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Why The Shamrock Is A Symbol of St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland ☘️

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Just like the Irish Harp, the Shamrock has appeared throughout Irish history.  confusion the national symbol of Ireland is the Harp, not the Shamrock. The Shamrock is the national flower of Ireland.

Ireland is the only country with a musical instrument as its national symbol. By the end of this article, you will know everything you need to know about the Shamrock. 

Just where and how did the Shamrock become a symbol of Ireland?

Why is the shamrock such an important image of Ireland

St. Patrick allegedly used the three-leaf clover to teach Christianity as he travelled around Ireland. He said the leaves illustrated the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit of the Holy Trinity.

You might be saying, “Ah sure it was because of St Patrick himself that we have it as one of our symbols?!”

In part, you would be correct. On the other hand, he certainly put it on the main stage. 

But it was the Celtic druids who started the Shamrock on its path into Irish history! The Shamrock was initially associated with the Celtic goddess Ana or Anu, with the three leaves representing her status as the maiden, mother and crone of Ireland.

If you have read my article on the top Celtic symbols, you will know that Celts had this massive belief in the number 3. 

It was known as “the perfect number”. Like with the Awen Celtic Symbol, this meaning of three was represented in many ways. 

Including:

  • Some believe that they represent three divisions of the soul( mind, body and spirit)
  • Others believe it represents the three realms we inhabit(land, sea and sky)
  • Also underworld, middle world and the upper world
  • Love, Wisdom and Truth
  • Nature, knowledge and truth

It didn’t stop there. Celtic society was organised around the sacred three, with three classes, three colours, and three principal gods. Let’s just say they loved the number 3, haha.

So is it true that St Patrick used the three-leaf clover to convert Ireland to Christianity? 

It doesn’t matter if he did or did not. This is because at the time it was reported as truth, Irish people had already chosen it as their symbol. 

It is possible that St Patrick knew the importance of the number 3 to the Celts and used the Shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. I.e. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Father, Son And Holy Spirit that St Patrick used to demonstrate using the shamrock.

So when did it become an unofficial Irish symbol? 

It has been considered the unofficial national flower of Ireland for centuries. 

The first evidence of a link between St Patrick and the Shamrock appears in 1675 on the St Patrick’s Coppers or Halfpennies.

These appear to show a figure of St Patrick preaching to a crowd while holding a shamrock, presumably to explain the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

St. Patrick depicted with shamrock in detail of stained glass window in St. Benin's Church, Wicklow, Ireland

St. Patrick depicted with Shamrock in detail stained glass windows in St. Benin’s Church, Wicklow, Ireland.

By the 1770s, it had undoubtedly been adopted as the emblem of the Irish Volunteers, a militia with republican sympathies.

This is where it came to be associated with rebellious, nationalistic views and led Queen Victoria’s government to forbid all Irish regiments within the British Army to wear Shamrock in the 19th century.

These days, a member of the British Royal Family presents Shamrock to the Irish Guards regiment, so it seems the dear shamrock plant has been rehabilitated! 

What is the meaning of the word “Shamrock.”

The word shamrock comes from the Old Irish “seamróg”, translated as “little clover”. The Irish word for clover is “seamair”, and óg means “young” or “little”.

Since it is the most emblematic Irish symbol, it’s no wonder that it is everywhere: embroidered
on clothes, incorporated in rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets, brooches, and even on buckles of Irish dancing shoes. 

The Irish Shamrock in modern-day Ireland: 

The Shamrock is used in the emblems of many state organisations, both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Some of these are all-Ireland bodies, for example, Tourism Ireland.

As well as organisations specific to the Republic of Ireland (such as IDA Ireland) and Northern Ireland (such as Police Service of Northern Ireland).

The Irish Postal Service An Post regularly features the Shamrock on its series of stamps.

Map of Ireland: the first Irish postage stamp featured the shamrock

The first Irish postage stamp featured the Shamrock. First issued 6 December 1922

The airline Aer Lingus uses the emblem in its logos, and its air traffic control call sign is “SHAMROCK”.

Aer Lingus aircraft taking off with the Shamrock symbol on its tail

Germany once tried to use the Shamrock in the early 1980s. However, it has been trademarked by the Government of Ireland.

In the early 1980s, Ireland defended its right to use the Shamrock as its national symbol in a German trademark case, which included high-level representation from Taoiseach Charles Haughey.

Having lost initially, Ireland won on appeal to the German Supreme Court in 1985.

St Patrick's day souvinir 1912

Postcard St Patricks Day Souvenir 1912

Nowadays, the word Shamrock appears in thousands of pubs, restaurants, BnB’s and even in McDonald’s back in the 1970s with the well known “Shamrock Shake.”

Shamrock Shake

A shamrock shake!

The difference between a shamrock and a four-leaf clover

You may have heard of the “Luck Of The Irish“, and one should not mistakenly call a shamrock a four-leaf clover. 

Did you know that the chances of finding a four-leaf clover in a field are about one in 10,000?  

The three leaves of a shamrock also stand for faith, hope and love(again with the symbol of threes).

A fourth leaf is where we get the luck from. The four-leafed clover, or “lucky clover”, is an uncommon variation of the three-leafed clover and is widely considered a symbol of good luck.

Shamrock, or “seamrag” in Gaelic, means “little clover”, which is fitting because shamrocks and four-leaf clovers belong to the white clover plant family. 

Shamrock = 3 leaves. Four leaf clover = 4 leaves. 

Can you grow your own Shamrock? 

Shamrock is widely thought to be very hard to grow, especially outside of Ireland. This is not
entirely true. This plant just needs warm to cool air, moist soil, and enough sun when it’s flowering.
You can do so all year round if you want to sow it indoors; just make sure the temperature is not
above 75 degrees.

Below is a lovely St Patrick’s day toast you can use next March: 

St. Patrick’s Day Toasts:

Here’s to a long life and a merry one.

A quick death and an easy one.

A pretty girl and an honest one.

A cold beer and another one.

May your wishes come true, and your truth be wise.

Happy St. Patrick Day, Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter. Lullabies, dreams and love ever after.

A thousand welcomes when anyone comes… That’s the Irish for You!

May your blessings outnumber The shamrocks that grow, And may trouble avoid you Wherever you go.

May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead. 

So now you know just why the Shamrock is such a big symbol of Ireland! 

shamrock history

The Shamrock is undoubtedly an iconic piece of Irish history, and I hope you have enjoyed learning a bit more about the Shamrock. 

Have you ever found a four-leaf clover? Comment below. 

If you find a four-leaf clover, you can take a cutting from its plant and put it in a cup of water until it grows roots. Plant it in your yard to start your own lucky patch.

What Is The Shamrock And How Did It Become Ireland's National Symbol

It is said that the actual plant can be grown only in Ireland or on Irish soil. This myth owes more to marketing wizardry than to any horticultural truth. Although we are not going to argue with it 😉 

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to get your weekly dose of Irish straight to your inbox right here! 

Read this post if you would like to learn more about Irish Celtic symbols.

Thanks,

Stephen

 

Sources: Wikipedia, Wired 

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Anna Maldonado

Saturday 9th of July 2022

Sitting right here in Stockton CA playing your article with a cup of espresso.

Jim Roney

Monday 11th of April 2022

I'm wondering why the Shamrock is depicted with rounded leaves and the Shamrock plants I have had as house plants for the last 35 years have more pointed corners to the leaves and the blossoms are much different than a Clover blossom?

Godlover

Thursday 17th of March 2022

The 3 Leaf clover was used by Saint Patrick to teach the truth about 3 Persons in one God, the Most Holy Trinity. The stem shows the one plant with 3 individual leaves in it. It helped show the truth that there are not 3 Gods but only one God with 3 persons, in the Godhead, which led to converting Ireland then the whole world. God is amazing to give us such a creation as the shamrock to explain in some little way, the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity.

Irish Around The World

Thursday 17th of March 2022

Thanks for sharing

Sandra Newman

Thursday 26th of November 2020

Well I have them in my aloe Vera plant and I never planted any seeds with my Aloe Vera plant.It's in a pot.I have the 3 and the 4.Shamrock and Clover but also close to my water hose in the back yard and I mean plenty of them.

Maureen Crowley

Friday 15th of May 2020

My daughter finds 4 leaf clovers all the time ... so we press them with and Irish saying and make a book mark and give them away 🍀

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