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This article is about the three-leaf clover. For other meanings of the term, see Shamrock (disambiguation).
The Shamrock
The Shamrock

The shamrock, a symbol of Ireland and a registered trademark of the Republic of Ireland,[1] is a three-leafed old white clover, sometimes of the variety Trifolium repens (a white clover, known in Irish as seamair bhán) but today usually Trifolium dubium (a lesser clover, Irish: seamair bhuí).

The diminutive version of the Irish word for "clover" ("seamair") is "seamróg", which was anglicised as "shamrock", representing a close approximation of the original Irish pronunciation. However, other three-leafed plants — such as black medic (Medicago lupulina), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and common wood sorrel (genus Oxalis) — are sometimes designated as shamrocks. The shamrock was traditionally used for its medical properties and was a popular motif in Victorian times. It is also a common way to represent Saint Patrick's Day. Shamrocks are said to bring good luck.

Contents

Badge of Ireland

An Irish airline Aer Lingus aircraft with a shamrock on its tail fin.
An Irish airline Aer Lingus aircraft with a shamrock on its tail fin.

The shamrock is also informally used as an emblem for sports teams, state organisations, and troops abroad from Ireland: the IRFU, Cliftonville F.C. Shamrock Rovers F.C., Aer Lingus, IDA Ireland, University College Dublin, University of Notre Dame, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Fáilte Ireland use it as part of their identity, but it should be noted that according to the Irish Constitution, the Gaelic or Celtic harp (often called "Brian Boru's Harp"), is the primary symbol for Ireland, appearing on postage stamps, government insignia, armed forces insignia and the coat of arms of the President of Ireland. It is registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization as a symbol of Ireland. According to what the Oxford English Dictionary calls "a late tradition" (first recorded in 1726), the plant was used by Saint Patrick to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity. The posthumous timing of this legend (coming some 1200 years after his death), and the lack of supporting evidence found in St. Patrick's writings have caused some to question its authenticity.[2]. In pre-Christian Ireland long before the arrival of Patrick, the shamrock was the principal symbol of the Irish Triple Goddesscitation needed.

The shamrock is featured on the passport stamp of Montserrat, many of whose citizens are of Irish descent. In addition, the shamrock is frequently used as a name and symbol for Irish pubs throughout the world.

Flags

Flag of Montreal
Flag of Montreal

The flag of the city of Montréal, Canada has a shamrock in the lower right quadrant. The shamrock represents the Irish population, one of the four major ethnic groups that made up the population of the city in the 19th century when the arms were designed.

The coat of arms on the flag of the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation was cradled in a wreath of shamrock.[3]

The Erin Go Bragh flag uses an angelic Cláirseach, a medieval Irish harp, cradled in a wreath of clover. A flag strongly symbolic of Irish nationalism, it is often seen on Saint Patrick's Day, usually displayed during the parades.

The four-leaf clover

The four-leaf clover is often confused with the shamrock. While the four-leaf clover is a symbol of good luck, the three-leafed shamrock is mainly an Ireland|Irish Christian symbol of the Holy Trinity and has a different significance.

References

  • Nelson, E. Charles; Loughin, Bernard, Shamrock: Botany and History of an Irish Myth: A Biography of the Shamrock in History, Literature, Music and Art. Boethius Press. ISBN 0-86314-199-4. A detailed history, including discussion of the identity of Shamrock.

Notes

  1. ^ Use of the harp and the shamrock were registered by the Irish government as international trademarks. See Record of the meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, 26 March 2003. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  2. ^ Saint Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the holy trinity at De-fact-o.com - "Untangling The Web One Fact At A Time"
  3. ^ College of Arms Newsletter, August 2004

Boat names and other miscellanea

  • Shamrock V is a J Class sloop. Shamrock V was built in 1930 for Sir Thomas Lipton's fifth and last America's Cup challenge. Designed by Nicholson, she was the first British yacht to be built to the new J Class Rule and is the only remaining J to have been built in wood.
  • Shamrock is also the name of a 1971 C&C 35 which has actively raced in the Detroit, Michigan region since 1976. Hull number 37, sail no. 11166. Shamrock is a member of the C&C 35-1 Association of Detroit. Named after L boat # 39
  • Shamrock is also the name of a wooden steam launch on Windermere, owned by the steam engineer Roger Mallinson who restored her back to working condition in the late seventies.
  • Shamrock is the ATC callsign of the Irish airline Aer Lingus
  • Soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment of the British army wear a sprig of shamrock on Saint Patrick's Day as it is their emblem. Shamrock are exported to wherever the regiment is stationed throughout the world. Queen Victoria decreed over a hundred years ago that soldiers from Ireland should wear a sprig of shamrock in recognition of fellow Irish soldiers who had fought bravely in the Boer War, a tradition continued by British army soldiers from both the north and the south of Ireland after partition in 1921.
  • During the Russian Civil War a British officer Col. P.J. Woods, of Belfast, established a Karelian Regiment which had a shamrock on an orange field as its regimental badge.

See also

External links
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