Irish proverbs are a firm staple in Irish history, but some are just too good to keep in the past.
Irish people are known to have a way with words, and it is no surprise that there are many ancient Irish proverbs which served a great purpose once upon a time.
Some of the Irish proverbs on our list you’ll recognize, whereas others might be unknown to you as they’re not used as often anymore.
However, there are quite a few that we think deserve to be brought back once and for all. Let us take a look at ten forgotten Irish proverbs that we should start using again.
10. Lose an hour in the morning, and you’ll be looking for it all day − seize the day
This really is a great forgotten Irish proverb for all those non-morning people out there. We think it is very true.
It is almost like an Irish way of saying ‘the early bird catches the worm’ and essentially means that the earlier you get up, the more time you have to seize the day.
9. Being fat is a sign of a good cook at home − let’s celebrate food
It is a fact that being fat used to be celebrated because it meant that you ate well, and if you were skinny, you were lacking good food, good nutrition, and a good cook to put it all together.
We should rejoice and celebrate food in moderation and end this diet culture once and for all. After all, we Irish know about good food.
8. May neighbours respect you; troubles neglect you; angels protect you, and heaven accept you − the three staples for peace
What more could you want than to have peace in your life? When people find peace, everything else falls into place, so we think this is a forgotten Irish proverb which deserves to come back to remind people of this.
7. May misfortune follow you for the rest of your life and never catch up − a wish of good luck
This is a great way to wish someone luck in their life without actually saying the cliché ‘Luck of the Irish‘, which ironically originated as the opposite meaning.
So, by saying this to someone, you are essentially wishing them the best fortune possible, and that’s a great proverb to hold on to.
6. May your home always be too small to hold your friends − life is better with friends
The Irish have always been a social nation, and as tradition would have it, it is always good to have a great circle of friends and neighbours around you, even if you cannot fit them all in your house.
5. May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live − the key to a good life
One of our favourite forgotten Irish proverbs is this one, which wishes someone a long life without struggle or worries, and who doesn’t want to hear this?
4. May you always have a clean shirt, a clear conscience, and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint − the only things that matter
A list of forgotten Irish proverbs wouldn’t be complete without a reference to alcohol, and for Irish people, having a clean shirt, a clear conscience, and a pint in their hand is the key to a happy life. Who are we to disagree?
3. May your coffee be strong and your Monday be short − one we all need to hear
We are not sure how many people actually like Mondays, but we are sure that many would certainly like to cut the day short to ease back into the week. God only knows how much a good strong coffee helps us all on a tough Monday morning.
2. This isn’t a hangover; it’s the Irish flu − one to be used regularly
This forgotten Irish proverb just has to come back, purely because it mixes truth with an underlying tone of humour, and we just love it. Plus, we are sure many people would use this on more than one hungover occasion.
1. Better good manners than good lucks − the Irish way
We Irish are all about politeness and manners, so if that wins over good luck, then that’s all that matters to us.
So, there you have it, ten forgotten Irish proverbs that we should start using again. Which one is your favourite?
