Ireland is fondly called as the “Emerald Isle” due to the lush green meadows and its stunning natural beauty. With the rich Irish history and culture, this European country has been a favorite tourist destination by travelers from various parts of the globe. Here are some symbols that well represent Ireland, its people, its rich culture and tradition.

Above: The political and religious unrest within Ireland paved the way to the existence of the Irish tricolor flag. The Irish flag has 3 meaningful colors that best define the history of Ireland.

The Irish tricolor flag

The tricolor flag of Ireland was introduced by Thomas Francis Meagher in 1848. The Irish flag has 3 meaningful colors that best define the history of Ireland. The political and religious unrest within Ireland paved the way to the existence of the Irish tricolor flag. The green band represents the Irish people and has long been used to symbolize the Catholic majority the orange represents the English supporters of “William of Orange” and has long been used to represent the Protestant minority and the white color represents peace and unity between the two.

The Symbol of the Celtic Cross

Above Photo: The Celtic Cross

St. Patrick played a vital role in shaping up the Irish history. According to legends the Celtic Cross was known when St. Patrick took the chance to show the union of old and new ways during his desire to strengthen the Catholic faith during that time. St. Patrick was shown a sacred standing stone that was marked with a circle. He marked a cross through the circle and blessed the stone, thus the Celtic Cross came to life.

The Symbol of the Claddagh Ring

Above Photo: The Claddagh Ring

The Claddagh Ring represents the fishing Kings of Claddagh, whose motto was “in love and friendship let us reign.” 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. This Claddagh ring is considered to be a tradition that says a lot about the positive characteristics of the wearer which is “heart whole and fancy free.”

<!–[if !vml]–><!–[endif]–>The Symbol of the Irish Harp

Above Photo: The Irish Harp

The Harp is the official Emblem of Ireland. It was played by the Celtic Forefathers. The harp has long been a symbol of Ireland though this symbol is not that recognized as the shamrock. But the harp is most often associated with Guinness. This brewery has adopted the harp as its trademark in the year 1862. The harp is a small portable instrument used by Celtic minstrels. This emblem is the oldest official symbol of Ireland. Possibly, the legends of the mysterious powers of the harp spring from the time when the bards can chant and tell tales of famous events to the Irish kings and chiefs. The harp appears on Irish coins, the presidential flag, uniforms, state seals, and official papers.

The Symbol of the Shamrock

Above Photo: The Shamrock

The word Shamrock comes from the old Irish word “seamrog” which means “summer plant.” The shamrock is undoubtedly the most identifiable and most popular symbol to represent the Emerald Isle. This Irish symbol is regarded as the national plant of Ireland and always worn on St. Patrick’s Day. Legends said that when St. Patrick came to Ireland he used the Shamrock to symbolize the meaning of the church’s teaching on the Trinity.