Did you know??? The story behind the claddaugh has been romantised and commercialized but the Irish are known for their blarney aren't they? We fondly think of the shillelagh as a black thorn walking stick but historically it was used as a war club. Cead mile failte means a hundred thousand welcomes. The harp is sometimes called the Harp of Tara and is a significant symbol to Ireland. In 1862 a group of Irish Catholic coal miners organized in eastern Pennsylvania to fight the exploitation of the mineworkers. They were known as the Molly Maguires. Beir Beannacht means best wishes to you. Forty-two American presidents are of Irish descent. Henry McCarty a.k.a. Billy the Kid was the son of Irish immigrants. Leprechauns are not sweet like the Lucky Charms guy-they are mean and extremely hard to catch. Maire or Mary was a sacred name not used before the 17th century-instead girls were named Mael Muire or devoted to Mary.