There's a reason Irish wedding toasts have traveled across centuries and oceans without losing their punch. They're warm without being sappy. They're wise without being preachy. And they have a rhythm to them that just feels right when you're standing in a room full of people who love someone.
Whether you're Irish yourself, marrying into an Irish family, or just drawn to the tradition, an Irish toast can add something genuinely special to a wedding speech. But there's an art to it. Drop a random blessing into a generic speech and it'll feel like a Google search. Weave it in with intention, and it'll be the line people remember.
Here's how to do it right.
The Classic Irish Blessings (And What They Actually Mean)
You've probably heard a few of these before. They show up on tea towels and pub walls and cross-stitch projects your aunt made in 1994. But when you say them out loud, in the right moment, to the right people — they land differently.
"May the road rise up to meet you"
This is the one everyone knows. The full version goes:
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
It's a traveler's blessing, traditionally said as a farewell. At a wedding, it works beautifully as a closing — a send-off for the couple as they start their journey together. It's gentle, it's hopeful, and it doesn't try too hard.
"May your troubles be less"
May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.
Short, sweet, and perfect for a toast. This one works well if you're not giving a full speech — just standing up, saying a few words, and raising your glass. It's a blessing disguised as a wish, and it never feels overdone.
"May you live as long as you want"
May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.
This is classic Irish wit — a blessing wrapped in a riddle. It's about contentment, about having enough, about a life that feels full. Use it when you want something pithy that still carries weight.
"May love and laughter light your days"
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.
This one is longer and more lyrical. It works well as a standalone reading or as the closing stanza of a longer speech. The rhythm is beautiful when spoken aloud — practice it a few times so it flows naturally.
Modern Takes on the Irish Toast
Traditional blessings are powerful, but you don't have to use one verbatim. Some of the best Irish-inspired toasts take the spirit of the tradition — the warmth, the humor, the gentle wisdom — and make it personal.
Here are a few approaches:
Blend a blessing with your own words
You don't have to choose between a traditional blessing and a personal speech. Use both. Start with your own story, then close with a blessing that ties it together.
For example:
I've watched my brother search for someone who could keep up with him — his energy, his stubbornness, his habit of turning every conversation into a debate. Sarah, you don't just keep up. You win. And somehow, he loves you more for it.
Our grandmother used to say something before every family dinner. She'd raise her glass and say: "May the roof above you never fall in, and may the friends gathered below it never fall out." Nana, I think you'd like this one.
To Sean and Sarah.
The blessing doesn't feel dropped in — it's earned by the story that came before it.
Use Irish humor
The Irish tradition isn't all soft blessings and misty fields. There's a sharp, dry humor woven through it too. Some of the best Irish toasts are the funny ones:
"May you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you're dead."
"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 pint and another one."
"May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future."
These are great for lightening the mood, especially if your speech has been emotional. A well-timed Irish one-liner gives the room permission to laugh and breathe before the toast.
Write your own blessing
If you want something truly original, write your own in the style of an Irish blessing. The formula is simple: "May you..." followed by something specific and sincere. Here's an example:
May your house always be too small to hold all your friends. May your arguments be short and your weekends be long. May you never lose the feeling you have right now — standing in this room, surrounded by every person who loves you, knowing that the best part is just beginning.
It doesn't need to rhyme. It doesn't need to be in Gaelic. It just needs to sound like a wish from someone who means it.
How to Incorporate Irish Heritage Without Overdoing It
This is the tricky part. You want to honor the tradition without turning your speech into a St. Patrick's Day card. Here are some guidelines:
One blessing is enough. Don't string together three different Irish sayings. Pick the one that fits your speech, and let it stand on its own.
Don't fake an accent. This should go without saying, but please — just deliver it in your own voice.
Context matters. If the family is Irish, a Gaelic phrase or a nod to a specific family tradition will mean more than a generic blessing. If you're not Irish yourself, keep it simple and sincere. Acknowledge that you're borrowing from a beautiful tradition.
Use it as the closer. Irish blessings work best at the end of a speech, right before the toast. They're designed to be send-offs. Let your personal stories do the work of the speech, and let the blessing do the work of the ending.
Don't over-explain it. You don't need to say, "There's an old Irish saying that goes..." Just say it. The words speak for themselves.
Full Example: Irish Wedding Toast for a Best Man
For those who don't know me, I'm Conor, and I've been Liam's best friend since we were twelve years old and got caught sneaking into the neighbor's pool. We've been partners in crime ever since — though the crimes have gotten significantly less interesting.
Liam is the most dependable person I know. If you call him at 2 AM, he picks up. If you need help moving, he shows up with coffee and doesn't complain. He's the guy who remembers your birthday without Facebook reminding him. Quietly, consistently good.
And then he met Aoife. I remember the first time he told me about her. He said, "She's smarter than me, funnier than me, and she doesn't let me get away with anything." I thought — yeah, that sounds about right.
Watching them together, it's obvious. They make each other braver. They make each other lighter. They make each other more themselves.
My grandfather — Liam's too, since our families go way back — used to end every toast the same way. So I'll borrow his words tonight:
May your joys be as deep as the ocean, and your sorrows as light as its foam. And may you find, in each other, the home you carry wherever you go.
To Liam and Aoife.
Full Example: Short Irish Toast for a Father of the Bride
I'm not a man of many words. Never have been. But I'll say this:
Watching my daughter grow up has been the privilege of my life. And watching her find someone who looks at her the way Michael does — well, that's a close second.
There's an old blessing I heard from my own father, and his father before him:
May your home always be too small to hold all your friends. May your hearts always be big enough to hold each other.
Michael, welcome to the family. We're glad you're here.
To Ciara and Michael.
A Note on Gaelic Phrases
If you want to include a Gaelic phrase, a few common ones work well at weddings:
- Sláinte (SLAHN-cha) — "Health." The classic Irish toast, equivalent to "Cheers."
- Grá go deo (GRAW guh JOH) — "Love forever."
- Go mbeannaí Dia duit (guh MAN-ee JEE-uh gwit) — "May God bless you."
If you use one, give the room the pronunciation and the meaning. A brief "Sláinte — that's Irish for 'to your health'" is all you need. It's a small touch, but it adds authenticity without confusion.
Start Writing Yours
An Irish toast is one of those things that sounds effortless but benefits from a little planning. If you want to blend a traditional blessing with your own personal stories, Toastly's speech builder can help you structure it all. Tell it about the couple, pick your tone, and you'll have a draft that honors the tradition and sounds like you — not like a greeting card.