Turn These 26 Irish Sayings into Gifts

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One of Femme Frugality’s most popular posts this year has been this fun exploration of Irish sayings.

So this holiday season I wanted to bring you all a gift guide featuring a lot of the sayings from one of your favorite posts! Plus a few new ones just for fun.

Why, yes, you will be rewarded by a feminist Irish saying if you scroll to the bottom of the post!

Today’s post is in collaboration with Etsy, and features my Irish Sayings Collection. Here are a couple of my other Etsy lists that might be helpful for you as you shop this holiday season:

Etsy has a holiday sale going on through December 1, 2021. Be sure to take advantage while it lasts!

Irish Sayings about Money

You’re on a personal finance site, so of course we’re first going to cover Irish sayings about money.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

vintage bank showing a red-headed irish boy with his pockets turned out. Behind him is a wallet with a coin slot, and beneath his feet the text reads 'a food and his monoey are soon parted'Price: $24.31
Where to buy: BlendedSplendid

Ohmigosh.

Check out this awesome vintage piggy bank! There’s a coin slot in the wallet behind him, and a great reminder beneath his feet lest you be tempted to splurge.

Enough is as good as a feast.

pitcher with ornate painting of nature around the body, and text reading 'Enough is as good as a feast.'Price: $49.53
Where to buy: DorisandCoUK

Providing for your family doesn’t necessarily mean having lavish things. Having enough and being grateful for it is more than enough, as this pitcher reminds us.

Irish Blessings

Some of the most popular Irish saying gifts are going to be based on Irish blessings.

May the road rise up to meet you.

Wooden keepsake box with Irish poem sketched in laser with shamrocks surrounding "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your field, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hands."Price: $28.70
Where to buy: LyonCraft

This keepsake box makes a great gift with one of the most popular Irish blessings etched beautifully on top.

May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends.

Hand towel with embroidered house and sheep reading, 'May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends."

Price: $16.00
Where to buy: LindasEmbroideryShop

I love this sweet blessing and the beautiful embroidery on this hand towel.

As above, so below.

Framed print with an upright tree mirrored by an upside down tree. Between, the two root systems intertwine in a sprial. Text reads "As above, so below."Price: $14.51+
Where to buy: OghamTree

Loving the simplistic artwork and sentiment on this print.

Irish Sayings about Life

Irish sayings about life can get really deep with just a few words.

Two people shorten the road.

Upright chalkboard sign with ornate frame reading 'Two people shorten the road.'Price: $75
Where to buy: FalcoDesignsandGifts

I love this one for weddings. It makes me think about other areas of my life as well, such as my partnership with Joyce on the podcast. We probably couldn’t do it alone, but together, we can both tackle the work so much more quickly!

You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.

print hanging on a wall that reads 'You'll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind. Irish Proverb"Price: $6.50
Where to buy: SantaClaraDesign

This can apply to so many areas of life, but absolutely personal finances. You’ll never reach your goal if you just vaguely daydream about it; you have to take action. Only then can you see your goals and dreams fulfilled.

Life is like a cup of tea. It’s all in how you make it.

Print hanging on a rock wall reading "Life is like a cup of tea. It's all in how you make it. Irish proverb"Price: $16.93+
Where to buy: IrelandWithLove

Attitude can go a long way, and we all take our tea differently!

What’s for you won’t pass you.

Abstract painting of a hill and sun with birds flying by that reads 'What's for you won't pass you."Price: $12.08
Where to buy: gaeilgelegra

Oh, man.

If I haven’t been reciting this one to myself over the past two years as a mother during the pandemic. For myself. For my kids. For my career.

It’s become my mantra.

A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.

Print that reads "A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything. Irish Proverb" Price: $6.19
Where to buy: HeyTheHomebodyClub

It’s so true, though.

The older the fiddle, the sweeter the tune.

Print with a picture of a violin in the background that reads 'The older the fiddle, the sweeter the tune. Irish proverb'

Price: $4.98
Where to buy: BohoBlissArt

A la Sarah Jessica Parker’s recent sentiments, getting old is not bad.

Irish Sayings about Family

Short, but sweet.

The days are long, but the years are short.

Wooden board with clip for photo. Below the photo slot, it reads "The days are long, but the years are short."Price: $19.95+
Where to buy: 213Designs

When you’re raising kids, sometimes it takes everything you’ve got to make it through the day.

But when you look back, you’ll wonder how it all went by so quickly.

Treasure those long days while they’re here, and commemorate them with this photo board!

Irish Sayings about Friends

Celebrate your friendships with these Irish saying gifts.

Every man is sociable until a cow invades his garden.

pillow with cow with crown flowers leaning over a garden. Beneath it reads "Every man is sociable until a cow invades his garden."Price: $3.50
Where to buy: SouthernHeavenStudio

We have good days. We have off days. C’est la vie.

Good friends are like four-leaf clovers: Hard to find and lucky to have.

Tiered serving tray with various baubles on it, including the centerpiece: A small, thick wooden sign that reads "Good friends are like four-leaf clovers: Hard to find and lucky to have."Price: $11.99
Where to buy: WRCraftStudio

So stinking sweet. And so darn true. When you have those good friends, hold onto them.

Funny Irish Sayings & Sarcastic Irish Sayings

The Irish absolutely have a quick and clever wit. I’m here for all of it.

May the bridges I burn light the way.

Hanging navy blue penant with gold trim and gold lettering that reads "May the bridges I burn light the way."Price: $23.54
What to buy: OddFishStore

Mad 2021 energy.

A kind word never broke anyone’s mouth.

Watercolor bird surrounded by a wreath of shamrocks. Inside text reads '-Irish Proverb- A kind word never broke anyone's mouth.'Price: $11.98
Where to buy: BohoBlissArtStudio

Though to be honest, this is probably more the energy we need moving into 2022.

Common Irish Sayings

Here are some gifts for some of the most common of Irish sayings.

It’ll be grand.

Painting of wildflowers overlaid with the words 'IT'LL BE GRAND'

Price: $12.61
Where to buy: NoopDesign

Ah, sarcasm. <3

But it’ll probably be alright in the end.

What’s the story, horse?

framed print leaning against a white wall. print reads 'WHAT'S THE STORY HORSE?'

Price: $7.01
Where to buy: PrintableArtIreland

This is like saying, “What’s up?”

Except you might get a bit more of an answer than, “nmu?”

Cead Mile Falite

Bronze-covered medallion with a harp in the middle. Around the edge of the circle is written the words "Cead mile failte.' Medallion is sitting on a black slate tile, which is hanging on a wall.Price: $20.33
Where to buy: Killyliss Studio

This hanging plaque translates to ‘A hundred thousand welcomes.’

How to say cheers in Irish.

Slainte mhaith!

Slate coasters with engraving of shamrock and the words 'Slainte Mhaith' which means cheers in Irish.Price: $25.15
Where to buy: BRVOGlass

Irish Sayings in Gaelic

These are the sayings you’re looking for. But the Irish language and Gaelic are not the same thing, so theses sayings will just be in Irish.

A good start is half the work.

Tús maith, leath na hOibre.

Cartoon drawing of a circle of flowers on a blue background. Inside it reads "Tús maith, leath na hOibre" which means 'A good start is half the work' in Irish.Price: $2.80
Where to buy: BiddyBellDesign

What is seldom is wonderful.

An rud is annamh is iontach.

Yellow shadow box leaning against a wall. White text printed on glass reads 'An rud is annamh is iontach.' which means 'What is seldom is wonderful' in IrishPrice: $11.76
Where to buy: Scealbeagdesigns

However long the night, the day will come.

Dá fhad an oíche tagann an lá.

Black birds painting on white background with a magenta sun ruising. Between the sun and the birds cursive text reads 'Dá fhad an oíche tagann an lá.' which means 'However long the night, the day will come' in Irish.Price: $11.17
Where to buy: gaeilgelegra

Life is Strange

Is ait an mac an saol.

white print in a wooden frame. Drawing of leaves wrapped around a circle in black in. Black text reads '

Price: $14.13
Where to buy: OghamTree

There is no freedom until the freedom of women.

Ní Saoirse go Saoirse na mBan.

Blue felt penant hanging on the wall. White printed text on top reads "Ní Saoirse go Saoirse na mBan." which means "There is no freedom until the freedom of women." in Irish.Price: $23.54
Where to buy: OddFishStore

How to Say Merry Christmas in Irish

Nollaig shona!

Pine cones and red-threaded white ribbon sitting next to a white star decoration that reads 'Nollaig shona' in red water-based ink. This means "merry chirstmas" in IrishPrice: $4.71
Where to buy: OneWayDublin

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