What is the “Luck of the Irish”

Everyone has heard of “the luck of the Irish”, but where did this term come from? And are the Irish actually lucky? Keep reading to find out the lore of this stereotype, and learn if it is actually accurate.

Where did the phrase come from?

This phrase “the luck of the Irish” dates back to the American gold rush in the 1800’s. Many Irishmen came to the United States to make their fortune and, often, they would literally strike gold. Instead of attributing their findings to the Irishmen’s talent, work, knowledge, or skills, other miners would blame it on the luck of the Irish. The snide meaning detached itself from this phrase with time, but the association between the Irish and luck stayed.

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Luck in Irish Lore

Ireland is a land of myth, and many of their myths relate to luck. Everyone has heard of leprechauns. They are often depicted as little men in hats and coats who are cobblers by trade. They are considered lucky because they hide their gold in a hidden spot under a rainbow, meaning that they are rich and their money is safe.

There is also, of course, the four-leaf clover. While the shamrock can be found anywhere, it is closely associated with Ireland because Saint Patrick used a three-leaf clover to teach followers about the Holy Trinity – the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Most shamrocks have 3 leaves, so you are lucky to find one with four!

Some Irish homes also hang horseshoes upright on their front door. They believe that it brings the home good luck and wards off evil spirits. The tale is that St. Dunstan, the patron saint of blacksmiths, nailed a horseshoe into one of the devil’s hoofs, and hurt the devil so much he vowed to never enter a home with a horseshoe above the door. There are also some who believe the trend stemmed from Chaldean legends that believe the crescent moon symbol warded off the evil eye.

There are many superstitions based in Irish culture. Some Irish believe in fairies, and the creatures can bring either good fortune or mischief. One way to appease fairies, and a way to attempt to gather some luck, is by building fairy houses. Building fairy houses is a way to ensure that no misfortune affects your household. The Irish also ward off bad fortune by planting rowan trees near their homes or farms. These trees are believed to protect against evil spirits and witchcraft because of their vibrant red berries, which are believed to resemble flames.

The Irish also believe in some simpler superstitions. For example, some believe that if your right ear is hot, it is a sign that someone will scold you. Another one is if your nose is itchy, it is a sign that someone is speaking ill of you. And, they say, if your tooth falls out and if you put it on your window-sill at night and if it is gone in the morning you will have good luck.

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So, are the Irish actually lucky?

While there is no way to actually know if the luck of the Irish is real, there have been a few cases of Irish people being extremely lucky. For example, an Irishman named Sean Doyle won €4.8 million with just one spin on his favorite slot machine. The Irish have also been extremely lucky with the lottery. In 2019, an Irish family syndicate won €175 million in the EuroMillions lottery.

Ireland has also been particularly lucky in the world famous EuroVision Song Competition. The country held the record for the most EuroVision wins for a long time, but it is now tied with Sweden with 7 wins each. While they are tied in this regard, Ireland singularly holds the record for the most consecutive EuroVision wins (3), and is the home of Johnny Logan, who won the contest for his home country twice in a row.

If you ask an Irish person, they will probably tell you that they think they are lucky too. 49% of Irish people describe themselves as blessed or lucky. And they have good reason to think this, the average Irish person has 40 fortunate moments every year, which is about 10% more than people in the rest of the United Kingdom. About 38% report embracing some kind of lucky charm as well, making the Irish even luckier.

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So while the meaning of “the luck of the Irish” came from a derogatory place, it is certainly not said with the same intentions today. It used to be said to slight Irish miners, but is now said as just a phrase to describe people who are lucky. There is a lot of luck in Irish folklore and myth, from shamrocks to horseshoes to fairies, and the Irish are very superstitious in order to gain good luck and keep bad luck away. While there is no definitive proof that the Irish are actually more lucky than the rest of the world, the Irish certainly feel like they are, and they have been lucky when it comes to EuroVision, the lottery, and gambling. Have you experienced the luck of the Irish? Tell us about it in the comments below.