IriSh SyMbOLS

The Claddagh symbol in Galway street

The Claddagh Symbol

The Claddagh symbol : This symbol is composed of two hands holding a crowned heart. It is used to show the bonds of love, friendship and loyalty. Some believe that the right hand of the symbol represents the father of Celtic Gods, called Dagda, and the left represents the mother goddess, Anu. The Christian version of this legend says that the crowned heart is a symbol of God the Father and the two hands are his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

The Shamrock

The Shamrock : Anyone who sees this club automatically thinks of Ireland. Some people say that St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, used the shamrock to spread Christianity in Ireland, and the three leaves of the plant could represent the Holy Trinity. Other people say that the shamrock and the number three were considered magical in Celtic tradition, so this plant was believed to bring good luck.

The Celtic cross : This symbol is a variation of the traditional Christian cross. The circle that circumnavigates the intersection of the cross is often believed to represent a fusion of the old ways and the new.

The Leprechaun

The Leprechaun : The legend of the leprechaun and his pot of gold are known by many people all over the world. A leprechaun is a fairy-like being in traditional Irish folklore.

The Harp

The Harp : The Irish loved to entertain guests with the use of a harp during the Gaelic times. Since then, it has always been a well-loved symbol or Ireland. The harp was used in documents written by Benedictine monks in the 8th century. It was also shown in coins made during the 1500s. It became part of the national flag of Ireland from the 18th to the 19th centuries.


The Tricolor Flag : The current flag of Ireland has three colors—white, orange and green. Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish nationalist and a revolutionary who fought for his country’s independence from the British, introduced this flag in 1848. He says that the white in the center of the flag represents the peace between the Irish people (represented by the green color) and the English supporters of William III of England, or popularly known as “William Henry of Orange.”