Shamrocks have been symbolic of many things over the years. According to legend, the shamrock was a sacred plant to the Druids of Ireland because its leaves formed a triad, and three was a mystical number in the Celtic religion, as in many others. St. Patrick used the shamrock in the 5th century to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as he introduced Christianity to Ireland.

To the Druids who came before, it symbolized a similar "three in one" concept- the three dominions of earth, sky, and sea, the ages of man, and the phases of the moon.

"Wearin' O' the Green"
The shamrock became symbolic in other ways as time went on.

In the 19th century it became a symbol of rebellion, and anyone wearing it risked death by hanging. It was this period that spawned the phrase "The Wearin' O' The Green".

Today the shamrock is the most recognized symbol of the Irish, especially on St. Patrick's Day, when all over the world, everyone is Irish for a day!		 The craic - it’s the Irish word for good fun, enjoying yourself, having a laugh! It’s a word you’ll hear a lot in Ireland!

What is Craic? Even the Irish find it hard to define! Pronounced “crack”, it is the common cry of Irish people throughout the Emerald Isle. “Let’s go have some craic” is a comment that might be heard in any Irish house on any Saturday night.

Craic is a Gaelic word, with no exact English translation. The closest you get is “fun.” There’s the expression “ceoil agus craic,” meaning “music and fun,” probably once used by locals to fortify themselves before heading off over an arduous mountain pass to the nearest ceili.

Put simply, having craic is having a good time or a laugh. However, due to an unfortunate similarity in pronunciation with a well-known and illegal narcotic substance, not everyone gets the right idea about it.

So at Annie Bailey's Irish Pub, we invite you to come and share in the 'craic', because it's good and it's right here. So share and enjoy!

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