IRISH BLESSINGS

May God grant you
the strength and faith
to count your blessings,
not your your crosses;
count your gains
not your losses.
Count your joys
not your woes;
Count your friends
not your foes.
Count your smiles
not your tears;
Count your courage
not your fears.
Count your full years
not your lean;
Count your kind deeds
not your mean.
Count your health
not your wealth;
And love your neighbour
as much as yourself

......

When Irish eyes are smiling
and Irish smiles are wide,
When Irish hearts are happy
and the piper plays a slide,
when Irish stew is bubbling
and the soda bread is hot
and the Irish tea is steeping in
a little irish pot,
When the room is warm with laughter
and the songs are bright and bold
and there's poetry and magic
in the stories that are told,
Isn't it a blessing,
isn't it just grand
to know the heart and soul
of you belongs to ireland?

.......

A morning blessing
As the sun rises gold
Over the Emerald Isle,
May your oat's hot steam
Nourish your Irish smile.
And may you be thankful
to Him who fills your bowl,
warms your heart,
and soothes your soul.
...

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,
lucky stars above you,
sunshine on your way,
many friends to love you,
joy in work and play.
Laughter to outweigh every care,
In your heart a song.
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long!