Irish Birthday Toast and Birthday Blessing List
It can be hard to distinguish between an Irish birthday toast and an Irish Birthday blessing. While there may be a slightly religious connotation to a birthday blessing, there can be something approaching that in how Irish people share a drink together.
I haven't worried too much about the distinction here because I feel when you make an Irish birthday wish, it is the warmth and sincerity of the delivery that is most important. Humour and a good dose of irony also help!
If you want to say 'Happy Birthday' in Gaelic, then that's easy. It's 'Lá Breithe Shona dhuit!'
(Pronounced Law breh-heh hun-ah gwit). If you by any chance happen to be saying it to twins or more than one person at a time it is 'Lá Breithe Shona dhaoibh!'
(Pronounced Law breh-heh hun-ah gweeve).
And if you want to accompany your Irish birthday toast with the Happy Birthday Song in Gaelic the words are simply:
Lá Breithe Shona dhuit
Lá Breithe Shona dhuit
Lá Breithe, Lá Breithe
Lá Breithe Shona dhuit
We don't put in the name of the person and the music is the same as in English.
The best Irish Birthday Toast and Irish Birthday blessing list
Happy Birthday to you!
Lá Breithe Shona dhuit!
(Pronounced Law breh-heh hun-ah gwit)
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May you have a long life, a wet mouth and may you be buried in Ireland.
Fad saol agat, gob fliuch, agus bás in Éirinn.
(Pronounced Fawd say-al aw-gut, gub fluch(k) aw-gus bawss in Aye-rinn)
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May you have a healthy heart and a wet mouth!
Croí folláin agus gob fliuch
(Cree full-awn aw-gus gub fluch(k)
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May the most you wish for is the least you get!
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May you have the health of the salmon.
Sláinte an bhradáin agat.
(Pronounced Slawn-cheh on vraw-dawn ogg-ut)
May the good Lord take a liking to you...
But not too soon!
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May you grow old in the face
Be treasured and cared for with grace.
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May you have rye bread to do you good,
Wheaten bread to sweeten your blood,
Barley bread to do you no harm
And oatmeal bread to strengthen your arm.
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May big headaches and little fevers be always far from you.
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May the doctor never earn a pound out of you.
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It is better to spend money like there's no tomorrow
than to spend tonight like there's no money.
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May your glass be ever full
May the roof over your head be always strong
And may you be in heaven half an hour before the
devil knows you're dead.
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May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.
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May you live all the days of your life.
— Jonathan Swift
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May I see you grey
And combing your grandchildren’s hair.
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May the Lord keep you in His hand
And never close His fist too tight
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May you live to be a hundred years,
With one extra year to repent!
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We drink to your coffin. May it be built from the wood of a hundred year old oak tree that I shall plant tomorrow.
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Pages Related to Irish Birthday Toast
Find out about the best Irish whiskey brands and a little of the history of 'uisce beatha'
You will find a good list of other toasts on our Irish drinking toasts page.
And we have lots of other great Irish proverbs on our Famous Irish Sayings and Gaelic Sayings pages which really must have a look at, plenty for any occasion.
You will find some suitable birthday blessings on our Irish blessings page .
Learn a little about Irish pub culture and life and get some tips on pub etiquette by clicking on the link.
Gaelic Matters >Irish Birthday Toast
Did you know that Saint Patrick was not an Irish man or the first to bring Christianity to Ireland? Learn a little of the History of St Patrick.
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