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The Best 9 Irish Funeral Poems
This compilation focuses on Irish Funeral Poems, bringing together verses steeped in the rich tradition and heartfelt sentiment of Irish literature. These poems, with their distinct blend of sorrow and strength, reflect the Celtic reverence for the delicate balance of life and death. For individuals tasked with reading at a funeral or memorial service, the listed verses provide a touching tribute, channelling the unique Irish ability to find light even in the darkest of times.
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1) Fare Thee Well
Author: Lord Byron
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
Fare thee well! and if for ever,
Still for ever, fare thee well:
Even though unforgiving, never
‘Gainst thee shall my heart rebel.
Would that breast were bared before thee
Where thy head so oft hath lain.
While that placid sleep came o’er thee
Which thou ne’er canst know again;
Would that breast, by thee glanced over,
Every inmost thought could show!
Then thou wouldst at last discover
‘Twas not well to spurn it so.
Though the world for this commend thee–
Though it smile upon the blow,
Even its praises must offend thee,
Founded on another’s woe:
Though my many faults defaced me,
Could no other arm be found,
Than the one which once embraced me,
To inflict a cureless wound?
Yet, oh yet, thyself deceive not;
Love may sink by slow decay,
But by sudden wrench, believe not
Hearts can thus be torn away:
Still thine own its life retaineth,
Still must mine, though bleeding, beat;
And the undying thought which paineth
Is – that we no more may meet.
These are words of deeper sorrow
Than the wail above the dead;
Both shall live, but every morrow
Wake us from a widow’d bed.
And when thou wouldst solace gather,
When our child’s first accents flow,
Wilt thou teach her to say ‘Father!’
Though his care she must forego?
When her little hands shall press thee,
When her lip to thine is press’d
Think of him whose prayer shall bless thee,
Think of him thy love had bless’d!
Should her lineaments resemble
Those thou never more may’st see,
Then thy heart will softly tremble
With a pulse yet true to me.
All my faults perchance thou knowest,
All my madness none can know;
All my hopes where’er thou goest,
Wither, yet with thee they go.
Every feeling hath been shaken;
Pride, which not a world could bow,
Bows to thee–by thee forsaken,
Even my soul forsakes me now:
But ’tis done–all words are idle
Words from me are vainer still;
But the thoughts we cannot bridle
Force their way without the will.
Fare thee well! thus disunited,
Torn from every nearer tie
Sear ‘d in heart, and lone, and blighted,
More than this I scarce can die.
The poem uses poetic language and imagery that is often found in Irish funeral poetry, such as the mention of a widow and a wail above the dead.
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2) The Parting Glass Funeral Poem
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
Oh all the time that e’er I spent,
I spent it in good company;
And any harm that e’er I’ve done,
I trust it was to none but me;
May those I’ve loved through all the years
Have memories now they’ll e’er recall;
So fill me to the parting glass,
Goodnight, and joy be with you all.
Oh all the comrades that e’er I had,
Are sorry for my going away;
And all the loved ones that e’er I had
Would wish me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should leave and you should not,
I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call
Goodnight, and joy be with you all.
Of all good times that e’er we shared,
I leave to you fond memory;
And for all the friendship that e’er we had
I ask you to remember me;
And when you sit and stories tell,
I’ll be with you and help recall;
So fill to me the parting glass,
God bless, and joy be with you all.
The poem uses poetic language and imagery that is often found in Irish funeral poetry, such as the mention of a widow and a wail above the dead.
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3) The Irish Wake
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
Let us gather, hearts entwined,
To celebrate a life, a love divine,
Our dear one, a soul so bright,
A testament to love, and life's sweet flight.
We'll share our memories, laugh and cry,
Recount the moments, days gone by,
Your spirit lingers, a gentle breeze,
The Irish wake, forever at ease.
With joy and sorrow, we'll raise our voice,
In honor of the life, that was your choice,
Our dear one, a love so true,
A celebration of life, in skies so blue.
The poem is related to Irish funeral poems in its focus on the Irish wake, a traditional gathering for shared remembrance and celebration of the deceased. It captures the Irish propensity for balancing sorrow with joy, tears with laughter, and grief with celebration during mourning.
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4) May The Blessing Of Light Be On You
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
Like a great peat fire,
So that strangers and friends may come
And warm themselves at it.
And may light shine out of the two eyes of you,
Like a candle set in the window of a house,
Bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm.
And may the blessing of the rain be on you,
May it beat upon your Spirit
And wash it fair and clean,
And leave there a shining pool
Where the blue of Heaven shines,
And sometimes a star.
And may the blessing of the earth be on you,
Soft under your feet as you pass along the roads,
Soft under you as you lie out on it,
Tired at the end of day;
And may it rest easy over you
When, at last, you lie out under it.
May it rest so lightly over you
That your soul may be out
From under it quickly;
Up and off and on its way to Heaven.
And now may Spirit bless you,
And bless you kindly.
The poem has a Celtic origin and contains imagery often associated with Irish blessings, making it suitable for an Irish-themed funeral.
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5) Laughter in the Irish Skies
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
In Irish skies, where laughter rings,
A memory of joy, a love that clings,
Your humor, a treasure, a gift you'd share,
In moments tough, you'd show your care.
We'll miss the laughter, your jokes, your fun,
But cherish the moments, one by one,
For in our hearts, you'll always stay,
Laughter in the Irish skies, in memory's play.
Our dear one, forever near,
A love eternal, undying, clear,
In laughter's embrace, we find our peace,
A love unbroken, a bond that's ceaseless.
This poem is related to Irish funeral poems in the sense that it captures the Irish tradition of celebrating a person's life during mourning, rather than solely focusing on their death. The reference to 'Irish skies' and the consistent mention of laughter and humor also aligns with the Irish cultural tendency to use humor and storytelling as coping mechanisms in times of grief.
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6) Irish Legacy
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
In life's sweet journey, your greatness shone,
A love divine, a spirit strong,
You stood for truth, faced battles unseen,
An Irish heart, a love that's keen.
Your love, a force, so pure, so true,
A great person, through and through,
Though you're gone, your memory stays,
Irish legacy, through darkest days.
We'll honor your life, your memory hold,
A love unwavering, a story untold,
Our dear one, forever near,
Irish legacy, in memory clear.
This poem aligns with Irish funeral poems through its emphasis on the enduring legacy and the unbroken connection with the departed. Irish funeral traditions often focus on the life lived and the continuing influence of the deceased, which this poem encapsulates. The repeated reference to 'Irish legacy' also ties into the cultural importance placed on lineage and ancestral bonds in Ireland.
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7) Irish Blessing
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
May the roads rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
As the title suggests, this poem is an Irish blessing, making it a fitting choice for an Irish funeral or for those with Irish heritage.
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8) Emerald Memories
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
In fields of green, where shadows fall,
I long for your presence, your laughter's call,
I miss the days we'd dance and sing,
Side by side, in love's sweet ring.
In gentle silence, your love remains,
Through joy and sorrow, life's sweet refrains,
An Irish spirit, a love so true,
Emerald memories, I miss you.
In whispered prayers, I'll find my peace,
A love unbroken, a bond that's ceaseless,
My dear one, forever near,
Emerald memories, undying, clear.
This poem aligns with the category of Irish funeral poems as it incorporates elements of Irish imagery and sentiments, such as fields of green and the concept of an enduring Irish spirit. Its emphasis on enduring love, the power of memory, and the solace found in prayer align with traditional Irish sentiments about death and remembrance.
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9) Celtic Gratitude
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
In rolling hills, where memories bloom,
Our love, entwined, forever consumes,
I appreciate the time we shared,
The laughter, joy, and endless care.
Your presence, a gift in life's sweet dance,
A cherished bond, a love's expanse,
Though you're gone, your spirit stays,
Celtic gratitude, through joy and pain.
My dear one, I'll hold so close,
A grateful heart, a love that grows,
For even in darkness, a love shines bright,
An appreciation of life, in memory's light.
This poem is related to Irish funeral poems through its evocative imagery of rolling hills, which is reminiscent of the Irish landscape, and its emphasis on the themes of remembrance, gratitude, and the enduring presence of the loved one's spirit. These themes align with traditional Irish sentiments about loss and remembrance.
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