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True Blue Irish Gifts

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For the last century or so, the world has associated the color green with Ireland. This wee island is famous for its 40 shades of green, our national sports teams don green uniforms and our flag features green. But way back when, blue was more or less our national color and Ireland's coat of arms remains a harp on a field of blue.

The Coat of Arms of Ireland A Gold Harp on a Blue Background

St Patrick was depicted wearing blue robes. The original Starry Plough flag was designed by Countess Constance Markievicz with a pale blue background.  Flaitheas Eireann, a mythological feminine figure representing Ireland, wore blue. Even Mother Nature gives us loads of bluebells in Ireland to herald the arrival of spring. 

The Irish Starry Plough Flag

Green came to be favored as the fight for freedom from Britain heated up. While American students hear about the ‘Red coats’, in Ireland, the color blue was associated with the British. So the leaders of the struggle for independence came to favor green, and a very quick glance around the Irish countryside shows how much sense that makes. 

September's Irish Birthstone is Sapphire

Sterling Silver Claddagh Ring & Necklace inset with Blue Crystal Birthstone Hearts

But blue is still an excellent color to represent Ireland, and Irish gifts such as pottery or Claddagh jewelry in blue are as loved and fitting as those in green. Jewelry doesn’t have to feature an emerald to represent Ireland. Sapphires are stunning and entirely Irish, which is good news for all lovers of Ireland born in September!

Blue for Traditional Irish Weddings

Many brides follow the traditional saying of having ‘something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’ at their wedding. Once upon a time in Ireland, that something blue was very likely to be the bride’s wedding dress. In those days, woman didn’t splash out for dazzling wedding gowns. They wore one of their best dresses, usually a blue one.

Bride in a blue wedding dress with bouquet of blue flowers

Any shade of blue would do. Pale, sky blue or brilliant royal blue. Different shades went in and out of fashion over the decades. But why did Irish brides wear blue? It wasn’t because the color was associated with Ireland. 

Irish Basket decorated with September's birth flower

Ceramic basket decorated with embossed painted butterfly and morning glory flower
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Blue symbolized purity in ancient Ireland, and even though the nation converted to Christianity, the link between blue and purity remained. Blue is a lovely choice for a wedding dress today too. People tend to associate it with loyalty, serenity and dignity. If the bride happens to have blue eyes or a sapphire engagement ring, a blue wedding gown can be absolutely stunning! 

Dublin Blues

Many Irish gifts with a Dublin theme are blue because the county colors are light blue and dark blue. Every Irish county has two colors to represent it. It’s the team colors of the county-level Gaelic Athletic Association teams. So in Ireland’s capital, you’ll find everything from novelty Viking hats to pencils to t-shirts in light and dark blue. 


Man wearing a Blue colored Shawl Collar Fisherman Mens Sweater
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Clearly, blue is a great color for your favorite Irish gifts. If you’re looking for something special for someone who loves Ireland – especially someone born in September with a sapphire birthstone – something blue is perfect. Green is glorious color, but variety is the spice of life. And blue and green look wonderful together.

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