Sitting down to write a eulogy is brutal. You’re staring at a blank page, trying to fit a whole lifetime of inside jokes, struggles, and love onto a couple of index cards. The pressure intensifies when you realize how little time you actually have—RIP.ie notes that a eulogy typically lasts only three to four minutes. And then the panic sets in: How do I sum them up in that time?
Quick Resource:
Eulogy Generator – A guided tool that helps you weave Irish tradition, wit, and personal stories into a eulogy that sounds like you, not something copied from a book.
In Ireland, we have a unique way of dealing with this pressure. We don’t just mourn; we tell stories. We balance the heavy sadness with what we call the “craic”—the fun, the wit, and the celebration of a life well-lived. But finding that balance when you’re grieving is easier said than done.
If you’re struggling to find the words, don’t worry. You don’t need to be a poet to get this right. We’ve put together a list of Irish eulogy examples—from tear-jerkers to tension-breakers—to help you give them the send-off they deserve.
If you’re staring at a blank page, the Eulogy Generator can help you get the first words down.
Reading the Room: Church vs. Pub
Before you pick a poem, take a second to think about where you’re going to be speaking. Irish culture treats death with a weirdly perfect mix of devastation and a party atmosphere, but you have to know which one fits the moment. A joke that kills at the pub might get you a stern look from the priest.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the structure of it all, take a breath and check out our eulogy writing guide. It helps organize the chaos in your head before you start picking out quotes.
Not sure which tone fits the setting? The Eulogy Generator helps you shape your words to the moment.
| The Venue | The Vibe | What Works Best |
|---|---|---|
| The Church | Respectful, Quiet, Traditional | Stick to the classics. St. Patrick’s Breastplate or gentle reflections like “Death is Nothing at All.” |
| The Graveside | Somber, Final, Earthy | Nature blessings. “May the Road Rise” works perfectly here as a final goodbye. |
| The Pub / Wake | Loud, Warm, Story-driven | This is where the real stories come out. Funny toasts, raising a glass, and the “Half Hour in Heaven.” |
The “Craic” vs. The Solemnity
You have to read the crowd. Does the room need a good cry, or do they desperately need to laugh to break the tension? If the deceased was a prankster, being too serious might feel fake. But if the loss is tragic and sudden, keep the jokes for a quiet moment later on.
The “Seanchaí” (Storyteller) Approach
In Ireland, the Seanchaí is the custodian of history. But they didn’t just read facts; they spun yarns. The best eulogies don’t just quote a poem; they use the poem to explain who the person was.
If you want to turn tradition into a personal story, the Eulogy Generator helps you make it your own.
Don’t just read the lines. Make them yours.
- The Standard Way: Reading the “Irish Blessing” and sitting down.
- The Better Way: “Grandpa always loved that old blessing about the wind at your back. Probably because he spent 40 years fighting the wind on that tractor of his. So when we say, ‘May the rains fall soft upon your fields,’ I know he’s finally checking the soil without worrying if the harvest is going to fail.”
The Classics: Traditional Blessings
These are the “gold standard.” If you’re nervous or worried about saying the wrong thing, these are safe, beautiful, and timeless. For more verses like this, take a look at our collection of Irish eulogy poems.
1. The Traditional Irish Blessing
You know the one: “May the road rise up to meet you.” It’s popular for a reason. It wishes them an easy journey without getting too heavy-handed with religion.
2. The “Death is Nothing at All” Reading
Henry Scott Holland wrote this, and while he was English, the Irish have adopted it wholeheartedly. It’s incredibly comforting because it suggests your loved one isn’t gone—they’re just in the next room.
3. St. Patrick’s Breastplate
“Christ with me, Christ before me.” This is a strong choice for a religious service or for someone who lived their life by their faith.
4. An Irish Prayer for the Departed
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.” Short, sweet, and true. It’s great for the back of a prayer card.
5. The Deep Peace
If they preferred a walk in the woods to a seat in a pew, this is the one. It wishes them the “deep peace of the quiet earth” and the “shining stars.”
The Witty Toasts: For the Wake
This is for the reception, the pub, or the “Celebration of Life.” If they were the type to buy the first round or tell the best jokes, honor that. You might even want to look at other humorous eulogies to see how to balance respect with comedy. Just make sure you have a glass in your hand.
When humor matters as much as heart, the Eulogy Generator helps you strike the right balance.
| The Vibe | Who is it for? | A Quick Heads-up |
|---|---|---|
| Mischief | The prankster uncle or the rebel. | Definitely keep this out of the church service. |
| Camaraderie | The life of the party. | Needs a pint to really land. |
| Hard Work | The builder, the farmer, the provider. | Usually gets people choked up, in a good way. |
6. The “Half Hour in Heaven”
“May you be in heaven a full half-hour before the devil knows you’re dead.” It’s a classic bit of Irish cheek. Perfect for someone who might have had a sketchy record but a heart of gold.
7. The Roof and The Friends
“May the roof above us never fall in, and may us friends gathered below never fall out.” It’s a great way to start a speech because it acknowledges everyone in the room.
8. The Forgiveness Toast
This one talks about hindsight and insight. It’s a nice, gentle way to nod to the fact that they were brilliant, even if they were a bit stubborn.
9. The Work and Thirst Toast
Ideal for the person who worked hard all week and enjoyed their pint on a Friday. It bridges the gap between respect for their labor and the joy of their downtime.
10. The 100-Year-Old Oak
This is a joke about wanting a coffin made from a 100-year-old tree… that you haven’t planted yet. It’s a funny way to say, “I wish you could have lived forever.”
Literary & Poetic: The Soulful Approach
If you want something deeper—something that speaks to the soul rather than the church or the pub—look to the poets.
11. W.B. Yeats – “When You Are Old”
This is deeply romantic. If you are eulogizing a spouse you spent a lifetime with, this speaks to the “pilgrim soul” in them.
12. John O’Donohue – “On the Death of the Beloved”
O’Donohue had a way of mixing modern spirituality with ancient Celtic roots. This is perfect for a mentor or a teacher.
13. Seamus Heaney – “The Skylight”
Heaney is for the intellectuals. This poem is about letting in the light and seeing things differently. A beautiful choice for a thinker.
14. Oscar Wilde on Sorrow
“Where there is sorrow there is holy ground.” Wilde reminds us that it’s okay to be wrecked by grief. The pain just proves how much you loved them.
15. James Joyce – The Dead
The famous passage about snow falling on the living and the dead. It’s atmospheric and a bit haunting, perfect for a winter funeral.
Family & Legacy: Parents and Grandparents
When you’re burying the person who raised you, it feels different. These options focus on roots, hands, and the home. (We also have specific grandparent eulogy examples if you need to focus on that specific bond).
If you’re honoring deep roots and family history, the Eulogy Generator can help you organize those memories.
16. The Mother’s Love Blessing
“There is but one and only one, Whose love will fail you never.” It’s simple, it rhymes, and it breaks your heart in the best way. Perfect for Mom.
17. The Ancestral Link
This frames death not as leaving, but as joining. It’s comforting to think of them being welcomed by the grandparents and great-grandparents who went before.
18. The Hands of a Father
Focusing on “hands that worked the earth.” If your dad wasn’t big on talking but showed his love by fixing things or working late, this is for him.
19. The “Seanchaí” Tribute
For the grandparent who couldn’t stop telling stories. This is your promise to keep telling them.
20. The Empty Chair
“The chair is empty, but the heart is full.” A nod to the kitchen table—the center of every Irish home.
Short Inscriptions & Closing Lines
Sometimes you don’t need a speech. Sometimes you just need one perfect line to end on. (See more short funeral quotes here).
| Phrase | Gaelic (The Irish) | How to say it | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheers / Health | Sláinte | Slawn-cha | The universal toast. |
| Rest in Peace | Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam | Air yesh day guh rev a on-um | Formal and respectful. |
| Welcome Home | Fáilte Abhaile | Fall-cha ah-wally | A spiritual return. |
| Goodbye | Slán | Slawn | Simple and final. |
21. “Sláinte” (Health)
The ultimate one-word toast. Raise the glass, say the name, say the word. Done.
22. “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam”
Basically: “May his soul be on God’s right hand.” Using the native language is a massive sign of respect.
23. The Troubles Blessing
“May your troubles be less and your blessings be more.” Lighthearted, sweet, and easy to remember.
24. The Mist
“Don’t walk in front of me…” It’s about walking side-by-side. Great for a best friend or a sibling.
25. The Parting Glass
“Goodnight and joy be with you all.” If you can sing it, sing it. If not, speaking the lyrics is just as powerful to close out the night.
Weaving Tradition Into Your Personal Story
Here is the tricky part: You don’t want to sound like you just Googled “Irish funeral quotes” and read the first result. You want it to sound like you.
Grief causes brain fog, and it can be incredibly hard to connect the dots between a generic quote and your specific memories. This is actually why we built the Eulogy Generator. It’s not about letting a robot write your speech; it’s about having a tool that asks you the right questions to jog your memory.
If connecting quotes to real memories feels hard right now, try the Eulogy Generator to pull it all together.
How to make it personal:
- The Quote: You pick the “Work and Thirst” toast.
- The Connection: Think about what they actually drank and what they actually did.
- The Result: “Dad lived by the old toast—he honored the work of his hands, whether he was laying the brick for our patio or fixing a neighbor’s roof. But he also knew the value of a pause. So tonight, I raise a pint of Smithwick’s, just like he would, to the work he finished and the rest he’s finally earned.”
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, there are no “rules.” Whether you choose a witty toast or a solemn prayer, the only thing that matters is the intent behind it. Trust your gut, take a deep breath, and speak from the heart.
