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The phrase “luck of the Irish” has various interpretations. Some believe it means the Irish are inherently lucky, while others trace it back to the gold rush in America. However, some argue that luck is not the right word, as Irish history is filled with periods of misfortune and tragedy. The phrase may also refer to indigenous superstitions in Ireland.
The luck of the Irish is a peculiar phrase that can have multiple meanings. There is little agreement on the origins of this idiom, and some suggest that it simply means that the Irish are inherently lucky and appear to be able to land on their feet when unfavorable circumstances arise. Others trace the origin of the phrase to the United States where, especially during the exploration for gold in the West, there were large numbers of Irish who got lucky, and found their “pot of gold” in the gold fields. California gold, or were equally prosperous in silver mining.
There are others who believe that luck in this sentence is really not the right word, especially if it means good luck. A better term might be luck, which can be good or bad. Certainly, Irish history records many periods of bad luck, and however many men may have found a few gold nuggets buried in California, there were more fighting prejudice against Irish and particularly Catholicism in the United States and in their homeland. The Irish have lived in a land that was taken from them, occupied by the English, Vikings and other conquerors. They have survived famine, war, starvation and prejudice, and these are not fortunate things.
A certain melancholy occurs when some people use the phrase. From a historical point of view, there are certainly episodes of extreme misfortune, of difficult times and of stories that would make the heart cry. It could just as easily be said that the good fortune of the Irish is bound up with bad luck, hard times and centuries of loss. A look at Irish poetry or writing often focuses on tragedy, and in some writings, it is these multiple tragedies that are held close to the heart and become an essential part of being Irish.
There are also less emotional definitions of the phrase. It is well known that there are many indigenous superstitions in Ireland, things not entirely eradicated from a past history that predates the advent of Catholicism. Some early Celtic traditions have been reinterpreted through the Catholic lens or simply allowed to persist. There are many beliefs about behaviors that can bring good or bad luck under many different circumstances. The luck of the Irish, therefore, may be a reference to many Irish beliefs about it and has little to do with the vast expanse of tragic Irish history.
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