Try saying this Irish language word:

seamróg sham-rogue shamrock

It's all about...

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Law Ale-yeh Pawd-rig Saint Patrick's Day

Why Celebrate It with Irish Language

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday in Ireland, happening each year on March 17th.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Law Ale-yeh Pawd-rig  

Lá Fhéile Pádraig celebrates the patron saint of Ireland - Patrick, who lived in the beginning of the 5th century AD.

Patrick himself was a Welsh man, who learned to speak the Irish language!

But you've probably heard about the parades already or even been to one, so leaving the facts aside, in this Bitesize Irish lesson you are going to learn some crucial Irish language expressions to get you through the day.

Expressions for your St. Patrick's Day

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Law Ale-yeh Pawd-rig St. Patrick's Day

Lá 'le Pádraig Law leh Pawd-rig St. Patrick's Day.

This is simply a shorter version of the previous phrase. It drops part of the word "féile", making it quicker to say. To sound closer to how a native speaker would name the festival, we recommend using this version.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh. Byan-okht-ee nah Fay-leh Pawd-rig ur-iv. St. Patrick's Day blessings upon you. (To two or more people)

or a more recent saying:

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit! Law Ale-yeh Pawd-rig Sunna Ditch! Happy St. Patrick's Day! (singular)

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh! Law Ale-yeh Pawd-rig Sunna Deev! Happy St. Patrick's Day! (to two or more people)

Here are several more expression that might help on the day:

lá saoire law see-ra holiday (a single day, not a vacation)

Ádh na nÉireannach Awe nah Nay-ron-okh Luck of the Irish

After the parade...

Cá mbeidh tú ag fliuchadh na seamróige? Caw meg too egg flyuh-ka nah sham-roh-ih-geh? Where will you be wetting the shamrock? (to wet the shamrock - to go for a drink, especially on St. Patrick's Day!)

Pionta Guinness, le do thoil. Pyun-tah Guinness, leh duh huh-ill. A pint of Guinness, please.

Sláinte is táinte! Sloyne-cheh iss toyne-cheh! Health and wealth!

Sláinte! SLOYNE-cheh! Cheers!

Tabhair póg dom, is Éireannach mé. Tow-ir powg dum, iss Aye-ron-okh may. Kiss me, I'm Irish.

An bhfuil tú ar meisce go fóill? On will too err mesh-ka guh foal? Are you drunk yet?

uisce beatha ish-kuh baha whiskey

beoir byoh-ir beer

Éire go brách Ayr-eh guh brawkh Ireland forever

Is Éireannach mé! Iss Aye-ron-okh may! I'm Irish!

Go raibh maith agat. Guh rev mah a-gut. Thank you.

Tá fáilte romhat. Taw foyle-cheh roh-ot. You're welcome.

Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. Cheer gon chong-gah, cheer gon on-om. A country without a language, a country without a soul.