The Shamrock

There's a dear little plant
that grows in our isle
'Twas Saint Patrick himself
sure that set it
And the sun on his labor
with pleasure did smile
And a tear from his eyes
oft-times wet it
It grows through the bog,
through the brake,
through the mireland
And they call it the dear
little Shamrock of Ireland.
~Unknown~

The Shamrock is not the official emblem of Ireland. That honor is reserved for the harp.  The word is derived from the Irish "seamrog", meaning "summer plant".  A tiny wild green trefoil that comes up out of a blown-in seedpod, uniquely on this island(?), the shamrock is a fragile little plant, and doesn't keep long out of its habitat. The origins of the shamrock are lost in antiquity, but according to legend it was used by St. Patrick  to demonstrate the meaning of the Trinity, a basic principle of the Catholic faith. 

As a symbol of Ireland it has long been integrated into the symbol of the United Kingdom, along with the Rose, the Thistle and the Leek of England, Scotland and Wales. So, on St. Patrick's Day, a member of the British Royal Family presents Shamrock to the Irish Guards regiment of the British Army.

One thing is certain about the shamrock, worn by millions on St. Patrick's Day - it remains Ireland's most famous symbol.

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