Travels and Protection
Before departing on a trip, it is always nice to wish someone well.
Here are some thoughtful ways to wish someone a safe journey while they are away.
May the saints bless and protect you today
And may problems keep away from you every step of your way.
May God’s blessings always accompany your journey.
May you have companions who share with you
A part of the way on the long journey
Through the adventure of life.
May the Lord keep you in His hand
And never close His fist too tight.
May God put signs on the road of your life
So that you know where you are going.
May each day of your life bring you joy and grace.
May the road you walk be paved with happiness
And the wind always blow at your back.
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.
May the face of every good news
And the back of every bad news
Be toward us.
Irish Travel Blessings for Luck
Regardless of how well you plan everythings, there is an element of luck in your travels!
These blessings wish travelers luck on their journeys.
May your pockets be heavy
And your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you
Each morning and night.
May luck be your friend in whatever you do
And may trouble always be a stranger to you.
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.
May the luck of the Irish possess you.
May the devil fly off with your worries.
May God bless you forever and ever.
For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
A (Short) History of Irish Travels
Ireland is perched at the edge of Europe. For a long time, this small island was seen as the edge of the western world.
Early Exploration
Between the 6th and 8th century, monks in Ireland decided to venture as far as possible and established a monastery on Skellig Michael.
This early Christian site is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its very well preserved status.
Anyone who has visited this rocky island 12 km off the coast of Ireland will know of how isolated it feels. These monks were certainly brave men venturing into the unknown!
(Tip: This desolate island was the Star Wars filming location of Luke Skywalker desolate island of AHCH-TO in Star Wars Episode VII “The Force Awakens” )
There are also tales of another monk, known as Brendan, heading even further west across the Atlantic Ocean.
Legend has it that he made it to the North American mainland as early as the 6th century and back again.
It may even be true.
The explorer Tim Severin reconstructed the trip in the 1970s.
He used only the materials available at the time, including a leather-skinned boat and actually did make it to North America.
Irish Emigration
Throughout the course of history, many of the travels that Irish have undertaken abroad have been out of necessity.
There has been a long history of emigration.
Events such as the Great Famine, resulted in widespread suffering of the Irish people.
The people who had the means often tried to leave the country in hope of making a better future for themselves.
Cobh in County Cork is just one of the ports in Ireland where many people departed from. North America was the most common destination.
As well as people who voluntarily left Ireland, many were also forced to do so.
Spike Island in Cork Harbour, located very close to Cobh, became a prison during the Cromwellian Era (mid 17th century).
Initially, many of the inmates were prisoners of war, later on Spike Island also served as a prison for those convicted of petty crimes.
It is estimated that up to about 50,000 people were deported from Spike Island.
They were sent to the British colonies in North America, the Caribbean and later as far away as Australia.
Discover more about the Irish and their influence around the world in the Epic Museum in Dublin. (It is one of the things I recommend to do in the city.)
Advice about genealogy services to help people trace their Irish roots and discover more about their Irish Heritage are available from the National Archive.
Irish Travel Blessings FAQ
What is a traditional Irish Blessing for travels?
The Irish Blessing, May the Road Rise to Meet You is the most well known travel blessing.
It is very often used to wish someone well as they embark on a journey or a new chapter in their lives.
Traditional Irish Blessings
You will discover more traditional Irish Blessings for every occasion on this website. You will never be short of the perfect greeting again!
You will find our complete Guide to blessings here.
Other blessings can be found at the following:
Annual Celebrations:
Friends and Family
- Irish Friendship Blessings
- Irish Baby Blessings
- Happy Birthday Blessings
- Happy Birthday Blessing in Irish
