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The Irish have a unique way of celebrating life and honoring the dead. From traditional wakes to heartfelt eulogies, they combine somber reflection with joyous remembrance. Irish funerals can be both poignant and humorous, filled with Irish funeral toasts, death blessings, and prayers that offer comic relief amidst the grief.
Here are 11 of the most heartfelt and humorous Irish toasts, blessings, and prayers for the dead, reflecting the rich tradition of Irish funeral customs.
Heartfelt and Humorous Irish Toasts
- A Tiny Bouquet
- “It is better to buy a tiny bouquet and present it to your buddy today than a bushel of white and red roses to lay on his coffin after he has died.”
- Getting Older
- “Do not lament the fact that you are getting older. Many people are denied the opportunity.”
- Drinking to Heaven
- “When we drink, we become inebriated. We fall asleep when we are inebriated, and we do not sin when we sleep. We go to paradise when we do not sin. So, let us all get drunk and head to heaven!”
- Forty Years in Heaven
- “May you have food and clothing, as well as a comfy pillow for your head. May you spend forty years in heaven before the devil realizes you’re no longer alive.”
- To Life and Death
- “Here’s to a long and happy life, a quick and easy death, a gorgeous girl and an honest girl, a cold beer, and another one.”
- Love and Memory
- “Death leaves a pain that no one can repair; love leaves a memory that no one can take.”
- A Wish for Ireland
- “I wish you good health and a long life. You have land that is not rented to you, and every year, a child is given to you. And if you can’t go to paradise, may you die in Ireland.”
- To Good Things
- “To beefsteak when you’re hungry, whiskey when you’re thirsty, all the women you’ll ever want, and heaven when you die.”
Traditional Irish Prayers
- Hail, Mary
“Hail, full of grace, Mary. The Lord is on your side. Blessed are you among women, Jesus, and blessed is the offspring of thy womb. Please, Holy Mary, Mother of God, intercede for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” - The Apostles’ Creed “I believe in God, the almighty Father, creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried…”
- The Lord’s Prayer “Hallowed be thy name, Our Father in heaven. Come, thy kingdom. Do Your will on earth as it is in heaven…”
Additional Irish Prayers and Blessings
- All Praise to the Father
- “All glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it is now, and will always be, a world without end. Amen.”
- Fatima’s Prayer
- “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, deliver us from the wrath of hell, and lead all souls to paradise, especially those who are most in need of your kindness.”
- Holy Queen, Hail
- “Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears….”
- A Prayer for a Deceased Child
- “O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst take little children into thine arms and bless them; open thou our eyes, we beseech thee, that we may perceive that thou hast taken this child [name] into the arms of thy love, and blessed [name] with the blessings of thy gracious favor; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.”
Conclusion
Prayers at a funeral offer healing, remembrance, and strength. They memorialize the departed while providing solace to those left behind. Saying prayers in unison is a powerful tradition that helps believers honor their loved ones. Irish prayers and toasts, with their blend of humor and heartfelt emotion, capture the spirit of celebration and remembrance that is central to Irish funeral customs. So, raise a glass, share a story, and honor the beautiful life that was lived.
