"The Flag"

The flag dates from the 1800's. The flag is divided into three equal stripes.
The Green strip is for the ancient people of Ireland.
The Orange is for Ulster in Northern Ireland.
The White is for the unity between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.



"The Shammrock"

The Shamrock, in Irish "Seamróg", symbolises the Trinity. That is, that there is One God but Three Persons in the One God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Before the Christian era it was a sacred plant of the Druids of Ireland because its leaves formed a triad.

Famous stories tell of how St. Patrick used the shamrock in his teaching. Preaching in the open air about God and the Trinity, he illustrated the meaning of the Three in One by plucking a shamrock from the grass growing at his feet and showing it to his congregation. Just as the shamrock is one leaf with three parts, so God is one entity with three Persons

"The Harp"



The harp, of the small portable type was played by Celtic minstrels, is the oldest official symbol of Ireland. The harp is pictured on the Irish Coat of Arms. It also appears on Irish coins, the presidential flag, state seals, uniforms, and official documents.



"The Song"

The Irish National Anthem
"Soldier's Song"

We'll sing a song, a soldier's song,
With cheering rousing chorus,
As round our blazing fires we throng,
The starry heavens o'er us;
Impatient for the coming fight,
And as we wait the morning's light,
Here in the silence of the night,
We'll chant a soldier's song.

Whose lives are pledged to Ireland;
Some have come
from a land beyond the wave.
Sworn to be free,
No more our ancient sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave.
Tonight we man the gap of danger
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal
'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal,
We'll chant a soldier's song

Our fathers fought before us,
And conquered 'neath the same old flag
That's proudly floating o'er us.
We're children of a fighting race,
That never yet has known disgrace,
And as we march, the foe to face,
We'll chant a soldier's song

Chorus

Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!
The long watched day is breaking;
The serried ranks of Inisfail
Shall set the Tyrant quaking.
Our camp fires now are burning low;
See in the east a silv'ry glow,
Out yonder waits the Saxon foe,
So chant a soldier's song.

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