ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
The Irish phrase for "may he rest in peace" is ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam is the standard formulaic expression used in Irish when mentioning someone who has died. It is often seen in obituaries or used at funerals.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "on the right hand of God may his soul be".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Connacht dialect, the phrase Ar shlí na fírinne go raibh sé. is used to express "May he rest in peace."
Did you know?
- In traditional Irish culture, adding a phrase like ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam after mentioning a deceased person is often seen as a social necessity rather than just a religious wish.
- The word ar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'fore', as both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'in front of'.
- The phrase ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam places the deceased specifically at the 'right hand' of God, which is a symbolic position of honor and strength in many spiritual traditions.
Examples in context
- Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam, an duine mór sin.May he rest in peace, that great man.
- Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam i gcónaí.May his soul rest in peace always.
Example conversation
Niamh and Conor are talking about a mutual acquaintance who passed away.
- NiamhChuala tú an nuacht faoi Seán?Did you hear the news about Sean?
- ConorChuala mé, an drochscêl é.I did, it is sad news.
- NiamhAr dheis Dé go raibh a anam.May he rest in peace.
- ConorAmen, go raibh síocháin air.Amen, may he have peace.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dé, ar, ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam, dé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
