page_title: Shamrock
section_title: Symbol of Ireland
hierarchical_section_title: Shamrock / Symbol of Ireland
caption_attribution_description: English: Accession No.: 07_07_000179 Call Number: 8050a.145 Lithographer: Moore, Thomas Title of Lithograph: Irish Harp Composer: Friedman, John Title of Composition: Shamrock Quick Step Place of Publication: Boston Publisher: Prentiss Date: 1837 BPL Department: Music Flickr data on 2011-08-06: Camera: Sinar AG Sinarback 54 FW, Sinar m Tags: dc:identifier=07_07_000179 License: CC BY 2.0 User: Boston Public Library BPL
context_page_description: A shamrock is a young sprig, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. The name shamrock comes from Irish seamróg, which is the diminutive of the Irish word seamair óg and simply means "young clover".
  Shamrock usually refers to either the species Trifolium dubium or Trifolium repens. However, other three-leaved plants—such as Medicago lupulina, Trifolium pratense, and Oxalis acetosella—are sometimes called shamrocks. The shamrock was traditionally used for its medicinal properties and was a popular motif in Victorian times.
context_section_description: As St. Patrick is Ireland's patron saint, the shamrock has been used as a symbol of Ireland since the 18th century, in a similar way to how a rose is used for England, a thistle for Scotland and a daffodil for Wales. The shamrock first began to evolve from a symbol purely associated with St. Patrick to an Irish national symbol when it was taken up as an emblem by rival militias during the turbulent politics of the late eighteenth century. On one side were the Volunteers (also known as the Irish Volunteers), who were local militias in late 18th century Ireland, raised to defend Ireland from the threat of French and Spanish invasion when regular British soldiers were withdrawn from Ireland to fight during the American Revolutionary War. On the other side were revolutionary nationalist groups, such as the United Irishmen.
  Among the Volunteers, examples of the use of the shamrock include its appearance on the guidon of the Royal Glin Hussars formed in July 1779 by the Knight of Glin, and its appearance on the flags of the Limerick Volunteers, the Castle Ray Fencibles and the Braid Volunteers. The United Irishmen adopted green as their revolutionary colour and wore green uniforms or ribbons in their hats, and the green concerned was often associated with the shamrock. The song The Wearing of the Green commemorated their exploits and various versions exist which mention the shamrock. The Erin go bragh flag was used as their standard and was often depicted accompanied by shamrocks, and in 1799 a revolutionary journal entitled The Shamroc briefly appeared in which the aims of the rebellion were supported.
  Since the 1800 Acts of Union between Britain and Ireland the shamrock was incorporated into the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom, depicted growing from a single stem alongside the rose of England, and the thistle of Scotland to symbolise the unity of the three kingdoms. Since then, the shamrock has regularly appeared alongside the rose, thistle and (sometimes) leek for Wales in British coins such as the two shilling and crown, and in stamps. The rose, thistle and shamrock motif also appears regularly on British public buildings such as Buckingham Palace.
  Throughout the nineteenth century the popularity of the shamrock as a symbol of Ireland grew, and it was depicted in many illustrations on items such as book covers and St. Patrick's Day postcards. It was also mentioned in many songs and ballads of the time. For example, a popular ballad called The Shamrock Shore lamented the state of Ireland in the nineteenth century. Another typical example of such a ballad appears in the works of Thomas Moore whose Oh the Shamrock embodies the Victorian spirit of sentimentality. It was immensely popular and contributed to raising the profile of the shamrock as an image of Ireland:
  Oh The Shamrock
  
  -
  
  Through Erin's Isle,
  
  To sport awhile,
  
  As Love and Valor wander'd
  
  With Wit, the sprite,
  
  Whose quiver bright
  
  A thousand arrows squander'd.
  
  Where'er they pass,
  
  A triple grass
  
  Shoots up, with dew-drops streaming,
  
  As softly green
  
  As emeralds seen
  
  Through purest crystal gleaming.
  
  Oh the Shamrock, the green immortal Shamrock!
  
  Chosen leaf
  
  Of Bard and Chief,
  
  Old Erin's native Shamrock!
  Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the shamrock continued to appear in a variety of settings. For example, the shamrock appeared on many buildings in Ireland as a decorative motif, such as on the facade of the Kildare Street Club building in Dublin, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, and the Harp and Lion Bar in Listowel, Co. Kerry. It also appears on street furniture, such as old lamp standards like those in Mountjoy Square in Dublin, and on monuments like the Parnell Monument, and the O'Connell Monument, both in O'Connell Street, Dublin. Shamrocks also appeared on decorative items such as glass, china, jewellery, poplin and Irish lace. Belleek Pottery in Co. Fermanagh, for example, regularly features shamrock motifs.
  The shamrock is used in the emblems of many state organisations, both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. 
caption: Irish American Music sheet
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