Saint Patrick’s Day: Quotes, Toasts & Sayings #saintpatricksday

“There is no language like the Irish for soothing and quieting.” John Millington Synge

Saint Patrick’s Day: Quotes, Toasts & Sayings #saintpatricksday

May your troubles be less
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.

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

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…

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone Reba McEntire
Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. George Bernard Shaw
St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time – a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic. Adrienne Cook

Happy St Patrick’s Day!  Ireland has a rich literary history with many famous writers and poets who contributed much to the literary canon that has shaped Western culture for so many years.  The Irish are known for their sharp wit,  humorous insights and a hearty spirit that enjoys the good things of life. Over the years, I’ve always been amused at the comebacks from my Irish friends and their delightful ways of seeing the world. As we gather to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day today, I’m choosing to share some of that wit, humor and wisdom on this blog post. Throughout this piece, I’ve added quotes from some of the best known writers/poets of Irish descent… not all but enough to whet your appetite for more.

“Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy.” William Butler Yeats

Saint Patrick’s Day: Quotes, Toasts & Sayings #saintpatricksday

Old Irish Sayings
May those who love us, love us.
For those who don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if God can’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles
so we’ll know them by their limping!

Laughter is brightest where food is best.
As they say in Ireland:…. “may you be forty years in heaven before the devil knows you’re dead”.

Irish Saying
There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn’t drink when he’s living,
How in the hell can he drink when he’s dead?

St. Patrick’s Day Toast
Here’s to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one
A pretty girl and an honest one
A cold beer – and another one!

If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky? Stanislaw J. Lec
When I die I want to decompose in a barrel of porter and have it served in all the pubs in Ireland. J. P. Dunleavy
There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. (The Picture of Dorian Gray) Oscar Wilde

Do you have a sense of humor? If not, I hope some of the funny lines above will put a smile on your face. One big part of this special day is the veneration of the shamrock/3 leaf clover which is  a symbol of Ireland and plays a big role in all the greening that goes on on this special day. While we are on the subject, the 4 leaf clover is harder to find and is considered a symbol of good fortune. Personally, I’ve only ever found one once and I think I still have it tucked away in an old wallet. Whether you believe in the luck of the Irish or not, I think it can’t hurt to cherish and enjoy an opportunity to believe in something positive, fun and uplifting. So, enjoy the festivities, keep an open mind to the magic around you, and you never know what great good fortune might touch your feet. Moving along…    Do you know why green is a popular color on this day?

More Below!

“There is an Irish way of paying compliments as though they were irresistible truths which makes what would otherwise be an impertinence delightful.” Katherine Tynan Hinkson

Saint Patrick’s Day: Quotes, Toasts & Sayings #saintpatricksday

Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through! Irish Blessings

May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May Grace fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. Irish Blessings

Being Irish, I always had this love of words. Kenneth Branagh

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! Old Irish Blessing

I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer. Brendan Behan
I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day. James Joyce

Why the wearing of the color Green? It is  a long standing custom to wear the green shamrock and clothing associated with the Irish Catholic on this day. Also,  the color has been connected to Ireland since the 1640s, and so the tradition continues. Furthermore, Green is the color of fertility, youth, growth, life and, in some places, money, so the association is seen as a lucky color that can, with the color gold, draw great fortune in our direction… Enjoy all things green today and celebrate the good around you.

“Love is never defeated, and I could add, the history of Ireland proves it.” Pope John Paul II

Saint Patrick’s Day: Quotes, Toasts & Sayings #saintpatricksday

For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way –
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
~Author Unknown

May luck be our companion.
May friends stand by our side.
May history remind us all.
Of Ireland’s faith and pride.
May God bless us with happiness.
May love and faith abide

May the Lord keep you in His hand
and never close His fist too tight.
May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.
May your pockets be heavy
and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you
each morning and night.
May the strength of three
be in your journey.

The Irish are a fair people; they never speak well of one another. Samuel Johnson
At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely. W. Somerset Maugham
There is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary. Brendan Behan

What more would you love to learn about the great Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations? I’ve written much about the facts and fiction of this day and shared much on what we need to know so for additional commentary and this American invented holiday, I’d love to invite you to read my other posts on this blog. I’ve added links below.

Sources: Funny Saint Patrick’s Day Quotes
Famous Irish Quotes
St Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day: 10 Fascinating Facts About This Holiday
St Patrick’s Day: Top 20 Things You Should Know
St. Patrick’s Day: Facts & Fiction

Have a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Positive Motivation Tip: May the luck of the Irish fill your heart and home with delight and magic.

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos Saint Patrick’s Day via Pixabay, 3 leaf clover,  via Wikipedia

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet

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