| :: The Shamrock :: |
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| National Symbol? _______________________________________________________________________________ You might think that the shamrock is the national symbol of Ireland because of its colour and you associate it with St. Patrick. But that�s wrong. The official symbol is the Irish harp. The shamrock is only a trademark. |
| What is it? _______________________________________________________________________________ Shamrock is a form of clover (Trifolium Dubium) and it�s not unique to Ireland. It�s found from Scandinavia to the Caucasus and even in America. |
| The Shamrock And St. Patrick _______________________________________________________________________________ Legend has it that in attempting to explain the three-in-one principle of the Holy Trinity (God, Christ and the Holy Spirit) to the pagan King Laoghaire (pronounced Leary), St. Patrick found the three-leafed shamrock a convenient teaching help. |