The Harp has long been a symbol associated with Ireland and all things Irish and is a popular tattoo design, but many people are unfamiliar with the origins of the symbol. The 'Emerald Isle' flies a flag of green, representing the ancient Gaelic tradition. Against this background sits the gold Harp, a symbol with origins going back to Ireland's mythic past. This came to be known as the 'Green Flag'.
Dagda, the supreme god of Irish mythology, carried a Harp along with a cauldron and a club. The Harp, richly ornamented and made of oak, represented music and poetry. When Dagda played it, the seasons were sure to proceed in their correct order. Legend tells us that Dagda's harpist was once abducted by the enemy, and his harp silenced, left to collect dust, hanging on a wall. At the sound of Dagda's calling, the harp leapt back into his hands, and on the way it took out nine of the enemy, killing them on the spot. Clearly, the Irish Harp has many uses.
It was the Irish nationalist, Owen Roe O'Neill, who is said to have brought harp and green together on a flag in 1642, although it did not capture the popular imagination until after a few more rebellions against the English. The Harp itself became known as the 'Maid of Erin' after it acquired a pair of wings at the beginning of the nineteenth century. It was incorporated into the British Royal Standard, appearing in the lower left quadrant. Today, the Harp without the wings is the Standard of the President of Ireland.
