Irish Blessings for Saint Patrick's Day

Irish blessings are beautifully worded poems given as toasts at Weddings and House Warmings. The most single famous Irish Blessing is as follows:

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always 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 hollow of His hand.

This Irish Blessing is often attributed to St. Patrick, but no one is actually sure. Though this particular blessing is quite common in countries where the Irish have immigrated, there are more traditional blessings for weddings, wakes, and other ceremonial events. Many traditional blessings represent wishes for happiness, plentiful harvests, healthy children, and God's continuing Blessings. I hope you enjoy this collection and “May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.”



Cedric Kelly, Editor