“May you never live to see your wife a widow.”

While reading the novel Catherine Snow, I came across the statement “May you never live to see your wife a widow”.  I had been reading for some time that particular day, and had to re-read this phrase a few times to make sure it made no sense.  Was this statement a mistake of the author?

Nope!  In the novel the statement had been referred to as an “Irish toast”.  So I Googled it.  I learned that the fact that these statements are absurd or contradictory is what characterizes these phrases as “Irish Bulls”, perhaps there is some relation to the slang term “bullshit”.  

While Googling, I also discovered that there are tonnes of these phrases, and they are not only used in the Irish culture.  If you want to check out a bunch, here is a website:  http://therussler.tripod.com/dtps/irish_bulls.html  If you're just too lazy to click, some are listed below.  Enjoy!

More Irish Bulls:

-       “A lot of people my age are dead at present time.” – Anonymous

-       “And he proceeded to stop.” – Ken Zotigh

-       “At first, I had second thoughts.” – a west Texan

-       “I didn’t go back to sleep until we got up in the morning.” – Carole Mabrey

-       “I distinctly remember forgetting that.” – Robert K. Oglesby

-       “I hate all prejudice people.” – Robert Scott

-       “It occurred to me lately that nothing occurred to me lately.” – Ashleigh Brilliant

-       “They were laughing in my face, right behind my back” – The Russler

-       “They’re both unique in the same way.” - Anonymous