May the road rise 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.

This is a very old and the most traditional of the Irish blessings. It is often said at weddings and other special occasisions.

What does it mean? The three main images in this verse are the wind, the sun and the rain. Many believe these stand for two important elements of the Irish culture: a love of nature and a representation of their religion.

The wind is often thought to be the Holy Spirit since it is referred to as a rushing mighty wind at Pentecost.

The sun is a reference to God’s mercy, as it is referred to in the New Testament: “by which the rising sun will come to us as from heaven”.

Nothing can grow without rain and in this poem it talks about the rain falling softly. This is talking about God’s provision and care for His people.

Translated directly from the Irish, the first line would read: May you succeed on the road. This Irish blessing is a very beautiful way of saying May your life be a success.

Which is just what I wish for you!

On the flip side of a blessing was a curse. The Irish are a suspicious bunch of people and they believed they could ward off their enemies by placing a curse on them. While I don’t believe in verses bringing good luck or warding off enemies, I do enjoy the humor in this one. It brings back fond Memories of my friend Larry. This was one of his favorite verses to say.

May those that love us, love us.

And those that don’t love us,

May God turn their hearts.

And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,

May He turn their ankles,

So we will know them by their limping!

I hope you have a good explanation for that limp!

Why all this Irish stuff? Because today is St. Patrick’s day and I have had an interest in Ireland for as long as I can remember. Maybe someday I will get there and see it all for myself. Until then, I will keep dreaming and reading about Ireland!

The cliffs of Moher is one of the biggest attractions in Ireland. Don’t they look majestic and wild? I just love the green green grass and the far views.

There are many very old castles to explore in Ireland. Some are well kept and some are crumbling down. Either way, they are beautiful.

My Land

By Brendon Graham

How green are your valleys, how blue your great skies,
Your mountains stand tall in their glory:
Your rivers run free – the bright stars are your eyes,
Your beauty is endless before me.

Oh, you are the song ever singing in me,
And you are the heart ever true:
For, you are my land and you always will be,
The voice ever calling me… home to you.

When times we are far from your forests and streams,
When sailing from your shining waters:
We carry your hopes – your spirit, your dreams-
In the hearts of your sons and your daughters.

When to your green valleys some day I return,
When you lay your mantle around me:
At rest I will be where the heart will not yearn,
With my land to ever…surround me.

Oh, you are the song ever singing in me,
And you are the heart ever true:
For, you are my land and you always will be,
The voice ever calling me… home to you.

The voice ever calling me…home to you.

Your children may sing this song at school. It is a very beautiful song penned by Brendon Graham about the country of Ireland. If your children don’t know it, ask your music teacher for a copy and learn it for yourself.

This is another reason to go to Ireland. They have many old crumbly cemeteries. There is nothing I like better than on a warm afternoon to go through an old cemetery, reading the tombstones and wondering who the people were that lie there. Tell me you love to explore cemeteries, too?

Here is a list of Irish authors. Some of them I have read, some I have only heard of. Let me know if you have read and love these authors.

Maeve Binchy (Love this author!)

Tana French (The first lady of Irish Crime)

James Joyce

C. S. Lewis (Narnia!)

Fank McCourt

Jonathon Swift

Oscar Wilde

Patrick Taylor (Saved the best for the last. Go read his Irish Country Doctor series right now! You will be entertained and learn things about the country of Ireland!)

What do you know about Ireland, St. Patrick’s day, or Irish authors? Tell me something in the comments you find interesting about the Irish.