There's an English saying, 'where there's life, there's hope' or something like that. Is there an equivalent as Gaeilge? It seems that if there is, it might suit this very well. It certainly focuses on the positive as the OP requested. Of course, I don't know if there is a suitable seanfhocal so my comment is not actually all that helpful. New year, same old unhelpful comments......

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How about something like:

Ní deireadh go cailleadh an dóchais.

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Bí cinnte de go nglacfaidh triúr le gach aistriúchán a thabharfar.
Be sure to get three in agreement with a translation given.

I like that.

Luke, this means roughly “it’s not over till hope is lost/dead”. A very natural way of phrasing it in Irish.

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Not a native speaker.

Always wait for at least three people to agree on a translation, especially if it’s for something permanent.

My translations are usually GU (Ulster Irish), unless CO (Standard Orthography) is requested.

Yes, Braoin is very good at that.

(Consider this a thirding.)

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Thank you all so much for the help in the translation, it means a lot to me and I felt like I learned a bit in the process! I feel like all the translations I received had their own relevance and I want to see if I can get a final consensus on which translation best fits my interpretation of the saying 'Hope Dies Last'. My interpretation is two fold, 1)as long as hope is alive there is meaning, 2) but also the idea that once hope is lost there's no turning back and all is lost. The translations which seemed to receive the most agreement are as follows:


1. Faigheann an dóchas bás ag a' deireadh (something like "Hope gets death by end")
2. Is é an dóchas is déanaí bás a fháil ("It's hope which is the last to die")
3. Is é an dóchas is deireanaí a chailltear ("It's hope which is lost/dies last(?)")
4. Ní deireadh go cailleadh an dóchais (“it’s not over till hope is lost/dead”)

There was a 3 way consensus on the final translation listed here but I felt like that translation didn't touch on the underlying possible negative implication of hope dying as being a possibility. Translations #3 & #4 listed are the ones I am the most attracted to based on my interpretation of the original phrase. Are there 3 people comfortable with calling #3 & #4 solid? This will be for a tattoo.

Thanks again so much for all this helps, this is a very powerful phrase for me and look forward to confidently wearing it on my body.

He is indeed.

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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I think Braoin's version Ní deireadh go cailleadh an dóchais also covers that negative secondary meaning as much as any of the others, or the English, i.e., "once hope is gone, that's it."

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Thanks you all so much for the help, Breandán especially for the clarification at the end!