There are so many little gems of Wisdom in Irish folklore and history--what follows are just a sampling. With the number of Irish natives and immigrants in America, you are sure to have heard at least a few of these. The flowers in this Garden are catagorized as Proverbs, Toasts and Blessings: come pick a bouquet for yourself and brighten up your days...
May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you!
May the blessings of each day
Be the blessings you need most.
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.
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.
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 year long.
For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
Like the goodness of the five loaves and two fishes,
Which God divided among the five thousand men,
May the blessing of the King who so divided
Be upon our share of this common meal.
An old Irish recipe for longevity:
Leave the table hungry.
Leave the bed sleepy.
Leave the table thirsty.
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!
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!
Health and a long life to you.
Land without rent to you.
A child every year to you.
And if you can’t go to heaven,
May you at least die in Ireland.
Drink is the curse of the land.
It makes you fight with your neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord--
and it makes you miss him!
Now sweetly lies old Ireland
Emerald green beyond the foam,
Awakening sweet memories,
Calling the heart back home.
An Irishman is never drunk as long as
He can hold onto one blade of grass and not
Fall off the face of the earth.
Life is like a cup of tea,
it’s all in how you make it!
I complained that I had no shoes
Until I met a man who had no feet.
Tis better to buy a small bouquet
And give to your friend this very day,
Than a bushel of roses white and red
To lay on his coffin after he’s dead.
Firelight will not let you read fine stories
but its warm and you wont see the dust on the floor.
A trout in the pot is better than a salmon in the sea>
If the knitter is weary the baby will have no new bonnet.
The best way to keep loyalty in a man's heart
is to keep money in his purse.
Humor to a man is like a feather pillow.
It is filled with what is easy to get
but gives great comfort.
Many an Irish property was increased by the lace of a daughter's petticoat.
There's no need to fear the wind if your haystacks are tied down.
A wild goose never reared a tame gosling.
A boys best friend is his mother and
there's no spancel stronger than her apron string.
If you lie down with dogs you'll rise with fleas.
An old broom knows the dirty corners best !
To the raven her own chick is white.
It s no use carrying an umbrella if your shoes are leaking.
There'll be white blackbirds before an unwilling woman ties the knot!
When the apple is ripe, it will fall.
Patience cures many an old complaint.
The one who waits the fine day, will get the fine day..
Patience and forbearance make a bishop of his reverence.
Patience can conquer destiny.
Patience is a plaster for all sores.
For what cannot be cured, patience is best.
There is not a tree in heaven higher than the tree of patience.
Patience is a virtue that causes no shame.
Time and Patience would bring the snail to Jerusalem.
