Seanfhocail / Toasts / Greetings

Seanfhocail
(Old Irish sayings)
NOTE: Phonetics change with dialects

Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam.
(Teer gahn tahngah, teer gahn ahnam)
A country without a language is a country without a soul.

Ní geal an gáire ach san ait a mbionn an biadh.
(Nee gal un gahruh ackh sahn ahtch a meeun un beeah)
Laughter is the brightest in the place where the meal/food is.

Ní dheanfach an domhan capall rása d'asal.
(Nee yane-uckh un dow-an cahpal rahsah dawsall)
All the world would not make a racehorse out of an ass.

Trí rudaí faoin ól: é ól, é iompair, agus é íoc.
(Tree rudee fween ohl: ay ohl, ay umpurr, ahgus ay ee-uk)
Three things about the drink: to drink it, to hold it, and to pay for it.

Molann an obair an fear.
(Mulahn un ubber un far)
The work praises the man.

Bíonn chuile dhuine lách go dtéann bó ina gharraí.
(Bee-unn hilla gwin-eh lawk guh day-uhn bo ihna yarree)
Everyone is sociable until a cow invades his garden.

Ar scáth a cheile a mhaoireas na daoine.
(Er scah a hayluh a weeruss/veerus nah deenuh)
Together we live in each other's shadow.

Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras.
(Iss maw/my un tahnlawn un tuckaruss)
Hunger is a good sauce.

Aithníonn ciaróg, ciaróg eile.
(Ahneeun keeroge, keeroge ella)
One cockroach recognizes another.

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat.
(Guh nyree un bow-her laht)
May the road rise to meet you.
*** Variation for those after a bender:****
Go n-éirí an leaba leat.
(Guh nyree un lyahbah laht)
May the bed rise to meet you.

Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.
(Neel ayne tintahn mahr duh thintahn hayn/fayn)
There's no hearth like your own hearth.

Ní neart go cur le chéile.
(Nee nahrt guh curr luh haylah)
No strength without unity.

Giorraíonn beirt bóthar.
(Gyirr-ee-un bayrch boh-urr)
Two shorten a road.

Tiocfaidh ár lá!
(Chuckie ahr lah)
Our day will come.

Tiocfaidh an ciall le h-aois.
(Chuckie un kihl luh haysh)
Sense will come with age.

Toasts:
Sláinte!
(Slawn-chuh)
Health!

Go maire sibh bhur saol nua.
(Guh mahr-uh shiv whur/vur seel/sale nu-ah)
May you enjoy your new life! (To newlyweds)

Fad saol agat, gob fliuch, agus bás in Éirinn.
(Fahd seel/sayl ahgut, gob fluck, ahgus bahss in Airann)
Long life to you, a wet mouth, and death in Ireland.

Sláinte chuig na fir, agus go mairfidh na mná.
(Slawn-chuh hig nah feer, ahgus guh mahree nah mra)
Health to the men, and may the women live forever.

Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat.
(Guh nyree un tahd lat)
Good luck to you.

Special Greetings:
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig agat!
(Bannachtee nuh fayluh Pawdrig ahgut)
Blessings of the Feast of St. Patrick to you!

Nollaig shona dhuit.
(Nuhlug hunna gwitch)
Merry Christmas.

Lá breithe shona dhuit.
(Lawh breheh hunna gwitch)
Happy Birthday to you.

Lá fhéile bhur bPósta faoi shonas don mbeirt agaibh!
(Lah aye-luh whur/vur boastah fwee hunnas dohn mayrt ahgiv)
Happy wedding anniversary to you both.

Dia linn!
(Dee-uh ling)
God be with us! (said after a sneeze)