Here’s what’s written:

Míle buíochas do gach duine a chabhraigh liom! “Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimid”! Le grá go deo.

What it means is:

“Many thanks to everyone who helped me. “We live in each other’s shadows”! With love forever.”

“We live in each other’s shadows” is an Irish saying, or “seanfhocal.”

Contributed by Redwolf.

neart = strength

grá = love

onóir = honour

Contributed by Deb.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! (plural)
Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh
La ale-lah paw-rig son-ah jeev

St. Patrick’s Day Blessings
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!
Ban-ick-tee na fay-lah pwad-rig

St. Patrick’s Day Blessing On You (singular)
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ort!
Ban-ick-tee na fay-lah pwad-rig ort

St. Patrick’s Day Blessing On You (plural)
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!
Ban-ick-tee na fay-lah pwad-rig or-iv

Ireland Forever
Éire go Brách
Air-rah guh braw

I’m Irish!
Is Éireannach mé!
Iss air-in-ack may

Health and Wealth!
Sláinte is táinte!
slawn-chah iss tan-chah

A pint of Guiness, please
Píonta Guiness, le do thoil
Pine-tah Guiness, le doh hull

Where will you be wetting the shamrock?
Cá mbeidh tú ag fliuchadh na seamróige?
Ka may two ig fluck-ooh na sham-roge-ah

Luck of the Irish
Ádh na nÉireannach
ah na nare-in-ack

Kiss me, I’m Irish
Tabhair póg dom, is Éireannach mé
Toe-er pog do, iss air-in-ack may

Give me the same as the man on the floor!
Tabhair dom a rud céanna mar atá ag an fhear ar an urlar!

Contributed by: Conor

See also: Audio phrases for St. Patrick’s Day.

rince /RIN-kuh/ = dance
damhsa /DOW-suh/ = dance

These terms are more or less interchangeable.

Contributed by: Tadhg an Mhargaidh, deb

Amhrán na bhFiann, the Irish Anthem

“The Soldier’s Song”

Seo dhibh a cháirde duan Óglaigh,
Cathréimeach briomhar ceolmhar,
Ár dtinte cnámh go buacach táid,
‘S an spéir go min réaltogach
Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo
‘S go tiúnmhar glé roimh thíocht do’n ló
Faoi chiúnas chaomh na hoiche ar seol:
Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann.

Curfá:
Sinne Fianna Fáil
Atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn,
buíon dár slua
Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn,
Faoi mhóid bheith saor.
Sean-tír ár sinsir feasta
Ní fhagfar faoin tiorán ná faoin tráil
Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil,
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil
Le guna screach fé lámhach na bpiléar
Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann.

Cois bánta réidhe, ar árdaibh sléibhe,
Ba bhuachach ár sinsir romhainn,
Ag lámhach go tréan faoin sár-bhrat séin
Tá thuas sa ghaoith go seolta
Ba dhúchas riamh d’ár gcine cháidh
Gan iompáil siar ó imirt áir,
‘S ag siúl mar iad i gcoinne namhad
Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann.

Curfá

A bhuíon nách fann d’fhuil Ghaeil is Gall,
Sin breacadh lae na saoirse,
Ta scéimhle ’s scanradh i gcroíthe namhad,
Roimh ranna laochra ár dtire.
Ár dtinte is tréith gan spréach anois,
Sin luisne ghlé san spéir anoir,
‘S an bíobha i raon na bpiléar agaibh:
Seo libh, canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann.

Curfá

Contributed by: Mürk, deb

Happy Birthday Song

“Happy birthday to you…”

Lá Breithe Sona dhuit.
Lá Breithe Sona dhuit.
Lá Breithe Sona. a [person's name],
Lá Breithe Sona dhuit.
Contributed by: Antóin, deb

Birthday Song in Irish – Pronunciation
law breh-eh sun-ah guit.
law breh-eh sun-ah guit.
law breh-eh sun-ah guit ah [person's name]
law breh-eh sun-ah guit

Contributed by: éanna, deb

Shivna, song from Riverdance

Shivna – A link to a translation of that “Shivna” song from Riverdance (with a good explanation for why people have so much trouble translating it):

That’s the song that goes:

A bhennáin, a bhúiredháin,
a bhéiceadháin binn,
is binn linn an cúicherán
dogní tú ’san ghlinn.

Contributed by: Redwolf

Enya

Translations for Enya songs

Contributed by: oisin718

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat.
Go raibh cóir na gaoithe i gcónaí leat.
Go dtaitní an ghrian go bog bláth ar do chlár éadain,
go dtite an bháisteach go bog mín ar do ghoirt.
Agus go gcasfar le chéile sinn arís,
go gcoinní Dia i mbois a láimhe thú.

Contributed by: Brian Costello, deb

Various

Luck of the Irish
Ádh na nÉireannach

Contributed by: Conor

May you be a half hour in heaven before the devil knows you’re dead
Go raibh tú leathuair ar Neamh sula mbeadh a fhios ag an diabhal go bhfuil tú marbh.

Contributed by: Redwolf

Not All Who Wander Are Lost
Níl gach uile fhánaí caillte
/NEEL gukh IL-uh AW-nee KYLE-chuh/

Contributed by: Deb, oisin718

Ireland Forever
Éire go Brách or Éirinn go Brách

The second spelling is a common dialectical variation. Some sources give Éireann go Brách (like www.irish-sayings.com) but that is an incorrect spelling.

Other Sites

Irish-Sayings.com – with audio.

Contributed by: Eoin

Island Ireland – Irish Proverbs, Blessings, Toasts, Sayings…

Contributed by: Aisling_M

Daltaí – Irish Proverbs

Contributed by: Aisling_M

Gaelic Proverbs (Scottish Gaelic)

Gaelic Proverbs (Scottish Gaelic) – another Scottish site

Contributed by: Deb

A word of warning to all who come seeking this translation. It is ‘unofficially the slogan of the Irish Republican movement’ and could potentially lead to nasty political battles if you don’t watch out. Use at your own risk!

Contributed by: wdsci

Níl eagla orm roimh éinne ach Dia amhain
/NEEL AG-luh ORM RIV AY-nyuh AHKH JEE-uh AH-wahn/
I fear no one but God

Ní féidir ach le Dia breithiúnas a dhéanamh orm
/NEE FAY-jur AHKH luh JEE-uh BREH-yoo-nuss uh DHAY-nuv ORM/
Only God can judge me

Contributed by: Eoin, Deb et al

Meaning

Mo chuisle literally means “my pulse”.  It’s from a longer phrase: A chuisle mo chroí, which means “pulse of my heart”.  It does not mean “my blood”.  It’s an endearment.  Normally when speaking TO the person, you would say “a chuisle“… you would only use “mo chuisle” when speaking OF the person.

The correct spelling is “Mo chuisle“.

Pronunciation

Mo chuisle
muh khwish-la
Literally: my pulse
Overall meaning: my darling

Mo chuisle mo chroí
mu khwish-la muh khree
The “kh” sound is throaty, like the “ch” in the Scottish “loch”.
Literally: pulse of my heart
Overall meaning: you’re the pulse of my heart
(when talking ABOUT the person)

A chuisle mo chroí
mu khwish-la muh khree
Literally: pulse of my heart
Overall meaning: you’re the pulse of my heart
(when talking TO the person)

A chuisle
a khwishla
Literally: pulse
Overall meaning: my darling (when talking TO your darling)

I thought it might be handy to have a list of good places to look for song lyrics in Irish, and translations. If we get a good collection, we might make this thread a link on the left.

The easiest way to find a translation for the lyrics of a song is to Google for several of the words in the song. Longer words usually work best for this, and spelling is very important. But the sites below also have good collections of the most popular songs in Irish.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/8998/ceol.html
http://www.mudcat.org/
http://www.angelfire.com/ri/domhan/ceolta.html
http://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/irish.html

1. Types of Love

There are many different nouns.  Here is a rough guide.  Nouns are in nominative form.

Grá – This is the generic word for love. From love of person, an abstract concept, your country, between lovers, neighbourly love…

Grá a bheith agat ar dhuine or Grá a bheith agat do duine – To love someone.
Bheith i ngrá le duine – To be in love with someone.

Grá na fírinne – Love of truth
Ar ghrá ruda or de ghrá ruda – For love of a thing, for the sake of a thing

Fíorghrá – True love
Amhrán grá – Love song
Bheith i bpian an ghrá or Bheith á c(h)loí le grá – To be lovesick

Others: Verbal Noun of Gráigh; Charity; Beloved Person; (Literature) Aos Grá – Confidents, chosen followers.

Cion – Love as in “affection”.

Cion croí a dhéanamh le leanbh – To hug a child to one’s bosom.
Ainm ceana – Pet name.

Other: Regard, Esteem; Effect, Influence

Gean – Affection. Less widely used than Cion.

Also: Gean gáire – Smile.

Searc – Love (between lovers)

Searc a thabhairt do dhuine – To love someone.
Le searc air – For love of him
Céadsearc – First love

Also: Beloved one.

Páirt – Fellowship, friendship, affection.

Lucht gaoil agus páirte – Relatives and friends.
A leanbh na páirte – My Dear Child.

Also: Part, Portion, Region, Participation, Party to a dispute; Partnership, association, alliance.

Cumann – Friendship, love; companionship.

Mo lucht cumainn – My Friends, companions.
Cumann a dhéanamh le duine or dul i gcumann le duine – To associate with or make friends with someone.

Also: Darling, Sweetheart; Company, fellowship, community.

2. Ways to express love

Often times people interchange these expressions. Note the differences.

First person singular I

Tá grá agam duit – I love you, I have love for you
Gráím thú – I love you (Not used often because Irish has been traditionally more of a prepositional language than a verbal one).
Tugaim cion duit – I give you affection
Tá cion agam ort – I have affection for you
Tá mé ceanúil ort – I’m loving/affectionate towards you

Táim i ngrá leat – I am in love with you
Is tú mo ghrá – You are my love

Is breá liom… – I love… (a thing/ activity)

However I must say my favourite is:
Tá mo chroí istigh ionat – My heart is within you

3. Endearments

(This list is not exhaustive)

NB: Mo (the Irish word for My) has been changed to A in places. This often happens with terms of endearment. It is what is known as the vocative form of the noun. This is used when calling people, be in physically or at the start of a letter. At any rate I would pick the A ones over the MO ones.

Lovers:
A Ghrá mo Chroí (ah hraw muh hree) = My Heart’s Beloved, My Darling
A Ghrá Geal (ah hraw gal) = My Bright Love, Boy(/Girl)friend
A Ghrá (ah hraw); Mo Ghrá (muh hraw) = My Love
A Rún (ah ruin); Mo Rún (muh ruin) = My Dear
Mo Mhuirnín (muh wer-neen); A Mhuirnín (ah wer-neen) = My Dear
A Stór (ah store) = My Darling (NOTE, exception to lenition rule)
Mo Shearc (muh hark) = My Love
A Thaisce (ah hash-keh) = My Treasure
A Chumann (ah hom-un)= My Darling, Sweetheart.

Other and/ or Lovers:

A Stóirín (ah store-een) = My little darling.
Is í an t-aingeal í (iss e un tangil e) = She’s a little darling.
Peata (pet-ah) – A mother’s darling. / A Pheata (ah fet-eh) My…
Seanleannán liom (shan-lan-auwn lum) – An old love of mine.
Written by: éanna

“My Beloved is Mine”

(from The Song of Songs)
This is a quote from the Song of Songs 2:16

Dodi li v’ani lo (Hebrew)

The Irish translation of this line is: Liomsa mo ghrá agus leis-sean mise

So, your phrase “My beloved is mine” would be

Is liomsa mo ghrá

If you wanted to use “muirnín” it would be

Is liomsa mo mhuirnín

But the translators of the Bible opted for “grá” so I see no reason not to follow them!

Eventhough “muirnín” IS closer in meaning to “dod” than “grá is.

ontributed by: oisin718, GrainneBhaoil, Redwolf