This is a collection of my personal favourite words of wisdom from old Irish proverbs.
You may have heard some in passing and you may have heard some for the very first time. Either way, there are some great life lessons to take from these Irish proverbs.
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If you love Irish proverbs you will love these Irish sayings as well.
Let’s get started with some of these incredible Irish proverbs:
- Mura gcuirfidh tú san earrach ní bhainfidh tú san fhómhar. Translation: If you do not sow in the spring, you will not reap in the autumn.
- May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.
- A craftsman’s son may grow up in ignorance of his father’s skills.
- Youth does not mind where it sets its foot.
- Don’t become broke by trying to look rich
- The light heart lives long.
Irish Proverb - The well-fed does not understand the lean.
- Better to be fortunate than rich.
Irish Proverbs - You can’t kiss an Irish girl unexpectedly. You can only kiss her sooner than she thought you would.
- Do not take the thatch from your own roof to buy slates for another man’s house.
- There is no use boiling your cabbage twice.
- A tune is more lasting than the song of the birds,
And a word more lasting than the wealth of the world.
- It is as easy to catch a cold in a King’s castle as in a shepherds hut.
- Never scald your lips with another man’s porridge.
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Lose an hour in the morning and you will be looking for it all day.
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A drink precedes a story. – Irish Proverbs
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No matter how many rooms you have in your house, you’re only able to sleep in one bed.
- Men are like bagpipes – no sound comes from them until they are full.
- Take the world nice and easy, and the world will take you the same.
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It’s a lonely washing that has no man’s shirt in it ~ Irish proverbs
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Which of the above Irish proverbs is your favourite?
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Some bonus Irish proverbs I also enjoyed:
- A companion shortens a road.
- Beauty doesn’t boil the kettle.
- Sleep is the first sign of recovery.
- A fat Christmas makes for a tight graveyard.
- May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours! - Forgetting a debt doesn’t mean it’s paid.
- A good word never broke a tooth
- Every patient is a doctor after his cure
- No man ever wore a scarf as warm as his daughter’s arm around his neck.
If you love these Irish proverbs then check out these amazing sunset quotes.
And if you loved the there are 100 more Irish sayings here to check out.
Ellen Lyons-White
Friday 25th of February 2022
I love all the Irish proverbs. I miss hearing my mother's voice, a very Irish Clare accent, she never lost it, lived in England a long time. One thing she used to say was of money.... "you can't have it and spend it" I've never heard anyone else say that!
Irish Around The World
Sunday 27th of February 2022
She was very wise!
Deborah Dolan
Friday 25th of February 2022
My favorite is "It's a lonely washing that has no mans shirt in it" Beautiful thank you Stephen.
Irish Around The World
Sunday 27th of February 2022
Yes, that is one of my favourites as well. Glad you enjoyed it.
Kathie
Thursday 17th of February 2022
This was my dad's favorite also “Here’s to you and here’s to me I hope we never disagree; but if we do, the hell with you, here’s to me.”
Irish Around The World
Friday 18th of February 2022
Haha, that is a great one! I might have to rob it someday.
Jim Ferris, Palo Alto, California
Saturday 21st of August 2021
My father's favorite toast--
"Here's to you and here's to me I hope we never disagree; but if we do, the hell with you, here's to me."
Kathleen
Saturday 14th of August 2021
I liked proverb #2 but, I especially liked proverb#20 because it is so true. Since my husband died 7 years ago, I have not had a male garment in my laundry. It is sad.
Debra McLellan
Friday 25th of February 2022
@Kathleen, I'm in the same boat but only for one year now. That proverb caught me by surprise. A sad reminder