Congratulations in Irish
Comhghairdeas
In Irish, the phrase to know first is "Comhghairdeas!" (Congratulations!). The others are below, each with a note on when to use it.
The Irish word for congratulations is comhghairdeas. Below are the ways to say it, the shorter "well done" and "good for you" lines, and wishes and a toast for a wedding.
Greetings
Comhghairdeas!
Congratulations!
Works for any good news: a new job, exams, an engagement.
Go maire tú!
Congratulations! (to one person)
Literally "long life to you". Ó Dónaill gives both meanings.
Maith thú!
Well done!
For a smaller win. Literally "good you".
Mo sheacht mbeannacht ort!
Good for you!
Literally "my seven blessings on you".
Go maire sibh bhur saol nua!
May you enjoy your new life! (to a couple)
A wedding wish. Sibh is "you" for more than one.
Sláinte na lánúine nuaphósta!
To the newlyweds!
The wedding toast: "the health of the newly married couple".
Useful words
bainis
wedding; wedding reception
Also pósadh, the ceremony.
ar lá do phósta
on your wedding day
For a card to one of the couple.
About the words
Comhghairdeas is a masculine noun meaning congratulation. To congratulate someone is comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le duine. Go maire tú, from the verb mair, "live, last", is given in Ó Dónaill both as "long life to you" and as "congratulations". At a wedding, a toast to the newlyweds is sláinte na lánúine nuaphósta, "the health of the newly married couple".
Common questions
How do you say congratulations in Irish?
Comhghairdeas! For one person you can also say Go maire tú!, literally "long life to you".
What do you say at an Irish wedding?
Wish the couple Go maire sibh bhur saol nua! and raise a glass with Sláinte na lánúine nuaphósta!
Congratulations in the other Celtic languages
Further reading
Go beyond the phrases
blas. teaches Irish with spaced repetition, vocabulary, mutations, grammar, reading, and conversation. Not just for Congratulations, but for life. Free to start.
Start learning IrishIrish phrases for the year ahead
Irish phrases for everyday occasions
Sources
Every phrase and fact on this page was checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-20.
- Ó Dónaill, Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla (teanglann.ie, Foras na Gaeilge)
- Ó Dónaill, Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla (teanglann.ie, Foras na Gaeilge)
- New English–Irish Dictionary (focloir.ie, Foras na Gaeilge)
- New English–Irish Dictionary (focloir.ie, Foras na Gaeilge)
- Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org
- New English–Irish Dictionary (focloir.ie, Foras na Gaeilge)
- blas. course data
- Ó Dónaill, Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla (teanglann.ie, Foras na Gaeilge)
- New English–Irish Dictionary (focloir.ie, Foras na Gaeilge)
Credit: Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.