With a new year underway and the cold, dark depths of Winter in full swing, we like to try and brighten things up for our readers with some fun tidbits of Irish culture and history, as it give those of us with a little piece of Ireland in our heart something to enjoy and hopefully, learn a little from!
All kinds of people visit our website from all across the globe and with visitors coming into our brick-and-mortar stores for advice when in Ireland too, we've taken on the mantle of unofficial guardians of Irish identity to some extent!
If you're a new or long-standing reader of our blog, you'll know that Ireland boasts a very strong language and storytelling tradition. And there are a few factors that have made this possible.
One is the native Irish language (or 'Gaelic') which has long been there even before English came along and has emphasized the essence of maintaining the Irish heritage and traditions.
Two, storytelling was the juice before paper, pen, TV, and literacy existed
Lastly, the Irish people are pretty friendly and naturally sociable, with most of them appreciating a good chat.
Combining all the above over time has given the Irish people a way with words, with some of the world's renowned writers - like Oscar Wilde and James Joyce - being Irish. As such, there exists a lexicon of Irish proverbs, sayings, and phrases, all suited to different situations and this guide will run you through some of our favorites, and their meanings.
And while most are centuries old, they still ring true to this day. Some may seem old-fashioned and quaint for the modern world, and others just don't seem to make sense irrespective of context or time, with the oft-misunderstood "Broken Irish is better than clever English" a perfect example!
30 Irish Proverbs and Sayings You Ought to Learn
Without further ado, here's our list of the very best Irish proverbs which will enrich your understanding of 'Irishness', or at least give you a giggle!
- Every man is sociable until a cow invades his garden – Everybody has their off days
- Hunger is good sauce – hunger makes any food taste good.
- A friend's eye is a good mirror – trust your friends' opinions.
- There's not a wise man without fault – everyone has their faults no matter how perfect they may seem—even you!
- You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your father was – success is never guaranteed.
- Show the fatted calf, but not the thing that fattened him - this Irish proverb warns against giving away the secrets of your success.
- Experience is the comb that life gives a bald man – A man who has lived long enough to lose his hair will no doubt know a thing or two about life.
- Never scald your lips with another man's porridge – It's for your own good to just mind your own business.
- Do not resent growing old; many are denied the privilege – this is one of the few self-explanatory proverbs!
- An old broom knows the dirty corners best – reflects on experience and those with more experience having more knowledge of the situation.
- A good word never broke a tooth – kindness and good deeds will always be acknowledged and appreciated.
- A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book – laughing, smiling, and enough rest all positively impact your overall well-being.
- May the enemies of Ireland never eat bread nor drink whisky but be tormented with itching without the benefit of scratching – wishes that your enemies be deprived of blessings.
- It is as easy to catch a cold in a King's castle as in a shepherd's hut – wealth and success won't shield you from the trials of this life.
- A good start is half the work – once you start working on something, you won't need much effort to finish it.
- Better to spend money like there's no tomorrow than spend tonight like there's no money – learn to live in the moment.
- May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past – it’s a wish that your future worst be better than your past best.
- A little fire that warms is better than a big fire that burns – if you feel gratitude for the few desirable things or blessings you have, don't be greedy for more.
- A misty winter brings a pleasant spring, a pleasant winter a misty spring – this Irish proverb reflects the nature of life's peaks and valleys.
- May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty – Regardless of life challenges, may your friendships never go cold.
- Never bolt the door with a boiled carrot – always act carefully and be adequately prepared for potential future setbacks.
- It's better to pay the butcher than the doctor – buying good food is better than buying bad food and becoming unhealthy.
- Hindsight is the best insight to foresight – learn from past mistakes to avoid making new ones.
- A trip across the Emerald Isle will leave you with a bucket full of memories to pass on – He who travels has memories to keep and stories to tell.
- Encourage young people, and they will get there – this is a clever Irish saying for the older people, telling them to do their bit for the sake of the younger generation doing well.
- It's a lonely washing that has no man's shirt in it – we all need somebody to love.
- Do not take the thatch from your own roof to buy slates for another man's house – Help yourself first for you to help others.
- The longest road out is the shortest road home – effort and time will always pay off in the end.
- A good friend is like a four-leaf clover – anyone with a good friend is lucky, as good friends are rare.
- Many a time, a man's mouth broke his nose/It is often that a person's mouth broke his nose – Backed with a bit of humor, this Irish proverb warns that a misspoken word will have a consequence or two for your face!
Bonus Irish Proverbs and Sayings
OK, these weren't good enough to make our top-thirty, but they're also too good to hit the cutting-room floor, so to speak!
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!
No matter how many rooms you have in your house, you're only able to sleep in one bed.
May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.
Take the world nice and easy, and the world will take you the same.
One for the Road
We’ll leave you with one final proverb to close out this article, one we find ourselves reciting time and time again to friends and customers alike as we bid them farewell on a journey.
May neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and Heaven accept you.
That ones's actually an ancient Irish blessing which we really should have included in the top 30 come to think of it!
We hope you've enjoyed reading this list as much as we did compiling it! As evident above, you can see that proverbs are many things - maxims of bare truth, an allusion to poetry, an abundance of humor, arguments of wisdom, and emblems of cultures, intended to teach people the virtues to follow.
And as seen in this guide, Ireland is blessed with plenty of them, courtesy of its rich traditions which we're both proud of here at The Sweater Shop and keen to promote at all times.
So, which of the above made it to your list of favorite Irish proverbs? We’d love to get your feedback and input and will happily publish any great ones we’ve missed above!
If you like this type of content and are keen to learn more about some of the more sides to Irish customs and culture, you might enjoy our guide to Irish Family names, the meaning of the Shamrock or the cultural significance of the Triskelion live on our blog!