Wit and Wisdom

A flair for the memorable quote

Oscar Wilde

The Irish have a way with language. They throw words around like they’re going out of style. In doing so they’ve provided countless phrases and sayings that have been quoted across the world.

Many of these witticisms are from Ireland’s long list of great writers: Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, Jonathan Swift, James Joyce, W B Yeats, Brendan Behan … the list goes on.

But there are many other colourful phrases that can’t be attributed to any one person. Like that other great Irish tradition, folk music, they spring anonymously from the villages, towns and cities across Ireland.

George Best

We’re now embarking on the huge task of trying to record as many of these sayings as we can find. When possible, we’ll try to add notes, illustrations and background information.

We’ll start with some of the classics but we’ll soon move on to some of those that are less well known but equally intriguing.

Famous Irish wits

Oscar Wilde

Jonathan Swift

Brendan Behan

George Best

Lots more to come - watch this space!

Anagrams and Brainteasers

Make sure you also check out the Anagrams and Puzzles pages, where you’ll find lots of quizzes and anagrams about Irish songs, sayings and performers. Can you solve this anagram? Here’s a taster;

Which princes of Irish music are hiding in
LICENCED TRUTH
Clue? A loud and heavenly sound!

Lots more Irish puzzles here

Tell us your favourite Irish quotes and sayings

Brendan Behan

Do you have a favourite quote you would like to add? We’d love to hear from you. Just fill in the contact form below.

Tell us your favourite Irish quote, saying, insult, joke etc. It doesn’t matter if it’s by a famous writer or if the source is unknown.

Please tell us why you like it, and if you have any useful background information about it then so much the better.

Here are some example;

Oscar Wilde: We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking to the stars.

George Bernard Shaw: There is no love sincerer than the love of food.

George Best: Spent most of my money on women and booze … squandered the rest!

Jonathan Swift: We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love