A Blessing to Usher in Your New Year

It’s hard to believe that 2011 is coming to a close in mere hours. I will most likely write some reflections on the year, but I’m still processing a lot of things. In the meantime, this Irish blessing (that you’ve likely heard many times before) has been meandering around in my mind all day, so I thought I would share it with you. I have also provided it in Irish Gaelic: the heart language of the people where we live, the day-to-day language in which we are living, our kids are going to school in, etc. Under each line of the Irish version I’ve put the way we pronounce them here. I hope you enjoy, and I truly pray God’s rich blessings on all of you no matter where you are, where you’re from or where you’re going. (note: in the phonetics, “ch” is a gutteral sort of hacking sound. Think German 🙂 )

May the road rise 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 fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand. 

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat
[guh NIGH-ree uhnBOH-herr latt]

Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl
[guh row an gwee go brahch egg doe cchhhuhll]

Go lonraí an ghrian go te ar d’aghaidh
[guh LUHN-ree uhn GREE-uhn go teh air die]

Go dtite an bháisteach go mín ar do pháirceanna
[guh DIH-tuh uhn WAH-shtahk go meen air doe FARK-uh-nee]

Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís,
[AH-gus guh MUHL-uh-meej leh CHAY-luh eh-REESH]

Go gcoinní Dia i mbos A láimhe thú. 
[guh GUNN-ee JEE-uh ih moss uh LAH-vuh hoo]

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