Blessings & Good Wishes

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.

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.

Rop soraid in sét-sa,
rop sét lessa im lámaib;
Críst credal fri demnaib,
fri armaib, fri áraib!

(may be * smooth/pleasant * the * road-this /
may be * road * of benefit * in my * hands /
Christ * holy * against * demons /
against * weapons * against * slaughters)

May this journey be pleasant,
may it be a journey of profit in my hands;
holy Christ against demons,
against weapons, against slaughters!

This is the first stanza of a poem of three stanzas, possibly composed by Máel Ísu Úa Brolcháin, and edited and translated by Kuno Meyer in Ériu, vol. 6, p. 112.

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 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".

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).

Líth gacha labartha leat.

(luck * of every * utterance * with you)

May your words prosper you!

Spoken by Conall in "Cath Muigi Rath" (p. 160 in FDG). He continues "caínleas cacha comairli chugud" (the fair benefit of every counsel to you = and may you benefit from every good counsel).

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".

Do shoínmigi sin!

(for * happiness, prosperity * that)

Congratulations!

Said by Conall to Cú Chulainn when he took charge of his first chariot, in the "Macgnímartha".