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guiness stout label

dobbin family crest

 statue of turlough o' carolan

 The harp is a universally recognised symbol of Ireland which evokes images of green, misty hills, stirring Celtic tunes, laughing red-haired colleens, ancient bards and a determined, downtrodden people struggling to throw off English tyranny. 

As clichés go, the Irish harp packs a wealth of meaning into one symbol, and like many clichés its journey to its present incarnation is largely unknown or misunderstood.

It starts in mythology (which was later ruthlessly romanticized and adapted in the 19th century), travels through history both physically and symbolically, and arrives in the 21st century almost completely altered, but still leaving a traceable trail back to its origins. 

This article is a brief, simple examination of the mythology, history and symbolism of the Irish harp which will hopefully whet the visitor�s thirst to research more, or possibly just whet their thirst for a pint of Guinness. Either way, this article will have served its purpose