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The Irish language is so rich in metaphor, meaning, wit, and wisdom not only in its everyday language but in its rich Irish proverbs too.
A proverb is a short, well-known pithy saying, stating a general truth or piece of advice and Ireland has a wealth of them.
Here is a wonderful selection of Irish proverbs on living and dying to get you thinking!
If you’re stuck on the pronunciation check out Abair.ie here.
Table of Contents
1. Maireann croí éadrom a bhfad*
This means that a light heart lives long.
*A wee note about ‘a bhfad’ instead of “i bhfad”. This is just an older/alternative spelling. Another example in older texts is a nÉirinn for “in Ireland”, in Éirinn’. Since i is pronounced as unstressed /ə, ɪ/ anyway, it doesn’t make much difference whether you write i or a, thus you’ll see both.
2. Bíonn an bás ar aghaidh an tseanduine agus ar chúl duine óig.
This translates as, “Death is facing the old (person) and behind the young (person). There’s plenty to think about in this one. Yes, indeed older people do tend to think more of their mortality than younger folk but what does it mean that death is “behind the young”?
Do you think it’s referring to the young person’s ancestors or that while older folks think of their own death, the young think of not just theirs, but many others? Or perhaps, death is behind the young where they cannot see it and they live life to the full? Is death shaped by our age and emotions? What do you think?
3. Níl sa saol ach gaoth agus toit.
This thought-provoking proverb translates as, “In life, there is only wind and smoke”. This serves as a reminder of the impermanence of life, just as smoke disappears on the wind, so too will we eventually.
4. Nuair a thiocas an bás ní imeoidh sé folamh.
This translates as, “When death will come, he won’t go away empty”. Indeed, this is a clear reference to the Grim Reaper and the inevitability of death.
5. Is búaine clú ná saol.
This proverb translates as “Fame is more enduring than life”. When one reflects on the deeds, actions and stories of others, they indeed tend to live on beyond death. Furthermore, this thoughtful Irish proverb could also be interpreted as a call to humility.
6. Ní bhíonn tréan buan.
This proverb translates as “Strength is not enduring” and the general meaning behind this is that youth is fleeting. The cycle of life continues!
7. Gheibheann cos ar siúl rud éigin.
This motivational quote translates as “a moving leg gets something”. In other words, proactive people will reap the benefits of their hard work!
8. Ní chruinníonn cloch reatha caonach.
Similar to “Gheibheann cos ar siúl rud éigin”, this proverb is probably all too familiar to many folks and means “A rolling stone gathers no moss”. This well-known idea essentially means that if keep yourself busy / keep moving, you will be free of the burdens that afflict the sedentary or couch potatoes!
9. Ní dhéanfaidh smaoineamh an treabhadh duit.
This thoughtful proverb means, “You’ll never plough a field turning it over in your mind”. In other words, while you can ponder something in your head if you do so continuously and dwell on it, it may simply make it worse. Move on!
10. Is iomaí lá sa chill orainn.
This translates to, “We are in the Churchyard (grave) many a day”. So Carpe Diem! Seize the day, for there are many days we will spend in the clay.
Bonus! Leabhar Shíorach (The Book of Sirach 30:14-25)
The first proverb I mentioned, “Maireann croí éadrom a bhfad” can be traced back to the Bible. Have a look at these words of wisdom below taken from An Bíobla Naofa, with English words from the New American Bible:
Sláinte agus Aoibhneas – Health of Soul and Body
14 Is fearr as an bochtán ina shláinte agus ina neart, ná an duine saibhir atá á chrá ag drochshláinte.
(Better a poor man strong and robust, than a rich man with a wasted frame.)
15 Is fearr sláinte agus neart ná ór ar bith, agus colainn dhochaite ná maoin gan áireamh.
(More precious than gold is health and well-being, contentment of spirit than coral.)
16 Is fearr sláinte choirp ná saibhreas ar bith, agus ní sháraíonn aon aoibhneas an croí suairc.
(No treasure is greater than a healthy body; no happiness, than a joyful heart!)
17 Is fearr an bás ná saol dona, agus suaimhneas síoraí ná breoiteacht bhuan.
(Preferable is death to a bitter life, unending sleep to constant illness.)
18 Is cuma nithe maithe a chaitheamh le béal iata, nó ofrálacha bia a fhágáil ar uaigh.
(Dainties set before one who cannot eat are like offerings placed before a tomb.)
19 Cén tairbhe d’íol ofráil torthaí? níl cumas ite ná bolaithe aige; is mar sin don té ar a luíonn an Tiarna.
(What good is an offering to an idol that can neither taste or smell.)
20 Faigheann sé lán a shúl, agus bíonn ag cneadaíl dála an choillteáin a bhíonn ag cneadaíl agus é ag breith barróige ar mhaighdean.
(So it is with the afflicted man who groans at the good things his eyes behold)
21 Ná tabhair thú féin suas don bhrón agus ná bí do do chiapadh féin d’aonghnó.
(Do not give in to sadness, torment not yourself with brooding;)
22 Maireann an duine ar aoibhneas croí, agus is fad saoil dó an t-áthas.
(Gladness of heart is the very life of man, cheerfulness prolongs his days)
23 Cuir lúcháir ar d’aigne agus tabhair sólás do do chroí; cuir an ruaig i bhfad uait ar an mbrón, mar is iomaí duine a scrios an brón, agus ní aon tairbhe é d’aon duine.
(Distract yourself, renew your courage, drive resentment far away from you; For worry has brought death to many, nor is there aught to be gained from resentment)
24 Ciorraíonn an t-éad agus an fhearg saol duine, agus déanann imní an tseanaois a bhrostú.
(Envy and anger shorten one’s life, worry brings on premature old age)
25 Fear croí éadroim agus fear croí mhóir, beidh [rian a choda] air.
(One who is cheerful and gay while at table benefits from his food)
Want to learn more?
Have a read of 20 more Irish proverbs here.