The shamrock as a strange three-leaved plant in Gerald of Wales' "Topographia Hibernica" (1188 AD): These images are the first depiction of the shamrock as a national symbol of Ireland, drawn by the Normans.

Early Irish stories about the shamrock mention of how a good king will literally cause the land to blossom in 'flowered clover' (scoth-shemrach). The goddess Tailtiú, in another tale, clears rough land until it's 'filled with green clover' of abundance.

How the shamrock became a symbol of Ireland:

'Scoth-shemrach', Irish for 'flowering clover': a phrase used for good, fertile land.

'Scotti-shemrach' a pun of the former, meaning 'the clovered Irish', i.e. a good and fertile people!🇮🇪

The Céide Fields in County Mayo, Ireland - the most extensive Stone Age Monument in Europe. The site contains the oldest known field systems in the world dating back almost 6,000 years and preserved under a blanket of bog.

In ancient times, the fertility-goddess known as Sheela-na-gig was honored in Ireland. With the advent of Christianity, 18th March became known as "St Sheelah’s Day", a woman who was identified as the wife or mother of St Patrick.

At the foot of Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, County Mayo.

Mountain Stage, near Drom, Co Kerry, 1880s. Photo was taken around the time of the Land War, when Irish farmers were subject to mass-eviction by exploitative landlords.

Girls selling shamrocks on a Dublin street for St Patrick's Day.

1st March 1916.

The Irish word for dragon is 'dris', which is a cognate of the Greek 'drákōn'. Both stem from the Indo-European root 'derḱ' - 'to see clearly'. Hence in the Irish tradition, the dragon is capable of many feats by sight alone: possession, mutilation, enchantment or corruption.

Technicolor photos from rural West Ireland & more in the mid-20th century.

Irish Thatched Cottage, Bunratty, County Clare, by Elmar Ludwig

Coliemore Harbour, Dalkey, Dublin, by Elmar Ludwig