Symbols of Ireland – Part I

March is Irish-American Heritage Month in the U.S., a good time to explore all things Irish.

Ireland is a country that is strongly into symbolism, that is, using images to represent ideas or qualities. Most of the images are deeply rooted in Irish history, culture and tradition. Taken together, they form the identity of Ireland.

One of the most interesting places to visit on the Ridge to view traditional Irish symbols is Mount Olivet Cemetery at 2755 West 111th Street. Consecrated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago in 1885, this was the first Catholic Cemetery established on the South Side. Here can be found Celtic crosses in abundance, and even statues of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

One of the most fascinating monuments to view at the cemetery is that of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). The symbolism carved into this masterpiece is nothing short of a visual history of Ireland.

AOH is a men’s organization for Roman Catholics of Irish birth or descent. It was founded in 1836 in New York and Pennsylvania, and a Chicago branch started in the 1870s. Hibernia was the name the Romans gave to Ireland. AOH became, and remains, the largest and broadest-based Irish fraternal organization in the country, concentrating on charitable works and promoting the positive image of the Irish.

AOH Chicago Division 59 was formed on the South Side in 1959 and was renamed the John F. Kennedy Division when the first Irish American Catholic was elected President. Kennedy had joined AOH in 1947. This division is still active today, headed by Beverly’s own Tim Noonan.

In 1897, AOH dedicated the monument on the burial site for its members. More than 15,000 people attended the ceremony. The work is attributed to John Moore, a sculptor who was also known for his monuments in Calvary Cemetery on the north side of the city. Made of Vermont granite on a base of Italian marble, the monument is forty feet tall.

The very shape of the monument, a round tower with carved stonework, doors half-way up the tower, and a conical roof, is a symbol of Ireland. Built as bell towers and look-out posts, round towers have stood for over a thousand years, preserved throughout Ireland. They are often found at monastic sites, which were often built on sites previously used by the Irish chieftains. The round towers signify nobility and endurance.

At the base of the monument is engraved an Irish Wolfhound. This breed goes back 2,000 years and was bred for great size, strength, and speed to bring down large prey, like the legendary Irish elk, one of the largest species of deer to ever roam the earth. Early names for the dogs included the “Great Hounds of Ireland” and they were even reported in ancient Rome, being pitted against lions and bears. In medieval times, the dogs were used to combat wolves that were invading the growing human settlements. Today’s breed is the tallest dog by American Kennel Club standards, and its size belies a serene, even kindly nature. Their role now is as ambassadors for Ireland. The wolfhound represents loyalty, bravery and steadfastness.

Around the sides of the monument are engraved various other symbols, such as a Celtic cross.

The Celtic cross is defined as a Latin cross with a nimbus, or circle, around the intersection of the arms and stem. There are many conjectures about the origin and symbols of this cross, including dating it back to pagan times, and its later adaptation for Christian use. They are found all over Ireland and today indicate the very rich, complex history of Ireland and its relationship to Christianity.

Other symbols in the monument include the original emblem of AOH, which incorporates a harp, which will be discussed shortly, and plenty of shamrocks.

Perhaps nothing represents Ireland, however informally, as much as its national flower, the shamrock, a small three-leafed flowering plant in the pea and clover family. The plant was supposedly considered magical during pagan times. It’s used as a symbol of the unity of Great Britain, combined with the rose of England and the thistle of Scotland. It’s used as a symbol of rebellion by groups opposed to English rule. This unassuming little plant is used in countless ways that all say “Ireland.”

The major symbolism of the shamrock for the people of Ireland is religious. St. Patrick reputedly plucked a tiny shamrock from the ground to explain the Holy Trinity.

The AOH emblem also features a rising sun, which has its origins in Irish mythology. The Fianna were brave warriors who referred to themselves as “sunburst.” This became a popular symbol for rebellion, and one motto was, “After the Clouds, Sun,” pointing to a bright future.

On another side of the monument are the four coats of arms of the four provinces of Ireland, Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster. The provinces no longer have legal status but are used in historical and social/cultural contexts, similar to the designations used for Chicago neighborhoods. They are still used for professional rugby teams and by the Gaelic Athletic Association which promotes traditional Irish sports, music, dance and language.

Next is a symbol that was very popular in the 1800s and early 1900s, when many Irish Catholics were coming to the U. S., and that is the U.S. flag paired with a flag of Ireland. This was used to not only indicate the friendship of the two countries, but to illustrate that Irish Americans were loyal, patriotic citizens of the U.S. while still honoring their Irish identity.

It should be noted the flag was an unofficial flag that showed a harp on a green background that dated back to 1642 – 1649 when Ireland had a brief period of self-government. This flag was used by Irish nationalists, those who were opposed to any foreign rule of Ireland, as a sign of rebellion. The current flag with green, white and orange bands dates to 1922 when the independent Republic of Ireland was formed.

The final symbol is “Erin,” the personification of Ireland as a woman playing the Celtic harp. The name Erin derives from the Irish word for Ireland, and this romanticized name and image were very popular with Irish nationalists and poets in the 1800s and early 1900s. Often the woman was accompanied by an Irish Wolfhound companion.

The official symbol of Ireland is the Celtic harp, a unique instrument traditional to Ireland and Scotland that differs from the classical or concert harp and requires great skill and long practice to play. It was associated with the Gaelic ruling class, and accomplished harpers and bards, or poets, were honored and well rewarded for their counseling and entertainment services by their noble patrons. Unfortunately, under English rule, harpers and poets were considered troublemakers and were put to death and their instruments destroyed. The method for making the harps disappeared. Just a few original harps and a small number of musical compositions survived. Only ten years ago was modern engineering able to reproduce a Celtic harp.

The harp has long been the heraldic emblem on the coat of arms for Ireland. When Ireland became a free state in 1922, it restored the emblem using the image of one of the remaining historic harps. It is used as the symbol of the President of Ireland, and in 1984, it was registered internationally as the state emblem. They had to go with a left-facing harp as Guinness Brewery has used a right-facing harp as its logo since the 1870s.

The harp represents the on-going spirit of Ireland. It is said that harp music fills Heaven and the harp therefore reflects the immortality of the soul.

Part II will look at some lesser known Irish symbols.