Irish Toasts For Weddings, Drinking

Irish toasts are short, memorable sayings shared when raising a glass to celebrate life’s moments, big or small.

Rooted in tradition, they often blend heartfelt blessings, wit, and a touch of poetic charm. You’ll hear Irish toasts at weddings, in lively pubs, during holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, and even at funerals, where they honor loved ones with warmth and reflection rather than only sorrow.

What makes an Irish toast unique is its storytelling spirit. Many feel like tiny tales. Some offer wisdom, humor, or a clever twist in just a few lines. Whether playful or sincere, they’re meant to bring people together, spark laughter, and create connection.

In Irish culture, humor and hospitality go hand-in-hand, so even the simplest toast carries meaning. From blessings for good fortune to jokes shared among friends, Irish toasts turn ordinary moments into something worth remembering. It’s always worth raising a glass to.

Top 10 Irish Toasts (Most Popular)

These are some of the most beloved and widely shared Irish toasts—timeless lines that capture the heart, humor, and warmth of Irish tradition.

1.) May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

2.) May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.

3. 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.

4. May your troubles be less,
And your blessings be more,
And nothing but happiness
come through your door.

5.) 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 pint—and another one!

6.) May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.

7.) Here’s to you and yours,
And to mine and ours—
And if mine and ours ever come across to you and yours,
I hope you and yours will do as much for mine and ours
As mine and ours have done for you and yours.

8.) May the luck of the Irish be with you!

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

10.) Sláinte! (Good health!)

Discover our guide to great toasts for every occasion.

Funny Irish toasts

1.) I drink to your health when I’m with you,
I drink to your health when I’m alone,
I drink to your health so often,
I’m starting to worry about my own!

2.) As you slide down the banister of life,
May the splinters never point the wrong way.

3.) Here’s health and prosperity,
To you and all your posterity,
And them that doesn’t drink with sincerity,
That they be damned for all eternity.

4.) Saint Patrick was a gentleman,
Who through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see all those snakes again.

5.) May the lilt of Irish laughter
lighten every load.
May the mist of Irish magic
shorten every road…
And may all your friends remember
all the favors you are owed!

6.) Here’s to our wives and girlfriends…
May they never meet!

See 17 St. Patrick’s Day Jokes for Kids.

Humorous sayings

7.) When God measures you, may he put the tape around your big and generous heart and not around your small and foolish head.

8.) Here’s to a temperance supper,
With water in glasses tall,
And coffee and tea to end with–
And me not there at all!

9.) May all your ups and downs be under the sheets.

10.) May those who love us love us.
And those that don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we’ll know them by their limping.

See Bartender Quotes and Captions.

11.) May you die in bed at ninety-five years, shot by a jealous husband.

12.) May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.

Clever Irish sayings

13.) Health and long life to you.
The wife of your choice to you.
A child every year to you,
And life without rent to you
And may you be half an hour in heaven
Before the devil knows you’re dead.

14.) As you ramble through life,
whatever be your goal;
keep your eye upon the doughnut,
and not upon the hole.

15.) Here’s to you and yours
And to mine and ours.
And if mine and ours
Ever come across to you and yours,
I hope you and yours will do
As much for mine and ours
As mine and ours have done
For you and yours.

16.) May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up!

17.) Four blessings upon you…
Older whiskey
Younger women
Faster horses
More money.

18.) Tis glad I am,
and glad I’ll be,
knowing you like the likes of me.

19.) May the dust of your carriage wheels blind the eyes of your foes.

20.) It is better to spend money like there’s no tomorrow
than to spend tonight like there’s no money!

Short Irish toasts

1.) May the rocks in your field turn to gold.

2.) May the blessings of each day
Be the blessings you need most.

3.) Bless your little Irish heart and every other Irish part.

4.) May their soul be on God’s right hand.

5.) May the devil say a prayer for you.

6.) May your wishes come true and your truth be wise.

7.) May your bank account always be bigger than your troubles.

8.) If God sends you down a stony path, may He give you strong shoes.

9.) Here’s to the land of the shamrock, where Irish hearts are true.

Simple sayings

10.) The grace of God on you.

13.) May the most you wish for be the least you get.

14.) One hundred thousand welcomes!

15.) Wishing you a pot o’ gold, and all the joy your heart can hold.

Traditional Irish toasts

1.) Here’s to the land of the shamrock so green,
Here’s to each lad and his darlin’ colleen,
Here’s to the ones we love dearest and most.
May God bless old Ireland, that’s this Irishman’s toast!

2.) May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow.
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

3.) That your patch of trouble
may not cover the hole
in a leprechaun’s breeches.

4.) May the leprechauns dance over your bed
and bring you sweet dreams!

5.) May the Lord keep you in His hand and never close His fist too tight.

Irish blessings

6.) 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!

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

8.) May there be a generation of children on the children of your children. Health and long life to you, land without rent to you, a child every year to you, and a return to Old Ireland.

9.) May you get all your wishes but one, so that you will always have something to strive for!

10.) These things, I warmly wish for you—someone to love, some work to do, a bit of o’ sun, a bit o’ cheer and a guardian angel always near.

11.) May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.

12.) 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 God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

13.) May you always have money in your pocket, a woman to love, and a smile on your face.

14.) May your heart be light and happy,
May your smile be big and wide,
And may your pockets always have
a coin or two inside!

Famous Irish toasts

1.) May the road rise to meet you.
And 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.

In Gaelic

1.) Sláinte (Good health!)
(pronounced Slawn-che)

2.) Erin Go Bragh (Ireland forever!)

3.) Sláinte mhaith! (Good health!)
(pronounced Slawn-cha wah)

4.) Go n-éirí an bóthar leat. (May the road rise with you.)
(pronounced Guh nay-ree on boh-her lat)

5.) Go maire tú an céad. (May you live to be a hundred.)
(pronounced Guh mah-ra too on kayd)

6.) Fad saol agat, gob fliuch, agus bás in Éirinn. (Long life to you, a wet mouth, and death in Ireland.)
(pronounced Fod sayl ah-gut, gub fluch, ah-gus bawss in Air-in)

7.) Go mbeire muid beo ar an am seo arís. (May we be alive at this time again.)
(pronounced Guh merr-uh mid byo air on om shuh ah-reesh)

Irish drinking toasts

1.) Here’s to being single, drinking doubles and seeing triple!

2.) What butter or whiskey does not cure cannot be cured.

3.) Men are like bagpipes: no sound comes from them till they’re full.

4.) Health to the man who buys his round
To heaven’s alehouse be he bound.

5.) Here’s to a sweetheart, a bottle, and a friend.
The first beautiful, the second full, the last ever faithful.

6.) In all this world, why I do think
There are five reasons why we drink:
Good friends,
good wine,
lest we be dry,
and any other reason why.

7.) My friends are the best friends
Loyal, willing, and able.
Now let’s get to drinking!
All glasses off the table!

8.) Within this goblet, rich and deep, I cradle all my woes to sleep.

9.) 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 pint and another one!

Drinking cheers

10.) Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain
With grammar and nonsense and learning;
Good liquor, I stoutly maintain
Give genius a better discerning.

11.) Here’s to a wet night and a dry morning.

12.) Merry met, and merry part,
I drink to thee with all my heart.

13.) May the winds of fortune sail you,
May you sail a gentle sea.
May it always be the other guy
who says, ‘this drink’s on me.’

14.) Here’s to women of the Irish shore;
I love but one, I love not more.
But since she’s not here to drink her part,
I’ll drink her share with all my heart.

15.) Here’s to cheating, stealing, fighting, and drinking.
If you cheat, may you cheat death.
If you steal, may you steal a woman’s heart.
And if you fight, may you fight for a brother.
And if you drink, may you drink with me.

Irish toasts to happiness

1.) To love, life, and happiness!

2.) Happiness being a dessert so sweet,
May life give you more than you can ever eat.

3.) May your home be filled with laughter
May your pockets be filled with gold
And may you have all the happiness
Your Irish heart can hold.

4.) Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

5.) May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow, and may the soft winds freshen your spirit

6.) To all the days here and after
May they be filled with fond memories, happiness, and laughter.

7.) May the joys of today
Be those of tomorrow.
May the goblets of life
Hold no dregs of sorrow.

8.) /May the sunshine brighten your heart, and may the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you.

To friends and family

1.) Here’s to good Irish friends,
Never above you,
Never below you,
Always beside you.

2.) Here’s to absent friends and here’s twice to absent enemies.

3.) May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to make enemies, and quick to make friends. And may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.

4.) May the enemies of Ireland never meet a friend.

5.) May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours wherever you may roam.

6.) May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.

Irish Toasts for friends

8.) There are good ships, and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea. But the best ships are friendships, and may they always be.

9.) May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.

10.) May your right hand always
Be stretched out in friendship
And never in want.

11.) May friendship, like wine, improve as time advances.
And may we always have old wine, old friends, and young cares.

12.) Long live the Irish / Long live their cheer / Long live our friendship / Year after year.

To health

1.) For each petal on the shamrock, this brings a wish your way.
Good health, good luck, and happiness for today and every day.

2.) I wish you health, I wish you well, and happiness galore.
I wish you luck for you and friends; what could I wish you more?

3.) May you have the health to wear it.

4.) May God bring good health to your enemies’ enemies.

5.) May you escape the gallows, avoid distress,
And be as healthy as a trout.

6.) Health and long life to you
Land without rent to you
And if you can’t go to Heaven
At least may you die in Ireland!

To good luck

1.) May luck be your friend in whatever you do
And may trouble always be a stranger to you.

2.) In the name of old Erin
here’s wishing you cheer,
good luck and good fortune
for many a year.

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

4.) If you’re lucky enough to be Irish…
You’re lucky enough!

5.) May you have all the happiness
and luck that life can hold—
And at the end of all your rainbows
may you find a pot of gold.

The luck of the Irish

7.) May the luck of the Irish be with you!

8.) 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.

9.) Leprechauns, castles, good luck, and laughter.
Lullabies, dreams, and love ever after.
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes…
That’s the Irish for you!

10.) May the luck of the Irish possess you / May the devil fly off with your worries / May God bless you forever and ever.

11.) May the luck of the Irish
Lead to happiest heights
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights.
-Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.

12.) May your day be touched by a bit of Irish luck,
brightened by a song in your heart
and warmed by the smiles of the people you love.

Irish holiday toasts

Christmas

1.) Here’s to holly and ivy hanging up,
And to something wet in every cup.

2.) The light of the Christmas star to you
The warmth of home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and
God’s peace to you.

3.) A Merry Christmas this December
To a lot of folks I don’t remember.

New Year

4.) May we be alive at this same time again next year!

5.) May the Lord keep you in his hand and never close his fist too tight on you, and may the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be toward us in the New Year.

6.) May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks / May your heart be as light as a song / May each day bring you bright, happy hours. That stay with you all the year long.

St Patrick’s Day (St Paddy’s Day)

7.) May the leprechauns be near you,
To spread luck along your way.
May all the Irish angels,
Smile upon you on St. Patrick’s Day.

Events, celebrations, and special occasions

Birthday

1.) May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.

2.) May the good Lord take a liking to you…
But not too soon!

3.) Here’s to you as good as you are,
And to me, as bad as I am,
I’m as good as you are,
Bad and all as I am!

4.) May your neighbors respect you,
trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accepts you.

5.) May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.

Irish Toast for Birthday

1.) May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.

2.) May your days be filled with laughter, your nights with peace, and your years with happiness.

3.) Here’s to another year of good health, good friends, and good fortune.

4.) May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.

5.) May your troubles be few and your blessings many on this special day.

6.) May you have many more birthdays filled with joy, love, and celebration.

Looking for more toasts to celebrate the birthday boy or girl? Check out our full collection of heartfelt birthday toasts.

Irish Toast for Wedding Speech

1.) May your love be modern enough to survive the times, and old-fashioned enough to last forever.

2.) May your home be filled with laughter, your hearts with love, and your lives with endless joy together.

3.) Here’s to love, laughter, and happily ever after—may your days be long and your troubles few.

4.) May you always see the best in each other, and never forget the day you first met.

5.) May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace, and may your love only grow stronger with time.

6.) May the years ahead be filled with lasting happiness, shared dreams, and a lifetime of love.

Browse our full feature on Wedding Toasts for more ideas.

To engagement

1.) Here’s to the groom with the bride so fair, and here’s to the bride with the groom so rare!

2.) Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live every day as if it were your last.

3.) May the roof above you never fall in, and those gather beneath it never fall out.

4.) May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.

5.) Wishing you the happiness of a leprechaun’s gold,
And a day of songs of love that will never grow old!

6.) May the meaning of this hour be fulfilled through the days and years to come.

7.) May the grace of God’s protection
And His great love abide
Within your home—within the hearts
Of all who dwell inside.

To marriage

8.) May the wind be always at your back,
May the warm rays of the sun fall upon your home.

9.) Here’s to love, for which there is no cure except to marry.

10.) May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.
May your troubles grow less as your blessings increase.

11.) May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been,
the foresight to know where you are going,
and the insight to know when you have gone too far.

12.) May you always have walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
And all your heart might desire.

13.) May the sound of happy music,
And the lilt of Irish laughter,
Fill your heart with gladness,
That stays forever after.

14.) For this home and all therein be blessed with God’s love.

Check out our heartfelt and humorous anniversary toasts.

Notable Irish toasts to love

1.) I have known many,
and liked not a few,
but loved only one
and this toast is to you.

2.) Here’s to me, and here’s to you,
And here’s to love and laughter-
I’ll be true as long as you,
And not one moment after.

3.) Here’s to women’s kisses,
and to whiskey, amber clear;
Not as sweet as a woman’s kiss,
but a darn sight more sincere!

Video: 7 Easy Wedding Toasts

Irish Toast for a Funeral

1.) May the road rise gently to meet you, and may you find peace at the end of your journey.

2.) May your soul be at rest, and your memory be a blessing to all who knew you.

3.) Here’s to a life well lived and a heart well loved—may you never be forgotten.

4.) May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you’re gone.

5.) May the light of heaven shine upon you, and may you rest in eternal peace.

6.) Though you are gone from sight, may you never be gone from our hearts.

Congratulations

6.) May the joys of today
Be those of tomorrow.
The goblets of life
Hold no dregs of sorrow.

Retirement

7.) May your joys be as deep as the oceans,
your troubles as light as its foam.
And may you find,
sweet peace of mind,
wherever you may roam.

8.) At the end of the day,
Let us drink to work well done,
And if you are an idler,
We’ll toast tomorrow’s fun!

9.) May the blessings of light be upon you,
Light without and light within.
And in all your comings and goings,
May you ever have a kindly greeting
From them, you meet along the road.

10.) May you always have a clean shirt,
A clear conscience,
And enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint.

By Mike O’Halloran
Mike is an author and the founder of ListCaboodle.

Thanks for reading these famous Irish toasts for weddings, drinking, and more. Be sure to check out more toasts from the ListCaboodle library:

Funny Drinking Toasts

Famous Toasts

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Published 12/23/2021