Symbols of Ireland – Part II

Ireland is a land of symbols and most are deeply entrenched in the country’s history and traditions. Part I looked at some that are used frequently – the harp, the shamrock, the wolfhound.

There are other symbols that appear less frequently but are also well recognized as being Irish.

One of these is the Claddagh ring. This symbol of hands clasping a heart topped with a crown dates back to around 1700 in a fishing village named Claddagh in Galway.

This ring is a variation of European “fede” rings or rings with the image of clasped hands, signifying the pledging of vows, which date back to Roman times. These rings were mainly used as engagement and weddings rings and that is also true for the Claddagh ring. Legend has it that an Irish goldsmith designed the ring while being held captive in the West Indies, and then later gave it to his sweetheart when he was able to return to Galway.

In the Claddagh ring, the hands symbolize friendship; the heart, love; and the crown, loyalty. Ireland was under the Crown of England when the ring was designed. Nationalists designed versions without the crown, but the original Claddagh ring remains a charming and traditional symbol.

Another lesser known symbol is St. Brigid's cross, traditionally woven from rushes. This is an excellent example of an item that originated in pagan times and then transferred over to Christianity. Brigid was a pagan goddess whose feast day marked the beginning of spring. The pagan symbol that is now known as a Christian cross was said to protect a house from fire.

St. Brigid of Kildare was one of the very early saints in Ireland. The cross became associated with her, according to legend, when as she comforted a dying man, she began weaving one of these crosses. The man asked about it and she told him the story of Jesus, and he converted to Christianity on his deathbed. St. Brigid’s cross is hung over doorways and windows still to protect the home from harm.

There are a variety of Celtic symbols that have become popular in use. The term “Celtic” refers to people who lived in Ireland, Britain and Western Europe during the Iron Age from about 500 B.C. to 500 A.D. This was a pivotal time, encompassing the beginning of Christianity. Note the word is properly pronounced as “Keltic.”

Some of the Celtic symbols connect spirituality to nature, such as the Green Man and the Tree of Life. The Green Man is a man’s head made from foliage, symbolizing rebirth in Spring. The Tree of Life emphasizes the roots digging into the earth and the branches reaching to the sky, symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth.

Other symbols are more abstract. One popular one is the Dara or Celtic Knot. Dara comes from the Irish word for oak tree, and trees were a connection to the spiritual world. Shaped in an intricate pattern from one continuous stroke, the Dara Knot has no beginning or end, and it represents strength.

The number three was very significant to the Celts who observed that important concepts came in that number – birth, death and rebirth; past, present and future; earth, sea and sky; soul, heart and mind. The symbol readily converted to Christianity as the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Some of the Celtic symbols incorporating the concept of three include the Awen, the three rays of light; the Triquetra or the Trinity Knot; and the Triskele, the three spirals.

These symbols appeared on a continuum from ancient sites like Newgrange, the burial site in the Boyne Valley that is 5,000 years old, to the Book of Kells, written and illustrated by monks in the 800s.

Any article about the symbols of Ireland would be remiss not to at least mention leprechauns. These are part of the “wee folk” or fairy folk who inhabited Ireland long before humans predominated. Their history is complicated and fascinating and worthy of its own future article.

The leprechaun we know now is not even how they actually appeared. In 1831 one was described by Irish writer Samuel Lover as: “... quite a beau in his dress, notwithstanding, for he wears a red square-cut coat, richly laced with gold, and inexpressible of the same, cocked hat, shoes and buckles.”

Leprechauns are mostly consigned to myth now. But as one Irishman said, “We don’t believe in the wee folk but we know they’re there.”

The symbols of Ireland encompass everything from romance to religion to rebellion. The same Irish symbol may be used by different people in different ways, but they all reflect upon the rich heritage of the country.