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Irish Cultural Society

of San Antonio Texas

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Promoting Awareness of Irish Culture

Prayers, Blessings, and Toasts
by Misc
Blessings on all

An Ancient Irish Prayer


An Ancient Irish Prayer, I arise today;
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,

From temptation of vices,
From everyone who wishes me ill
Afar and anear
Alone and in a multitude.

From St. Patrick's Breastplate 



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




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.

May you be in heaven three days,
before the devil knows you are dead.


As you slide down the banister of life,
may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

Here's to you as good as you are,
And here's to me as bad as I am.
But good as you are,
And bad as I am,
I'm as good as you are,
As bad as I am.

Here is to Brigid McGuire,
A fisherman's daughter by birth.
She grew tired of living,
And decided to leave this earth.
First she swallowed a ruler,
But dying by inches was hard,
So she went out into the alley,
And there she died by the yard.
(ANON)