St. Patrick’s Day is more than parades, green clothing and parties—it’s a time for words that lift the spirit
The man behind the celebration, St. Patrick, played a key role in spreading Christianity across Ireland, blending faith with the island’s deep-rooted traditions and leaving a lasting spiritual legacy.
Many St. Patrick’s Day blessings are old and traditional, like the famous ‘St. Patrick’s Prayer’, while others are less formal.
St. Patrick’s Day prayers, blessing and wishes
Photos via Shutterstock
Although St. Patrick’s Day is, unfortunately, more associated with rowdy celebrations, the day ultimately marks the passing of Ireland’s Patron Saint.
Below, you’ll find some of our favourite Irish prayers for St. Patrick’s Day, starting with the aptly titled ‘St. Patrick’s Prayer’.
1. St. Patrick’s Prayer
The most notable of the many St. Patrick’s Day blessings is known as ‘St. Patrick’s Breastplate’ AKA ‘St. Patrick’s Prayer’.
It’s said that St. Patrick sang this prayer when the High King of Ireland, Loegaire, was preparing to ambush him.
This is one of the longer Irish prayers for St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s arguably the most appropriate. Here’s a snippet:
I arise today, Through the strength of heaven; Light of the sun, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth, Firmness of the rock. I arise today, Through God’s strength to pilot me; God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s hosts to save me.
2. The St. Patrick’s Day blessing
The next of our St. Patrick’s Day prayers stands apart from the rest, as it speaks directly to Ireland’s Patron Saint.
This prayer reflects St. Patrick’s humility, acknowledging his own sins before expressing deep gratitude for his mission to bring the word of God to Ireland.
Dear St. Patrick, in your humility you called yourself a sinner, but you became a most successful missionary and prompted countless pagans to follow the Saviour.
Many of their descendents in turn spread the Good News in numerous foreign lands.
Through your powerful intercession with God, obtain the missionaries we need to continue the work you began. Amen.
3. The St. Patrick’s Day greeting in Irish
If using one of the Irish blessings for St. Patrick’s Day isn’t your thing, you can always wish someone happy St. Patrick’s Day in Irish.
If you’re saying it to one person it’s ‘Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit’. The pronounciation is ‘Lah leh Pah-drig Sun-uh gw-itch’.
4. Green be the grass
Next is one of the shorter St. Patrick prayers and it contains plenty of positive tones, which makes it perfect to send to loved ones.
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.
5. A prayer of thanks to St. Patrick
This is one of the shorter St. Patrick’s Day blessings, focusing on gratitude for St. Patrick and his mission in Ireland.
It’s a great choice if you’re after a brief yet meaningful St. Patrick’s Day prayer that honours his legacy.
O God, Who didst vouchsafe to send Thy Confessor and Bishop, Blessed Patrick, to preach Thy glory to the nations, grant,
through his merits and intercession, that what Thou dost command us to do, we may, by Thy mercy, be enabled to perform.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
6. An Irish-themed blessing
Many people incorporate an Irish blessing for St. Patrick’s Day as a pre-dinner ‘thanks’—a St. Patrick’s Day tradition that remains popular for good reason.
This is one of the shorter St. Patrick’s Day prayers, making it a fitting pre-meal blessing that expresses gratitude for St. Patrick’s presence in Ireland.
O almighty God, who in thy providence didst choose thy servant Patrick to be the apostle of the Irish people,
that he might bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of thee;
Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.
7. A prayer of gratitude
One of the lesser-known facts about St. Patrick is that he did not banish the snakes from Ireland (there wasn’t any here to begin with!).
It’s believed that the snakes represented the devil’s presence in Ireland (the devil was depicted as a serpent in the Bible on numerous occasions).
As St. Patrick travelled around Ireland spreading the word of God, he helped to banish Pagan beliefs.
This St. Patrick’s Day prayer starts with acknowledging St. Patrick’s role in bringing Christianity to Ireland before giving thanks.
God our Father, You sent Saint Patrick to preach Your glory to the people of Ireland. By the help of his prayers, may all Christians proclaim Your love to all men.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
8. May the road rise to meet you
Few traditional Irish blessings for St. Patrick’s Day are as widely known and loved as the popular ‘May the road rise to meet you‘.
This is most commonly used as an Irish blessing for wedding celebrations, but it can easily be use on March 17th by those looking for St. Patrick’s Day blessings to send to friends.
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.
9. Irish magic
We’re taking a break from St. Patrick’s greetings for a lovely little paragraph that references Irish laughter and magic.
This is a short and informal blessing that rolls off the tongue and that’ll go great in a card or text message.
May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load, may the mist of Irish magic shorten every road,
may you taste the sweetest pleasures that fortune ere bestowed, and may all your friends remember all the favours you are owed.
10. A toast for March 17th
This one is a bit of a mouthful. However, if you’re looking for St. Patrick prayers that sound great read aloud, you’ve found one!
St Patrick was a gentleman, Who through strategy and stealth, Drove all the snakes from Ireland, Here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings, Lest you lose yourself and then, Forget the good saint Patrick And see all those snakes again.
11. May Irish angels rest their wings
One of the shorter Irish prayers for St. Patrick’s Day, this one has plenty of Irish notes and its length makes it fit nicely into a card or an email.
May you always walk in sunshine. May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings Right beside your door.
12. Health, luck and happiness
Another of the informal St. Patrick’s Day quotes is this one that includes plenty of Irish symbolism throughout.
For each petal on the shamrock, This brings a wish your way,
Good health, good luck, and happiness, For today and every day.
13. The luck of the Irish
Although the term ‘the Luck of the Irish‘ has some very negative origins, it’s use here is more than acceptable.
Like many Irish sayings, this can be used in several situations, including St. Patrick’s Day.
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.
14. Pots of gold
Few St. Patrick’s Day messages with a good-luck theme are as poetic and to-the-point as this one.
More a toast than a blessing, it packs several of the symbols of Ireland into a handful of easily read sentences.
May you have all the happiness, And luck that life can hold.
And at the end of all your rainbows, May you find a pot of gold.
15. To friends
And lastly, a short and sweet St. Patrick’s Day prayer that can be used as a toast.
May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
Explore beyond the St. Patrick blessings
Now that you have a good sense of the different St. Patrick’s Day prayers, it’s time to learn more about Ireland.
Here are some resources to start you off:
- St. Patrick’s Day Jokes
- Best Irish Songs And The Best Irish Films Of All Time
- Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day In Ireland
- St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails
- 33 Interesting Facts About Ireland
- Irish toasts
What is a short St. Patrick’s Day prayer?
Prayer number 4 about is a good short St. Patrick’s Day blessing that gives thanks to God for St. Patrick and the work he did.
What St. Patrick’s Day blessing is most traditional?
St. Patrick’s Breastplate (number 1 above) is arguably the most traditional as it’s said that St. Patrick himself used to sing it.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.