Irish Flags and Coats of Arms for St. Patrick's Day

        Check out our selection of historical Irish flags and coats of arms. These are perfect to wear for St. Patrick's Day. Celebrate your Irish heritage with these t-shirts. We have 18 different Irish designs for you to purchase as St. Patrick's Day t-shirts.

        This design is the Insignia of a Knight of the Order of St. Patrick. Officially known as "The Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick", this British order of chivalry was created by George III in 1783 and is associated with Ireland. The creation of knights under this order lasted in until 1921, when Ireland became independent as the Irish Free State. [Wikipedia]

        The origins of the Erin Go Bragh flag can be traced from a flag created by the Society of United Irishmen. They created a flag that featured a golden harp on a green field. It was used in the rebellions of 1798 and 1803. Many variations of this flag were used throughout Ireland in the subsequent years.

        This specific version, Saint Patrick's Battalion Flag, comes from the Mexican-American War. It was used by a unit of immigrants and expatriates of European descent that fought for the Mexican Army. The unit was primarily made up of Irish and German immigrants, many of whom deserted or defected from the U.S. Army.

        The Pan Celtic flag features the flags of the six different Celtic nations: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Brittany, and Cornwall. The symbol in the middle is an old solar symbol called a "Triskell".

        The Arklow flag was carried by the rebel army of United Irishmen from Wexford at the Battle of Arklow during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. This battle occured during a time when some in Ireland were fighting against the British for independence. The green flag features a white cross and the words "Liberty or Death". Perhaps this slogan was adopted from Patrick Henry's famous quote during the American Revolution "Giver me liberty, or give me death", which came from a speech he delivered in 1775 (23 years before the Battle of Arklow)

        The Starry Plough flag was originally used by the Irish Citizen Army. The leader, James Connolly, said the significance of the banner was that a free Ireland would control its own destiny from the plough to the stars. This was flown by the Irish Citizen Army during the 1916 Easter Rising. The flag depicts the constellation of Ursa Major, known as The Plough in Ireland and the UK, or in the US, the Big Dipper. Ursa Major (Latin: "Great Bear") is one of the most prominent features of the night sky over Ireland throughout the year.

        The design changed during the 1930s to that of the blue banner on the right, which was designed by members of the Republican Congress, and was adopted as the emblem of the Irish Labour movement, including the Irish Labour Party, though they eventually dropped it. It is also claimed by Irish republicans and has been carried alongside the Irish tricolour and Irish provincial flags and the sunburst flag at Provisional IRA, Continuity IRA, Official IRA and Irish National Liberation Army rallies. The flag, and alternative versions of it, are also used by the Connolly Youth Movement, Labour Youth, Ógra Shinn Féin and the Republican Socialist Youth Movement. The older banner featuring the plough is still occasionally used today by the Irish Republican Socialist Party, Sinn Féin and the Workers Party of Ireland, the descendants of Official Sinn Féin. [Wikipedia]

        This flag was flown from the GPO "General Post Office" in Dublic during the Easter Uprising on 1916. It was created at the headquarters of the Irish Citizen's Army by Mary Shannon. It is on display at the National Museum of Ireland.

       This is the national flag of Ireland, which is also known as the tricolour. The color green represents the nation's Gaelic tradition, while the color orange represents the supporters of William of Orange. The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between the 'Orange' and the 'Green'.

        First introduced by Thomas Francis Meagher in 1848, it was not until the Easter Rising of 1916, when it was raised above the General Post Office, along with a green flag with words Irish Republic in Dublin, that the tricolour came to be regarded as the national flag. The flag was adopted in 1919 by the Irish Republic during its war of independence, and subsequently by the Irish Free State (1922–1937), later being given constitutional status under the 1937 Constitution of Ireland. [Wikipedia]

        This Nordic Celtic flag is a fictional flag that features the Irish colors of orange, green, and white in the design of a Nordic cross (or a Scandinavian Cross), much like the national flags of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. This design pays homage to Ireland's Christian heritage.

        Although the British Union Jack is now flown from government buildings, the Ulster banner was the official flag of the government of Northern Ireland from 1953-1972. The Ulster Banner remains in use by Unionists, a number of sporting organisations in Northern Ireland and some local government authorities under Unionist control. In the center, a heraldic symbol known as the Red Hand of Ulster is located. This symbol denotes the Irish province of Ulster. Its origins are said to be attributed to the son of the Celtic sun god Labraid Lámh Dhearg (Labraid of the Red Hand) and appear in other mythical tales passed down from generation to generation in the oral tradition. [Wikipedia]

        The coat of arms of Ireland features a golden harp called a Clársach (Gaelic harp) on a shield that is colored a shade of blue known as St. Patrick's Blue. The harp has long been a heraldic symbol or Ireland. It was adopted as the symbol of the new Kingdom of Ireland established by Henry I of Ireland in 1541-42. The harp used in modern heraldry is sometimes referred to as the "harp of Brian Boru" (Who was High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014). The coat of arms was officially adopted in 1945. [Wikipedia]

        The coat of arms of Northern Ireland was adopted in 1924 after after the Irish Free State had separated from the United Kingdom. It was designed by Thomas Ulick Sadleir and Neville Rodwell Wilkinson. The two supporters of the arms are a red lion and an Irish Elk. The arms went out of official use in 1972.

        This flag depicts the four provinces of Ireland. The flag of Connacht is featured in the bottom left corner. The flag of Leinster is featured at the bottom right. The flag of Munster is located at the top right. The flag of Ulster is located at the top left.

        The term "Scotch Irish" or "Scots Irish" refers to an ethnic group in Ireland known as the Ulster Scots. They descended from mainly Lowland Scots who settled in the province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. This settlement began during the 1600's. This design is the provincial flag of Ulster.

        The origins of the sunburst flag come from Irish mythology. In Irish legend, a group known as Fianna (which translated to warriors in English) were depicted as brave heroes. They were called Gal Gréine or Scal Ghréine, which both translate into English as sunburst.

        This flag may have first been used in 1858 by the Irish Republican Brotherhood. The sunburst flag is often associated with Irish nationalism, and currently, sects of Irish republican groups such as Na Fianna Éireann. The banner is also used by Irish language groups such as Conradh na Gaeilge.

        The coat of arms of Dublin features the motto "Obedientia, civium, urbis, felicitas", which translates to English as "Happy the city where citizens obey". The design depicts three castles with flaming towers, which represents the zeal of the citizens in defending their city. The supporters represent Justice and Law.

        The coat of arms of Belfast was created in 1613 when it was granted to the town by King James I. It depicts a ship and a bell in the shield, which is supported by a wolf and a seahorse. It features the motto "Pro tanto quid retribuamus". This verse was taken from the Bible and translated into English as "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?".

        Cork is the second largest city in Ireland. The coat of arms of the Cork were registerd in 1923. The mottoe reads "Statio Bene Fida Carinis", which means "A safe harbor for all ships".

        Located in the province of Connacht, Galway is currently the fastest growing city in Ireland. The city's motto is "Laudatio Ejus Manet In Secula Seculorum", which means "His Praise Remains unto Ages of Ages". The coat of arms depicts a sailing ship and a heraldic yellow lion on a black shield.