Quotations: Blessings & Good Wishes
 

A Brigit bennach ar sét
nachar·tair bét ar ar cúairt;
a chaillech a l-Lifi lán
co·rísem slán ar tech úait.

(o * Brigit * bless * our * road /
that may not come to us * calamity * on * our * trip /
o * nun * from * Liffey * full /
may we reach * safe * our * house * from you)

O Brigit, bless our road,
that calamity may not overtake us as we travel;
O veiled one from the laden Liffey
may we reach home safely by your intercession.

This verse, the first in a longer prayer, is found at LL 308a, where it is recited by St. Mo Ling. Elsewhere (Irische Texte iii.53) there is a long incantation containing a mix of pagan and christian elements that begins "Ad·muiniur secht n-ingena trethan" (I invoke the seven daughters of the sea). Two lines in it also call for a safe journey:

Ním·thí bás for fecht,
ro·fírthar mo thecht!

May death not come to me on a journey,
may my return be realized!

See also "Rop soraid in sét-sa" in this collection for another prayer for safe travel.

Ad-rae búaid ocus bennachtain!

("take" * profit / victory * and * blessing)

Benefits and blessings to you!

This phrase is used repeatedly by St. Patrick and others, in "Acallam na Senórach" and other texts, as a blessing given in thanks or in greeting. In Modern Irish it takes the form "Beir bua agus beannacht" and is commonly used as a complimentary close in letters.

Bennacht dé ocus ainde fort!

(blessing * of gods * and * un-gods * on you)

The blessings of the gods and the non-gods upon you!

Spoken by Cú Chulainn to the Morrígan in the LU version of "Táin Bó Cúailgne". He did not recognize his adversary when he gave the blessing, she being disguised as an old woman milking a cow. The word "bennacht", earlier spelled "bendacht", comes from Latin "benedictum".

Bennacht for cách at·beir!

(blessing * on * everything * that you say)

A blessing on all you've said!

Spoken by King Illann in "Scéla Cano Meic Gartnáin".

Bennacht for cách don·áncamar.
Ro·ícca Día dar ar cend, óre nach ícfam-ne.

(blessing * on * everything * that we have come to *
may repay * God * across * our * head * for * that not * will we repay)

A blessing on all that has come to us.
May God repay you for our sake, for we will not be able to.

Spoken by Cano to Illann in "Scéla Cano Meic Gartnáin".

Bennacht nime, nél-bennacht,
Bennacht tíre, torad-bennacht,
Bennacht mara, íasc-bennacht.

(blessing * of heaven * cloud-blessing / blessing * of earth * fruit-blessing / blessing * of sea / fish-blessing)

The blessing of heaven, cloud blessing,
The blessing of earth, fruit blessing,
The blessing of sea, fish blessing.

The first three of a series of blessings "foraib uile rígaib Caisil" (on all the kings of Cashel), from "The Story of the Finding of Cashel".

Buaid lamaig ort, a meic, ocus buaid roinni ocus buaid coscair!

(virtue * of dexterity * on you * o * son * and * virtue * of distribution * and * virtue * of triumph)

May you have the gift of dexterity, my lad, and the gift of generosity and the gift of winning.

Patrick's blessing on Áed, son the King of Leinster, in "Acallam na Senórach" (line 4809).

Corbat cara sluaig,
Corbat roga ríg,
Corbat cruithnecht chaem,
Corbat craebh co fín.

(may you be * friend * of multitude
may you be * choice * of king(s)
may you be * wheat * lovely
may you be * branch * with * wine)

May you be the friend of many.
May you be the choice of kings.
May you be the beautiful wheat.
May you be the branch that yields wine.

A blessing, in the form of a complete stanza in the metre known as lethrannaigecht mór, bestowed by Ailill Ólomm on his son Éogan Mór in the Middle Irish poem "A maccáin na cí".

Día limm fri fuin, Día limm fri fáir.

(God * with me * at * sunset * God * with me * at * sunrise)

God with me at sunset, God with me at sunrise.

A blessing attributed to Colum Cille in "Sanas Cormaic" (# 605). By substituting other prepositional forms for "limm", this can be a blessing not of oneself but of others: "latt" (with you, singular),"lib" (with you, plural), or "linn" (with us).

Do maith ocus líth dúib!

(for * good * and * luck * to you all)

Prosperity and luck to you!

This formula of greeting is found in the tale "Inghen Ríg Ghréc" in LL, edited in "Silva Gadelica" (p. 414). Compare the structure of "Do shoínmigi sin!" in this collection.