What Is The Luck Of The Irish?
Published On 12th March 2024
St Patrick's Day falls on the 17th March and it's celebrated across the world. People who aren't even Irish or remotely related to anyone Irish get involved with the celebrations. Perhaps it's the opportunity to drink a few pints of Guinness or maybe just have some fun? St Patrick himself was "a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland". Legend suggests he drove snakes from Ireland and even raised men from the dead. Apparently he also used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to non-believers.
Luck & Ireland = Luck Of The Irish
The Shamrock is traditionally worn on St Patrick's Day and is often seen as a lucky symbol. Luck and Ireland are synonymous and that leads us to the popular phrase the 'Luck Of The Irish' which is prevalent in gambling circles. Rainbow Riches, Irish Luck, Finn & The Swirly Spin, Irish Eyes and Clover Rollover are just some of the many Irish themed slot games you can play at most online slot sites here in The UK. Many of these games feature leprechauns, four leaf clovers, horseshoes and lucky rainbows. But what exactly is the 'Luck Of The Irish' and where does it originate from?
A 19th Century Mining Term
According to Irish Central the term 'Luck Of The Irish' suprisingly doesn't stem directly from Ireland. They claim it actually originated in the 19th Century when Irish and Irish American miners successfully made their fortunes. The article goes on to say it was actually a derisory term as it was belived their success was down to sheer luck and not their mining acumen! This actually sounds like a rational explanation for the term, but Tour Ireland offer other ideas regarding it's origin.
Irish Luck Or Bad Luck?
Tour Ireland do cover the mining expression, but also suggest that it could have been used to undermine the Irish in the country that they had emigrated to. If an Irishman succeeded then it was simply put down to goood luck rather than their own hard work and toil. Tour Ireland also suggest that the expression may have an inverse meaning. Irish Luck could in fact be bad luck! History hasn't always been kind to the Irish - for example the potato famine - and struggles in other countries after emigration colluded to them not having much luck.
Lucky Leprechauns
A more romantic view of the expression is that it stems from the Irish love of leprechauns. Leprechauns can only be found in Ireland and meeting one is therefore a lucky event. Leprechauns also are wealthy creatures who keep their gold in a pot at the end of a rainbow (Good Luck Symbols). Finding that gold isn't easy - so if you do locate it, along with a Leprechaun then luck is most certainly with you. Given that the are a number of slots that feature Leprechauns and we rarely win on them we have serious doubts about this particular notion!
I Should Be So Lucky
We think that the mining origin of the phrase 'Luck Of The Irish' is the most plausible explanation from the options available. Although it's a surprise to discover there's derision within the expression. No doubt some Irish gold miners did stumble across good fortune, but we suspect most worked hard for their rewards. Having that hard work dismissed as "luck" was probably quite galling at the time. Thankfully, these days the phrase is meant as an expression of really good luck and that ties in nicely with the mythical origin involving leprechauns, four leaf clovers and gold at the end of the rainbow. It's also incredibly lucky for Guinness that St Patrick's Day has become a global celebration.
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