Meaningful Irish Symbols:
Use them to Express Your Irish Side!

You don’t have to look far to see Irish symbols. They appear all around us, on clothing, jewelry, artwork, tableware and more.  In fact, they are so popular that it is very common to see them proudly displayed by people with no Irish heritage at all!

And that's just fine with us - in our humble opinion, everybody has an Irish side!

The fun behind these symbols is using them to express your Irish side, sharing what they mean and why they are important to you.

Here we will explore:

1. The Celtic Knot
2. The Celtic Cross
3. The Claddagh
4. The Tricolor Flag
5. The Irish Family Crest
6. The Celtic Harp
7. The Tree of Life
8. The Trinity Symbol
9. The Shamrock
10. The Triskelion

 ... and more!  Shall we take a closer look at some of them?

The Celtic Knot

Sometimes called "Irish knots" or "Mystic knots," Celtic knots are patterns of lines with no visible beginning and no apparent ending.

Aside from being lovely, they are said to have important meanings, which you can learn more about in on this site!

As with many symbols of Ireland they appear on everything from clothing to tableware to jewelry to body art.

For information on this beautiful Irish symbol, visit our page on the Celtic Knot.

The Celtic Cross

This classic symbol of Ireland is shaped like a traditional Christian crucifix, with the addition of a circle around the intersection, symbolizing eternity.

It is typically decorated with symbols or scenes of various biblical events, and it is found in a variety of Irish expressions today, including art, tattoos and jewelry.

Visit our section on the Irish Cross for much more information about this important symbol of Ireland.

The Claddagh

This classic symbol originated in the town of Claddagh, and was first made into the famous claddagh ring in the 17th century during the reign of Mary II.

Two hands represent friendship and the crown stands for lasting fidelity and loyalty, while the heart represents eternal love.

Much more information on this key Irish symbol can be found in our page on the Claddagh Ring Story here.

The Tricolor Flag

The Tricolour flag is the national flag of Ireland. This flag was first introduced back in 1848 by Thomas F. Meager.  It was officially adopted in 1921.

The green represents the Catholics and the orange stands for the Protestants in Northern Ireland.  The white represents the hope of peace between them.

Learn much more in our section on the Irish Flag.

The Irish Family Crest

Back in the 12th century, long shields and chain-link mail were replaced with helmets that covered the whole head, full-body armor and smaller shields.

Knights could not be individually recognized. They began marking their shields with emblems to identify themselves for the tournaments or battles, and the family crest was born!

Learn more about these remarkable symbols of Ireland in our page on the Irish coat of arms.

The Celtic Harp

The Celtic Harp needs no introduction. This famous symbol can be seen everywhere from Irish clothing to Irish coins to beer bottles.

The Harp has a storied place in Irish history, and is a one of the most important elements in traditional Irish music.

It appears on flags and family crests, plays a part in Irish stories and folklore - and it just happens one was being played on in the courtyard in our last sight-seeing visit to Blarney Castle!

Find much more information in our section on the Irish Harp here!

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life represents a number of Irish values with Celtic roots.  Among these are strength, longevity and connection with the earth.

As with many Irish symbols the Celtic Tree of Life appears in many legends and myths.

It also adorns Irish jewerly, clothing, and other Irish works of art.

One of the most common places you will find the tree of life is in Irish tattoos! (I should know, my son just got one of them.  I don't like tattoos generally, but his is kind of cool, I must say.)

Find much more information in our section on the Tree of Life here!

Trinity Symbol

A close cousin of the Celtic knot, the Trinity symbol (or triquetra) symbolizes strength, eternity and the power of three, among other things.

As with many other important Irish symbols, this one has found its way into jewelry, clothing and works of art.

The roots of the Trinity symbol go back literally thousands of years.

For much more information about this important symbol of Celtic Ireland, please enjoy our page on the Trinity Symbol here!

The Shamrock

Now we turn to the world-famous Irish Shamrock.  Rumored to have the power to ward off evil spirits, scare away snakes and heal diseases, this little symbol packs a mighty punch.

So much so that at one time it was banned from public display by the Queen of England.

I know, crazy right?

If that simple little description leaves you wanting more, please check out our section on the Shamrock symbol here!

The Triskelion

A close cousin to the Triquetra, the meaning of the Triskelion design is essentially “three-legged."  It is no coincidence that this Celtic symbol visually resembles three legs running!

Representing both man’s progress as well as competition, the Triskelion can also be referred to as the fylfot and the triskele.

Various attributes that have been attached to any given leg have been everything from “creator, sustainer, destroyer” to “father, mother, child.”

The Spiral

The spiral is a vital part of Celtic design.  Essentially, it stands for energy of an ethereal kind that either radiates to the outside or even to the inside.

The Single Spiral

The single spiral has been interpreted as representing personal growth, expansion of the conscious and even birth.

Some people believe the history of the single spiral goes all the way back to ancient Celtic artists who depended on the spiral’s symbolism for a mind-changing creative process.

It worked like this: When they created a spiral in their artwork, they believed that their minds were liberated into a creative achievement.

Double Spiral

An obvious spinoff (see what we did there? :-) on the basic spiral, the double spiral is simply a representation of balance as well as of the equinoxes.

It basically looks like two single spirals that have become joined at their respective ends.

The equinox is a term that relates to astronomy, and it relates to the occurrence in which the Sun can be seen right over the equator.

Triple Spiral

The triple spiral is another meaningful symbol within the world of Celtic design.  It is said that it stands for the drawing of the three powers of crone, mother and maiden.

Basically, it is a sign of the power of the female, and it is also a symbol of the power of both growth as well as transition.

The spiral—the basic building block of this triple spiral symbol—is found all over Celtic artifacts of old.

The Shield Knot

As far as free Celtic symbols go, the shield knot has actually been utilized across thousands of years by a number of cultures, mainly for the purposes of warding off and protection.

Despite its use by other cultures throughout the times, it is still primarily associated with Celtic tradition.  The tradition behind this shield knot states that it is deeply associated with the four-fold solar cross.

The Ogham

The Celtic Ogham is unique among the free Celtic designs on this page - because it actually relates to an alphabet and to writing.  It was named after Ogmos, the Celtic god of  knowledge and communication.  For perspective, Ogmos has frequently been connected to his Greek counterpart, the god Hermes.

The Ogham manner of writing has been found by archaeologists all over the British Isles.  All of its surviving examples take the form of stone carvings that are normally seen on road markers as well as tombstones.

The Five-Fold

The Five Fold Celtic Symbol represents balance and harmony. Incorporating five interlocking rings, it is a symbol of the interconnectedness of different elements and spiritual unity. 

This ancient emblem is often associated with protection, power, and the cyclical nature of life, echoing deep cultural significance.  Want to know more?  Visit us here.

Want Even More Irish Symbols?

It is probably obvious - at Irish Expressions, we love Irish symbols!

Expressing ourselves through Irish / Celtic symbolism gives us a deeper sense of connection with Ireland, wherever in the world we happen to be!

To help deepen your love of Irish symbolism, we have over the years created many downloadable, share-able Irish games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, and much, much more.

Want them right now?  Keep reading to learn about "Your Irish Expressions Playbook."

More Fun With Irish Expressions

Congratulations on learning more about the Emerald Isle and discovering what we like to call your "Irish Side."  You may be thinking "I'd love to actually VISIT Ireland but that's really not in the cards right now.  What am I supposed to do with the stuff I just learned?"

Well never fear!  Since 2009 we have collected all of the best printable, shareable resources we could find, to help you put your new knowledge of Ireland to good use.  We've put them all together in a single download we call "Your Irish Expressions Playbook," which contains over 50 pages of games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, travel guides and much, much more.

Purchase them ALL for one small price, print as many copies as you like and share them with your friends - with no limitations!   But order soon - we are already adding to the Playbook for future editions and this price will not last long. 

Oh, want one more reason to order right away?  If you buy YOUR copy of the Playbook now, you will be allowed to upgrade to any new future edition for FREE.

ORDER YOUR IRISH EXPRESSIONS PLAYBOOK HERE

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