The tricolor flag of Ireland was introduced by Thomas Francis Meagher in 1848. The color of the green represents the Irish people, the orange represents the English supporters of "William of Orange" and the white color represents peace.

Thomas Meagher on the meaning of the Irish flag said, "The white in the center signifies a lasting truce between the Orange and the Green; and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catholic may be clasped in heroic brotherhood."

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The Symbol of the Irish Harp

The harp has long been a symbol of Ireland. Perhaps the legends of it's magical powers comes from the time when the bards would sing and tell stories of famous events to the Irish kings and chiefs.

During the early 1500s, under the rule of Henry VIII, the harp was first depicted on Irish coins. That tradition is carried on today and the harp is also used for other official duties such as the Irish state seal, official documents and uniforms.

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The Symbol of the Shamrock

In ancient Ireland the Shamrock was thought to have magical powers and the number 3 was considered a powerful number. Legends say the leaves will stand upright when a storm approaches and that no snake will be found among them. When St. Patrick came to Ireland he used the Shamrock to symbolize the meaning of the church's teaching on the Trinity.

The word Shamrock comes from the old Irish word "seamrog"
which means "summer plant."

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The symbol of the Claddagh Ring

The hands are there for friendship,
The heart is there for love.
For loyalty throughout the year,
The crown is raised above.

The symbol of the Claddagh Ring dates back to a fishing village in Galway known as Claddagh village. It represents the fishing Kings of Claddagh, whose motto was "in love and friendship let us reign." Later in the 17th century the symbol was made into a ring which became a popular gift throughout Galway. Tradition says that the heart is worn outward to show that the wearer is "heart whole and fancy free." Many Claddagh Rings have become family heirlooms and are a gift to be passed down from the mother and worn by a daughter on her wedding day.

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The symbol of the Celtic Cross

The meaning of the Celtic Cross is told in legend of Ireland's St. Patrick. He was shown a sacred standing stone that was marked with a circle. St. Patrick took this opportunity to show the union of old and new ways. He marked a cross through the circle and blessed the stone.

The Wearin of the Green
The history of the Irish Volunteers
and the story of "the wearin' o' the green"

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