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8 Thoughtful Irish Travel Blessings (They’ll Love)

8 Thoughtful Irish Travel Blessings (They’ll Love)

Irish travel blessings can be a great way to wish someone off on a new adventure.

You’ll most commonly see them written in cards or in text/Whatsapp messages and they add a dash of ‘Irishness’ to your well wishes.

They tend to be either reasonably formal or very lighthearted, with the latter often used during toasts.

Below, you’ll find our favourite Irish blessings for safe travels. Dive on in!

Our favourite Irish travel blessings

Irish blessings for travels

Photos via Shutterstock

It’s worth keeping in mind that many Irish travel sayings online aren’t actually Irish/have no link to Ireland.

Below, you’ll find some Irish travel blessings that have a strong link to Ireland. Enjoy!

1. To an easy journey

may the road rise up to meet you

Few traditional Irish travel blessings are as famous as the mighty ‘May the road rise to meet you.

Although you’ll often see this one amongst Irish wedding blessings, the verse above focuses solely on wishing the listener/reader an easy journey.

Few Irish blessings for safe travels will spark nostalgia like this one.

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.”

2. Keep in mind

toast of wisdom

One of the more popular Irish travel blessings, this next one is perfect for a farewell card for a friend or acquaintance that’s off on a new adventure.

You’ll also see it crop up in our Irish drinking toasts as it’s suitable for going away parties also.

“May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been,

The foresight to know where you are going,

And the insight to know when you have gone too far.”

3. To good fortune

luck of the irish toast

Although the term ‘the Luck of the Irish‘ comes from negative beginnings, it’s use here is acceptable.

Like most Irish blessings for safe travels, this one can be used to wish good luck and happiness to a person off on an adventure.

“May the luck of the Irish, Lead to happiest heights.

And the highway you travel, Be lined with green lights.

Wherever you go and whatever you do, May the luck of the Irish be there with you.”

4. To happiness

a slightly strange blessing

Next up is one of the shorter Irish blessings for safe travels and it’s steeped in meaning. It uses opposites to convey its message and tends to hook the listener from start to finish.

This one wishes a person that is at the beginning of a journey an easy path. It’s for that reason that it’s also often used as an Irish baby blessing.

“May you be poor in misfortune,

Rich in Irish blessings, Slow to make enemies,

Quick to make friends, But rich or poor, quick or slow,

May you know nothing but, Happiness from this day forward.”

5. Green be the grass

may green be the grass

This is another of several short Irish prayers for safe travel that tends to be used during wedding ceremonies. It’s also a popular Irish birthday blessing.

Short and sweet, it gets to-the-point from the get-go and it’s easy to recite.

“May green be the grass you walk on,

May blue be the skies above you,

That pure be the joys that surround you,

May true be the hearts that love you.”

6. Well wishes

an irish prayer

Another good option for those of you looking for short Irish blessings for travels, this one can be used in a variety of manners.

You’ll regularly hear it used as a wedding reading along with several other short Irish wishes.

“May God give you… For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile, For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share, For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer.”

7. May the hand of a friend

irish blessing quotes

Next is one of the more popular Irish travel sayings that follows the prosperity theme from start to finish.

You could also use this for a retirement toast or as part of a reading, if you like.

“May you always have work for your hands to do.

May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.

May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.”

14. Lucky stars above you

famous irish sayings

Many of the most popular Irish blessings for safe travels revolve around a theme of ‘luck’, and this one is no different.

It’s also a good one to pop into a congratulations card for someone that’s had a baby as it is a thoughtful wish for the newborn at the beginning of their life.

Lucky stars above you, Sunshine on your way,

Many friends to love you, Joy in work and play.

Laughter to outweigh each care, In your heart a song,

And gladness waiting everywhere, All your whole life long.”

What Irish blessings for safe travels have we missed?

irish travel blessing

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant Irish sayings for safe travel from the guide above.

If you have any Irish travel blessings that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

Or, if you’d like to indulge in some more ‘Irishness’, hop into our guides to Irish slang, Irish jokes, Irish proverbs and funny Irish sayings.

FAQs about Irish prayers for safe travels

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are some funny Irish sayings for safe travels?’ to ‘Which are the most meaningful?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What is the traditional Irish blessing for travel?

The most traditional Irish prayer for safe travels is: “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.”

What is the Irish saying for good journey?

If you don’t fancy the Irish travel sayings above, wish them ‘Go dté tú slán’, which means safe journey in Irish.

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