Symbols of Ireland are items or symbols that have symbolic meaning to, or represent, Ireland. These symbols are seen in official capacities, such as flags, coats of arms, postage stamps, and currency, and in URLs. They appear less formally as recurring themes in literature, art and folk art, heraldry, monuments, clothing, personal decoration, and as the names of parks, bridges and streets.
Contents
Flag
The flag of Ireland is a tricolour of green, white and orange, first flown in 1848. The colours stand for Irish Catholicism, Irish Protestantism, and peace between the two.
Coat of arms
The arms of Ireland are a Celtic harp (cláirseach) on an azure field.
National anthem
"Amhrán na bhFiann" ("The Soldiers' Song") is the national anthem. Written in English by Peadar Kearney and set to music by Patrick Heeney in 1907, it was translated to Irish by Liam Ó Rinn in 1923; the Irish-language version is considered the official anthem.
Plant
The national plant is the shamrock (usually Trifolium dubium or Trifolium repens).
Tree
The national tree is the sessile oak (Quercus petraea), declared as such in 1990 by Taoiseach Charlie Haughey.
Bird
The Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) was declared Ireland's national bird by a committee of the Irish Wildlife Conservancy in 1990.
Mammal
The national land mammal/animal is unclear. The Irish hare (Lepus timidus) has been described as a national animal, as has the red deer (Cervus elaphus).