Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 15, 1995                   TAG: 9503160026
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KATHLEEN WILSON
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IRISH TOASTS ARE RICH WITH ELOQUENCE

This comes from their wit, eloquence, hospitality and a healthy admiration and respect for women.

Here are a handful, from "Irish Toasts" by Shane Na Gael, written in 1908.

Here's to one, and only one, and may that one be he,

Who loves but one, and only one, and may that one be me.

Come! pledge again thy heart and hand -

One grasp that ne'er shall sever;

Our watchword be - ``Our native land!''

Our motto - ``Love forever!''

But whether on the scaffold high,

Or in the battle's van,

The fittest place for man can die

Is where he dies for man!

Here's to the land of the shamrock so green,

Here's to each lad and his darling colleen,

Here's to the ones we love dearest and most -

And may God save old Ireland! That's an Irishman's toast.

In her cause I am willin' my veins should run dry,

And for Ireland's sweet sake I am ready to die.

Ireland and America - May the former soon be as free as the latter, and may the latter never forget that Irishmen were instrumental in securing the liberty they now enjoy.

O Ireland, isn't it grand you look -

Like a bride in her rich adornin'?

And with all the pent-up love of my heart

I bid you top o' the mornin'!

May the smiles of women cheer Irish lads so clever,

That they in whiskey drink to beauty's queens forever.

The girl that is witty,

The girl that is pretty

The girl an eye black as a sloe,

Here's to girls of every station,

Throughout Ireland's nation,

And especially the one I know.

So fill to the brim, and here's to him

Who'd drink in punch the Solway;

With debts galore, but fun far more,

Oh, that's the man for Galway.

May you be in heaven a half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.