If you’re planning a funeral for someone who was Irish, or had Irish ancestry, you might want to honour their heritage by choosing some Irish funeral poems for the service. Here, you can find a range of Irish poems for a funeral, including traditional Irish funeral blessings, poems by popular Irish writers and religious verses for an Irish Catholic ceremony.
Irish poems for a funeral
If you’ve been asked to speak at an Irish funeral, you might want to choose a poem. These tend to be relatively short, but can share a lot of feeling. Here are some different types of Irish poems for a funeral that could be suitable.
Irish blessing funeral poems
Irish blessings are a popular part of Irish culture. They’re short, catchy sayings that share feelings of goodwill and hope. You might want to read some of these Irish blessings as funeral poems at the service, or you could recite them at the funeral wake.
May the Road Rise Up to Meet You
“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 fields
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
May The Road Rise Up to Meet You is probably the best-known and most-read Irish funeral blessing. It wishes people luck on their travels, so works well as a funeral reading, wishing your loved one luck in the afterlife.
Always Remember to Forget
“Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.”
This Irish blessing for a funeral is just 4 lines long, making it a good choice if you feel nervous about reading at your loved one’s funeral. It acknowledges that you’re going to feel sad at the loss of your loved one but encourages you to remember the good times you had with them.
May You Have All the Happiness
“May you have all the happiness
And luck that life can hold
And at the end of all your rainbows
May you find a pot of gold.
May the roof over your head
always be strong
May you be in Heaven a half hour
before the Devil knows you’re dead!”
This is a funny Irish blessing, best suited to someone who had a dry or dark sense of humour. Of course, you need to read the room before choosing this poem, only reading it if people recognise the tongue in cheek nature of its words.
May Your Neighbours Respect You
“May your neighbors respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.”
This is another short Irish blessing for a funeral. The last 2 lines are particularly suitable for a funeral, as it wishes that the angels protect your loved one and that they have an easy passage to heaven.
Irish funeral poems
Ireland has been home to many famous poets over the years. Here are some words from the most famous that could make a good choice of poem for an Irish funeral.
Requiescat – Oscar Wilde
“Tread lightly, she is near
Under the snow,
Speak gently, she can hear
The daisies grow.
All her bright golden hair
Tarnished with rust,
She that was young and fair
Fallen to dust.”
Oscar Wilde is one of Ireland’s most famous writers, well-known for short, witty quotes. Requiescat is a word taken from the Latin for “May he/she rest in peace”. He wrote this poem for his sister when she passed away. The line “all my life’s buried here, heap earth upon it” is particularly moving. You can read the full poem at Poets.org.
The Last Rose of the Summer – Thomas Moore
“’Tis the last rose of summer
Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone;
No flower of her kindred,
No rosebud is nigh,
To reflect back her blushes,
To give sigh for sigh.”
Thomas Moore was born in Dublin and wrote many famous poems, including “The Last Rose of Summer”, which he wrote in 1805. This poem talks about the last beautiful rose of a bunch wilting away. This poem can also be sung, set to the traditional Irish tune “Aislean an Oigfear”. Find the full poem at Poets.org.
A Dream of Death – W. B. Yeats
“I dreamed that one had died in a strange place
Near no accustomed hand;
And they had nailed the boards above her face,
The peasants of that land,
Wondering to lay her in that solitude,
And raised above her mound
A cross they had made out of two bits of Wood
And planted Cypress round;
And left her to the indifferent stars above
Until I carved these Words:
She was more beautiful than thy first love,
But now lies under boards.”
“A Dream of Death” is one of the most famous Irish poems for funerals. Written by Irish poet W. B. Yeats, it shares the importance of remembering those who’ve passed away. In the poem, Yeats shares how it’s our memories of someone who’s passed that set them apart from anyone else.
A Hero – Katharine Tynan
“It matters little how we live
So long as we may greatly die.
Fashioned for great things, O forgive
Our dullness in the days gone by!
Now glory wraps you like a cloak
From us, and all such common folk.”
Katharine Tynan isn’t as well-known as some of the other Irish poets listed here, but she played an important role in Irish literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In this poem, she paints a normal person as a hero, showing what a huge difference someone can have on others’ lives, even if they seem to have lived a relatively normal life.
Remembered Joy – Anonymous
“Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free!
I follow the plan God laid for me.
I saw His face, I heard His call,
I took His hand and left it all…”
While the author of Remembered Joy is unknown, it remains one of the most popular poems read at Irish funerals. It has a religious message, sharing that your loved one has simply followed God’s path for them. You can read the full poem at Ireland Calling.
Irish funeral readings
If you’d rather read a quote or short paragraph, rather than a poem, an Irish funeral reading could suit you better. Here are a couple from Oscar Wilde.
The Canterville Ghost – Oscar Wilde
“Yes, death. Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forget life, to be at peace. You can help me. You can open for me the portals of death's house, for love is always with you, and love is stronger than death is.”
This passage from The Canterville Ghost could be used as a comforting Irish reading for a funeral. It speaks of death as rest – a space where your loved one can be at peace, away from the troubles of the world.
The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde
“Some things are more precious because they don’t last as long.”
At just one line, this could make a good start for an irish funeral reading, leading into stories about the person who’s passed away. It’s a quote from Wilde’s work that can help you to remember someone who passed away young.
Irish Catholic funeral readings
If you’re reading at a religious service, knowing which Irish Catholic funeral reading to choose can feel daunting – there are a lot out there. Here are some popular choices.
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah
“Fear not, I am with you;
be not dismayed; I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you,
and uphold you with my right hand of justice.
For I am the Lord your God who grasps your right hand;
it is I who say to you “fear not, I will help you”.
I have brushed away your offences like a cloud,
your sins like a mist, return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
This Irish Catholic funeral reading (41: 10, 44:22, 49:15 – 16) is a popular choice for religious ceremonies. It acts as a reminder that you needn’t have fear, because your loved one is now with God, and they have been absolved of their sins.
A reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes
“There is a season for everything,
a time for every occupation under heaven.
A time for giving birth, a time for dying.
A time for planting, a time for uprooting.
A time for building, a time for tearing down.
A time for sorrow, a time for joy.
A time for mourning, a time for dancing.
A time for embracing, a time to refrain from embracing.
A time for finding, a time for losing.
A time for saving, a time for throwing away.
A time for mending, a time for tearing.
A time for keeping silent, a time for speaking.
A time for conflict, a time for peace.”
This Irish Catholic funeral reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes (3: 2-8) offers comfort that there’s no right or wrong way to deal with your grief. Sometimes you’ll feel sad about your loss, sometimes you’ll feel joy at the memories you had with your loved one. It encourages you to accept each day as it comes, embracing every emotion that you face.
A reading from the Book of Wisdom
“The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be an affliction,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.”
This passage from the Book of Wisdom (3: 1 – 9) says that your loved one is in the hands of God and that no further harm can come to them. It shares the comforting notion that they’re at peace.
A reading from the prophet Isaiah
“No more will the sun give you daylight,
nor the moonlight shine on you,
but God will be your everlasting light,
your God will be your splendour.
Your sun will set no more,
nor your moon wane,
but God, will be your everlasting light
and your days of mourning will be ended.”
This Irish Catholic funeral reading from (Isaiah 60: 19-20) can be read in 2 ways. The first addresses the person who’s passed away. It tells them that while they’re no longer in the world they know, they are in a good place, surrounded by the everlasting light of God. The second addresses anyone mourning, acknowledging that their world might not be the same anymore, but that God will protect and comfort them during this time.
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