How To Say Happy Mother’s Day In Irish Gaelic

Do you want to learn how to say happy mother’s day in Irish Gaelic? 

Every day, we are moved by the gratitude and love we have for our mothers and grandmothers. It is no surprise then that throughout decades, the observance of mother’s day has become increasingly popular. As a day set aside to honor our mothers, we have an opportunity to show them our affection and appreciation by sending them flowers or other presents.

In many countries, Mother’s Day is a widely observed holiday. Many countries in Europe and North America celebrate mothers on the second Sunday of May each year in honor of their mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, and even aunts.

Unlike in many other countries, Mother’s Day is celebrated differently in Ireland. The Irish observe Mother’s Day in March, while Mother’s Day in the US is held in May. This special day is often observed during the last Sunday of March, often during Lent.

Its goal is the same, however, regardless of when it is celebrated. Mother’s Day is still a time for families to show their gratitude for that special woman in their lives.

The observance of Mother’s Day in Ireland has religious origins.  The church wanted the faithful to rest from the severe observance of Lent on mid-lent Sunday. This break has since been celebrated on St. Patrick’s Day.

In this early version Mother’s Day, the church conducts masses in the cathedral in honor of Mary, Mother of Christ, as was the case in most Catholic countries. This day of observance can be traced back to the middle ages when poor children in Ireland were put to work in the households of the wealthy.

Every year, during Lent, these children were allowed one day off to visit their “Mother Church” to attend special masses for the Holy Virgin Mary. After visiting the church in their hometown, these children return to their mothers and present them with flowers they had collected on the journey back.

This “Mother’s Day” practice was discontinued in Ireland in the late 1700s.  However, it was revived post World War II with the support of Americans.  Mother’s Day in Ireland is now marked with flowers, presents and special dinners, and it is solely a day to honor moms.

 

Happy Mother’s Day In Irish Gaelic

What the Irish call their mothers

In Ireland, “mother” isn’t a word you’ll hear anyone use. If you listen closely to Irish people directly addressing or talking about their mothers, you will most likely often hear Mam or even Mom. Traditional, they use the word Mammy which is still popular in many parts of Ireland.

There are, of course, other terms of endearment, but use them at your own risk. To avoid offending an Irish mom, it’s preferable not to refer to her by her first and last name or by her nickname. The word ‘Mother,’ on the other hand, is reserved for those rare occasions when an Irish person may need to reprimand their mam. This is an extremely rare occurrence, and it’s also quite dangerous.

But if you really must use the word, the Irish or Gaelic for Mother is Máthair, which is pronounced as Maw-hir. Meanwhile, the popular and more common way to call Irish mothers is Mam, pronounced as mam.

Happy Mother’s Day In Irish Gaelic

1. Lá na Máithreacha sona duit

 

1.    Lá na Máithreacha sona duit

This is how you say “Happy Mother’s Day” in Gaelic, pronounced as Law nah maw-her-aka sun-a ditch. This is both formal and informal and can be used to greet every mom you know on this special occasion.

2. Lá na Máithreacha sona daoibh

When you are addressing a group of mothers, This is how you say “Happy Mother’s Day” in Gaelic, pronounced as Law nah maw-her-aka sun-a deev.

Note that the only word changed from the standard mother’s day greeting is duit which became daoibh, a term that pertains to a group. This may sound strange for most individuals, but might be useful for an event or in a group setting.

3. Lá Fhéile an Mháthair

 

This is how you say “Mothers Day” in Gaelic. If you are writing a message on a card and wanted to add a short note that expresses your appreciation as gratitude, here are a few useful expressions.

• Thank you – Go raibh maith agat, pronounced as Gur-uv mah ah-guth 
• Thanks a lot – Go raibh míle maith agat, pronounced as Gur-uv mee-leh mah ah-guth 
• Thanks for everything – Go raibh maith agat do ghach rud, pronounced as Gur-uv mah ah-guth doh ga-kh rud

READ MORE: How To Say Happy Father’s Day in Gaelic