Irish farewell blessings are ingrained into the local culture, they are used in many aspects of life, whether it’s wishing someone a safe journey home or honouring those who have passed and bringing comfort to mourners. 

Irish farewell blessings also have a lot of religious connotations, they harbour faith and ask for God’s goodwill to be bestowed upon the recipient. When giving someone an Irish farewell blessing, you ask for them to be held in God’s good grace.

Irish farewell blessings

Ireland is known for its rich language and culture, we have had many great writers come from the Emerald Isle with a knack for writing and a unique way with words. Irish farewell blessings are no different, they embody the country’s Christian heritage and wish the recipient good peace and happiness.

Check out these Irish farewell blessings below, and recite them when wishing someone a farewell:

1. May the sun shine, all day long, everything go right, and nothing wrong. May those you love bring love back to you, and may all the wishes you wish come true! 

2. May your blessings outnumber the Shamrocks that grow. And may trouble avoid you, wherever you go.

3. 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!

Irish farewell blessing for death 

Sometimes, there are no words to express grief or to bring comfort to those who experience the unfairness of death. Irish farewell blessings work where words fail. Check out these Irish farewell blessings below. 

4. May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. Saint Patrick behold you.

5. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

What is the traditional Irish blessing?

The traditional Irish blessing is, “May the road rise up to meet you”. The below paragraph is a small exert of the full Irish farewell blessing. If you would like to hear the full version, however, be sure to check out the video below. 

6. May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always 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.

Irish death blessing in Gaelic

An Irish Farwell blessing can be given in Gaelic, which is the native language of Ireland. It brings comfort to those who have lost someone and it wishes the departed peace in the afterlife. 

7. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. 

This phrase literally translates to “May his/her/their soul be on God’s right hand”. It wishes those who have passed peace in the afterlife at God’s good grace. If you would like to hear more Irish farewell blessings that you can give to honour those gone, check out this page on Irish Urns.

Irish farewell blessing Gaelic

In Gaelic, saying goodbye is very much centred around the phrase to “have safety”. There are many different variations of saying goodbye in Gaelic, check out these variations of an Irish farewell blessing below. 

8. Slan, Agus Beannacht de leath (Goodbye and God Bless)

9. Slan mo chara (safe home my friend)

10. Slán agat (have safety) 

Check out this article for more ways to say goodbye in Irish. 

Why do the Irish give farewell blessings? 

Ireland is a country with a rich presence of Catholicism and Christianity, Irish farewell blessings are an extension of this religious and cultural aspect. 

In Irish homes, it wouldn’t be uncommon to see a bottle of holy water by the door, or a cross that hangs overhead. When the Irish depart, they usually bless themselves with holy water or touch the cross as they exit. 

An Irish farewell blessing is simply an expression of religious faith and a way to share it with others. You also don’t have to be religious in order to value the meaning of an Irish farewell blessing, it is simply a well-wishing sentiment with religious connotations. 

If you would like to hear more about cultural practices in Ireland, check out this article to learn more about famous Irish traditions. 

Irish farewell blessing song

Many choose to include an Irish farewell blessing song for a funeral or memorial service to honour those who have past. Check out this beautiful Irish Farewell song below. 

Irish blessings for a wedding 

Irish blessings are not exclusive for bidding someone farewell, they can also be used to celebrate other milestones in life, wishing health and happiness that is guided by God’s good grace. 

Check out these Irish blessings below that you can use for wishing newlyweds a long and happy life. 

• 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!

• 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!

• May you be poor in misfortune, Rich in blessings, Slow to make enemies, Quick to make friends, But rich or poor, quick or slow, May you know nothing but Happiness from this day forward.

If you would like to hear more about how the Irish celebrate weddings, check out this article to learn about Irish wedding traditions. 

The importance of a farewell Irish blessing 

Irish farewell blessings are an important part of Irish culture. They are read aloud in memorial services, spoken in speeches, practised in prayers, inscribed on mass cards and sung aloud in hymns. 

It’s more than just saying goodbye, it’s wishing the recipient peace whether it’s in this life or the next. When you give an Irish farewell blessing, you ask God to watch over the person, keeping them safe and blessing their soul.