The Irish language is so rich in wonderful sayings it is difficult to choose. In honour of the St Patrick’s festival which will be with us soon, I have decided to share with you a selection of the many curses and blessings available to you in the Irish language.

Try them out on your friends – and enemies! – but bí cúramach! (be careful!) and accompany them with a smile!

Mallachtaí – curses or insults:

• Go dtachta an diabhal ort – May the devil choke you
• Loscadh agus dó ort – Scorching and burning on you
• Briseadh agus brú ort – strife and stress on you
• Bó-leagadh ort – May your cow herd vanish
• Dearg stampaí ort – May you only have mashed potatoes to eat
• Béal mór ar do bhothán – May your home have no doors
• Go n-ithe an cat thú agus go n-ithe an diabhal an cat – May the cat eat you and may the devil eat the cat
• Gur fail muice do thíos – May you live in a pigsty
• Pian sa tóin amach is amach é – He’s an out and out pain in the behind
• Buinneach bhuí ort – May you have yellow diarrhoea
• Go n-ithe an chráin mhíolach thú – May the louse-infected sow eat you

And worst of all in many eyes:

• Mallacht Chromaill ort - The curse of Cromwell on you

If you have any friends left after all that cursing, try a few beannachtaí - blessings:

• Gob fliuch agus bás in Éirinn. Use this one as a toast - a good one for those of us who are part of the Irish diaspora. It means – may you have a wet mouth (something to drink) and may you die in Ireland

And while you’re having that drink, another way of sayings cheers would be:

• Sláinte agus fad saol agaibh - Health and a long life to you

To those people you only meet maybe once a year:

• Go mbeirimid beo ag an am seo arís. - May we live to meet here again next year)
• Nár chuire Dia riamh i mbéal an chuain thú gan farraige fháilteach. – May God never leave you without a lifeline
• Go dtuga Dia deoch dhuit as an dtobar ná tránn. - May God give you a drink from the well that never dries
• Go mairir is go gcaithfir – May you live to enjoy it (A new hat, for example)
• Nár laga Dia do lámh – May God never weaken your hand
• Céill’ gan shrann, gan chaille, gan bheann agat – May you have a partner that doesn’t snore or isn’t a loser or a worrier
• Comhairle na dea-mhná agat - May you have the advice of a good woman

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!!

Happy St Patrick’s Day!
Terri